Raymond Willis "Rock" Hanson (October 5, 1895 – January 4, 1982) was an American military officer and college sports coach and administrator. He was a

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

and highly decorated veteran of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Hanson served as the head football coach at Western Illinois State Teachers College—now known as

Western Illinois University Western Illinois University (WIU) is a public university in Macomb, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. As the normal school grew, it became Western Illinois State Teachers College. Once West ...

—in

Macomb, Illinois Macomb () is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois, about southwest of Peoria, Illinois, Peoria. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the c ...

, from 1926 to 1941.

Marine Corps career

Hanson enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1916 and served during

. He was assigned to the 75th Company, 1st Battalion,

6th Marine Regiment The 6th Marine Regiment (also referred to as "6th Marines") is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The regiment falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Division of th ...

. Hanson participated in the

Battle of Belleau Wood The Battle of Belleau Wood (1–26 June 1918) was a major battle that occurred during the German spring offensive in World War I, near the Marne (river), Marne River in France. The battle was fought by the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division (United State ...

, Battle of Château-Thierry and many other battles. During the Battle of Château-Thierry, Corporal Hanson saved his comrade, Private William A. Weaver, who was seriously wounded in the leg and pinned down by enemy machine gun fire. Hanson went out in front of US lines and, after reaching the wounded Pvt. Weaver, he stopped the bleeding and carried him to safety. For the extraordinary heroism in combat, Hanson was decorated with the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is equivalent to the Army ...

. He was also decorated with the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...

and French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Palm by the Government of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. After the war, Hanson remained in the Marine Corps and served during the

Allied occupation of the Rhineland An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not an explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are call ...

. He subsequently resigned from the Marine Corps, but stayed in the Marine Corps Reserve. During World War II, Hanson was recalled to the active service and was assigned to the

Camp Elliott Camp Kearny was a U.S. military base located in Linda Vista, California. Established in 1917, it was named for Brigadier General Stephen W. Kearny. Camp Kearny closed in 1946. History Establishment and early years The camp was established ...

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

as Chief Morale Officer. He later served as Fleet Marine Force recreation officer and was responsible for planning of tours of Pacific bases by his troupe of 30 Marine entertainers. He retired with the rank of

Coaching career

Hanson officially began his coaching career at Western after studying under

Knute Rockne Knute Kenneth Rockne (; March 4, 1888 – March 31, 1931) was an American football player and coach at the University of Notre Dame. Leading Notre Dame for 13 seasons, Rockne accumulated over 100 wins and three national championships. Rockne is ...

(hence the nickname "Rock"). Hanson had the distinction of being the football coach the first year that a

black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

athlete, Ernest Page, played on Western's team, as well as having the longest tenure of any head football coach ever at Western. Hanson was the head football coach for at Western Illinois State Teachers College—now known as

—in

, serving for 16 seasons, from 1926 to 1941, and compiling a record of 56–59–12. Hanson gained permission from the Marine Corps to use the name "Fighting Leathernecks" for Western's teams. To this day, Western Illinois University is the only public school in the United States that has permission through the

Department of the Navy Navy Department or Department of the Navy may refer to: * United States Department of the Navy The United States Department of the Navy (DON) is one of the three military departments within the United States Department of Defense. It was esta ...

to use the United States Marine Corps official seal and mascot, the bulldog, along with the nickname. Western's mascot, a bulldog named Colonel Rock, or more commonly "Rocky", was named in honor of Hanson, as was Western's football field,

Hanson Field Hanson Field is a 16,368-seat multi-purpose stadium in Macomb, Illinois, US. The stadium which opened in 1950 is home to the Western Illinois Leathernecks football team and track and field team. The field is named after former WIU football coac ...

Death

Hanson died on January 4, 1982, at McDonough Hospital in Macomb.

Head coaching record

College football

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanson, Ray 1895 births 1982 deaths American men's basketball coaches College men's basketball head coaches in the United States Western Illinois Leathernecks athletic directors Western Illinois Leathernecks baseball coaches Western Illinois Leathernecks football coaches Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball coaches High school football coaches in Connecticut United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I Basketball coaches from Minnesota United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II United States Marine Corps colonels American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Silver Star New York University alumni Springfield College alumni People from Red Wing, Minnesota United States Marine Corps reservists Military personnel from Minnesota