Frank Wallder Steketee (April 26, 1900 – December 26, 1951) was an
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...
player.
A native of
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the List of municipalities in Mi ...
, Steketee played
college football
College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike most ...
as a
fullback and
halfback for
Fielding H. Yost
Fielding Harris Yost (; April 30, 1871 – August 20, 1946) was an American football player, coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at: Ohio Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska, the University ...
's
1918
This year is noted for the end of the First World War, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, as well as for the Spanish flu pandemic that killed 50–100 million people worldwide.
Events
Below, the events ...
,
1920
Events January
* January 1
** Polish–Soviet War in 1920: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20.
** Kauniainen, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its own ma ...
, and
1921 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1921 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1921 Big Ten Conference football season. In his 21st year as head coach, Fielding H. Yost led Michigan to a 5–1–1 record, as the Wolverines outscored ...
s. As a freshman in 1918, he helped lead Michigan to an undefeated season and retroactive
national championship
A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or competition, contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the be ...
and was selected by
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp (April 7, 1859 – March 14, 1925) was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". Among a long list of inventions, he created the sport's line of scrimmage and the system ...
as a first-team player on the
1918 College Football All-America Team
The 1918 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations for the 1918 college football season.
All-Americans of 1918 Ends
*Paul Robeson, ...
.
Steketee missed the 1919 season while serving in the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
, but returned to the Michigan football team in 1920 and was selected as a first-team player on the
1920 All-Big Ten Conference football team
The 1920 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players selected to the All-Big Ten Conference teams chosen by various selectors for the 1920 Big Ten Conference football season.
All Big-Ten selections
Ends
* Chuck Carn ...
. During three years at Michigan, Steketee was regarded as one of the best kickers and punters in football.
Steketee again served in the military during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. After his discharge, he worked as an account examiner for the finance division of Michigan Department of Highways until his death in 1951.
Early years
Steketee's grandfather, John Steketee, was part of a wave of Dutch immigration to western Michigan in the late 1840s. The family moved to
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...
in 1860. Steketee's father, Jacob Steketee, studied law at the
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
and then returned to Grand Rapids where he married Frances Walder.
Steketee was born to Jacob and Frances Steketee in 1900 at Grand Rapids.
Steketee attended Grand Rapids
Central High School where he was president of the Class of 1918, captain of the 1917 football team, and a member of the track team.
[Annual Helios (Grand Rapids Central High School yearbook), June 1918, p. 40.] The caption to his senior yearbook photograph reads: "Handsome is as handsome does."
[
]
University of Michigan
Steketee enrolled at the University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
in the fall of 1918. While at Michigan, he was a member of Alpha Delta Phi
Alpha Delta Phi (), commonly known as Alpha Delt, ADPhi, A-Delt, or ADP, is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity. Alpha Delta Phi was originally founded as a literary society by Samuel Eells in 1832 at Hamilton College in Cli ...
, Michigamua, and the Sphinx and was chosen president of the freshman class during the 1918–1919 academic year. He graduated with the Class of 1922.
During his time at Michigan, Steketee was a star football player. There are press accounts of Steketee once having kicked a record 100-yard punt.[ According to one account: "I remember '']The Saturday Evening Post
''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely c ...
'' doing a writeup on U. of M. It told how Frank Steketee stood behind his own goal posts and made a punt which was picked up by the opposing team behind their goal posts." In his book on the history of Michigan football, Bruce Madej wrote: "As a result of his prodigious field goals, Stek is given credit for Michigan victories over Syracuse, Illinois and Minnesota."[
While best known for his accomplishments as a football player, Steketee also competed in other sports as well. In February 1919, he registered one of the highest physical fitness scores ever recorded in testing performed by the university. He was a member of Michigan's first swimming team, swam the 20-yard freestyle event in 9-3/5 seconds, and was also a skilled diver.][ Although gymnastics was not yet a varsity sport, he was an accomplished gymnast, and his work on the ]parallel bars
Parallel bars are floor apparatus consisting of two wooden bars slightly over long and positioned at roughly head height. Parallel bars are used in artistic gymnastics and also for physical therapy and home exercise. Gymnasts may optionally we ...
was credited with expanding his range of motion so that he could kick higher than his head. As a senior, he also competed on the Michigan golf team. According to one account, he also played for Michigan's hockey
Hockey is a term used to denote a family of various types of both summer and winter team sports which originated on either an outdoor field, sheet of ice, or dry floor such as in a gymnasium. While these sports vary in specific rules, numbers o ...
team.[ His grandson, ]Michigan Court of Appeals
The Michigan Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court of the state of Michigan. It was created by the Michigan Constitution of 1963, and commenced operations in 1965. Its opinions are reported both in an official publication of ...
Judge David H. Sawyer, said: "He was one of these athletes who did everything."[
]
1918 football season
As a freshman, Steketee started four games at fullback for the 1918 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1918 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1918 Big Ten Conference football season. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost in his 18th season with the program. The 1918 team played in a ...
. In a season shortened to five games due to the 1918 flu pandemic
The 1918–1920 influenza pandemic, commonly known by the misnomer Spanish flu or as the Great Influenza epidemic, was an exceptionally deadly global influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. The earliest documented case was ...
and war-related travel restrictions, the Wolverines compiled a perfect 5–0 record and have been recognized retroactively as national champions. The 1918 team shut out four of its opponents, including a 14–0 shutout over Ohio State
The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best public ...
. For the season, the team outscored all opponents by a combined total of 96 to 6.
In the opening game of the 1918 season against Case Institute of Technology
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio. Case Western Reserve was established in 1967, when Western Reserve University, founded in 1826 and named for its location in the Connecticut Western Res ...
, Steketee entered the game as a substitute and made an impressive debut. In a 33–0 victory, Steketee accounted for 21 points, "making three of the five touchdowns and kicking three out of five attempts at goal."
In the third game of the season, Steketee's performance was even more impressive. Michigan defeated Syracuse
Syracuse may refer to:
Places Italy
*Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa''
*Province of Syracuse
United States
*Syracuse, New York
**East Syracuse, New York
**North Syracuse, New York
*Syracuse, Indiana
* Syracuse, Kansas
*Syracuse, Miss ...
, 15–0, on a field inches deep in mud, with rain falling throughout the game. Steketee scored all 15 points in the game, kicking three field goals and scoring a touchdown.[ The '']Syracuse Herald
The ''Syracuse Herald-Journal'' (1925–2001) was an evening newspaper in Syracuse, New York, United States, with roots going back to 1839 when it was named the ''Western State Journal''. The final issue — volume 124, number 37,500 — was publis ...
'' reported: "One man stood out in the Michigan triumph, Steketee of Grand Rapids. He made the entire 15 points scored by his team and otherwise mussed up perfect good intentions on the part of the visitors."[ In the fourth quarter, Steketee also intercepted a pass and ran 20 yards for a touchdown.][
The final game of the 1918 season pitted the undefeated Wolverines against the undefeated ]Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Ohio State University, located in Columbus, Ohio. The athletic programs are named after the colloquial term for people from the state of Ohio and after the state tree ...
. In a 14–0 victory, Steketee again had a hand in all 14 points scored. The game was scoreless in the fourth quarter when Steketee kicked a 73-yard punt that pinned Ohio State at its two-yard line. Ohio State attempted to punt out of its end zone, but Michigan's Angus Goetz
Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
broke through and blocked the punt which was recovered for a touchdown. Steketee also threw a touchdown pass to end Robert Dunne from Ohio State's 12-yard line and kicked two extra points.
At the end of the 1918 season, Steketee was selected as a first-team halfback on the 1918 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Even though Steketee played at fullback, Walter Eckersall
Walter Herbert "Eckie" Eckersall (June 17, 1883 – March 24, 1930) was an American college football player, official, and sportswriter for the ''Chicago Tribune''.
He played for the Maroons of the University of Chicago, and was elected to the C ...
of the ''Chicago Tribune'' picked him as a halfback on the basis of Steketee's passing and kicking talent. He was also selected by Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp (April 7, 1859 – March 14, 1925) was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". Among a long list of inventions, he created the sport's line of scrimmage and the system ...
as the first-team fullback on the 1918 College Football All-America Team
The 1918 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations for the 1918 college football season.
All-Americans of 1918 Ends
*Paul Robeson, ...
. He was the only western player to receive first-team honors from Camp that year and the first player in Michigan history to be named an All-American in his freshman year.[ The freshman rule had been relaxed in 1918 because of World War I.][
At a football dinner held at the ]Michigan Union
The Michigan Union is a student union at the University of Michigan. It is located at the intersection of South State Street and South University Avenue in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The building was built in 1917 and is one of several unions at the U ...
in March 1919, Michigan football coach Fielding H. Yost
Fielding Harris Yost (; April 30, 1871 – August 20, 1946) was an American football player, coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at: Ohio Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska, the University ...
presented Steketee with an engraved gold watch in "appreciation of his excellent services during the 1918 season."
United States Navy
Following the United States' entry into World War I, Steketee enlisted in the United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
on September 26, 1918. He was discharged on September 30, 1921.[ He missed the 1919 season due to military service.][ Without Steketee in the lineup, the Wolverines' record dropped to 3–4 in ]1919
Events
January
* January 1
** The Czechoslovak Legions occupy much of the self-proclaimed "free city" of Pressburg (now Bratislava), enforcing its incorporation into the new republic of Czechoslovakia.
** HMY ''Iolaire'' sinks off the c ...
, as they gave up 102 points, 96 points more than they had allowed in 1918.[
]
1920 football season
In July 1920, ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' reported on Steketee's return, noting that Michigan supporters were "greatly rejoiced by the announcement from the office of the Registrar of the University that Frank Steketee, the famous 1918 All-American fullback, will be eligible for the 1920 eleven." The paper also opined that, had Steketee been eligible in 1919, "the season's long succession of defeats might have been averted."
As the season got underway, newspapers asked the question: "Is Michigan Coming Back?" One wire service account noted: "Frank Steketee, a member of the 1918 team, and who was given the position of fullback on Walter Camp's All-American eleven, will be back on the line-plunging job this year. Steketee is as good a booter as they come, and he promises to be one of the national gridiron stars again this year."[
With Steketee back in the lineup, the Wolverines improved to 5–2 in 1920, outscoring opponents by a combined total of 121 to 21.
In the 1920 ]Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
game, Michigan lost, 7–6, as a 50-yard place kick by Steketee with a few minutes left missed "by a few inches."
The season's other loss came to Ohio State
The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best public ...
, 14–7. However, an Ohio newspaper account noted that, despite the loss, "Steketee was the offensive star for the Wolverines, his 26-yard gain around right end in the first quarter being the most spectacular run of the game." Another account reported: "Several spectacular gains by Steketee for Michigan featured the third period."
Though no Wolverine player named to the All-American team in 1920, Steketee was selected as a first-team halfback on the 1920 All-Big Ten Conference football team
The 1920 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players selected to the All-Big Ten Conference teams chosen by various selectors for the 1920 Big Ten Conference football season.
All Big-Ten selections
Ends
* Chuck Carn ...
.
1921 football season
As a senior, Steketee started three games at fullback and two at halfback, as the 1921 Wolverines improved to a 5–1–1 record and outscored their opponents, 187–21.
Pre-season accounts noted: "In Frank Steketee, Michigan has one of the best distance punters in the conference."
After losing to Ohio State
The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best public ...
, 14–0, Michigan rebounded the following week to defeat Illinois, 3–0, on a placement kick by Steketee. ''The New York Times'' reported that Steketee was "the outstanding figure of the Michigan offense." Steketee scored the game's only points on a kick from the 15-yard line near the end of the first half. Later in the game, Steketee "broke up the match" when he intercepted a long pass, and later "broke through and blocked Anderson's attempted place kick."[
Steketee's final game in a Michigan uniform came against rival ]Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
in the battle for the Little Brown Jug. Michigan beat Minnesota, 38–0, as Steketee scored a touchdown after Michigan's Frank Cappon fumbled the ball at the Minnesota four-yard line, the ball rolled across the goal-line and Steketee pounced on it. Steketee also had a long run in the fourth quarter to set up Michigan's final score.[
]
Family and later years
Steketee was married twice. He married Marion E. Cornelius in December 1923. Steketee and his first wife had a daughter Marcia (born c. 1925, later known as Mrs. Harold Sawyer) and a son Frank Jr. (born 1927).[ He later married Emma Zalma Reider in April 1945 in ]Lansing, Michigan
Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, making ...
.[
Steketee served as a medic in ]World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.[ He enlisted in the ]Army Air Corps Army Air Corps may refer to the following army aviation corps:
* Army Air Corps (United Kingdom), the army aviation element of the British Army
* Philippine Army Air Corps (1935–1941)
* United States Army Air Corps (1926–1942), or its p ...
on October 20, 1942, and was discharged on September 16, 1944.[Application for Headstone or Marker, dated January 31, 1952, for Frank Wallder Steketee, born April 18, 1900, died December 26, 1951. Ancestry.com. U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925–1963 atabase on-line] After being discharged from the military, Steketee worked as an account examiner for the finance division of the Michigan Department of Highways for seven years from approximately 1944 until his death in 1951.[ ]
On the day after Christmas in 1951, Steketee collapsed shortly before noon at his desk in the state highway department headquarters. He died three hours later at Lansing's St. Lawrence Hospital. The cause of death was reported to be a heart attack.[ He was buried at Deepdale Cemetery in Lansing.][
Steketee was posthumously inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.]
See also
* List of Michigan Wolverines football All-Americans
Michigan Wolverines football All-Americans are American football players who have been named as All-Americans while playing for the University of Michigan football team.
Overview
Since 1898, 134 Michigan Wolverines football players have earned fi ...
Notes
External links
Bentley Library profile of Steketee
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steketee, Frank
1900 births
1951 deaths
Michigan Wolverines football players
Players of American football from Grand Rapids, Michigan
University of Michigan alumni