Hugh Knox

Hugh Smith Knox (January 27, 1883 – January 2, 1936) was an American football player. He played at the halfback position at Yale University and was selected as a first-team All-American in 1906.

Hugh Knox
Born:c. 1886
Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Died:January 2, 1936 (aged 49–50)
Ithaca, New York
Career information
Position(s)Halfback
CollegeYale University
Career highlights and awards
HonorsAll-American, 1906

Knox was the son of Philander C. Knox, who served as the U.S. Secretary of State under William Howard Taft and U.S. Attorney General under William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.[1] He attended Allegheny Prep School before enrolling at Yale University.

While he was a student at a private school in Connecticut, Knox was arrested and charged in May 1903 with assault. The complainant alleged that he had been beaten badly by a group of young men, which included Knox. Because his father was the U.S. Attorney General, the case received coverage in the press. Knox was put on trial in Norwalk, Connecticut, and he was found not guilty.[2][3]

Knox graduated in 1907 from Yale University, where he was a member of Skull and Bones.[4]:102 At Yale, Knox played at the halfback position for Yale's football teams in 1905 and 1906. In Yale's 6–0 victory over Harvard in 1906, Knox was credited a 40-yard run that was considered one of the most exciting plays of the 1906 season. The New York Times called it a "magnificent effort" and a "beautiful run" and described Knox "swerving in and picking his way through the broken field ahead, ... dodging one and another of the oncoming Cambridge men."[5]

At the conclusion of the 1906 season, Knox was selected as a first-team All-American halfback by both Walter Camp, Caspar Whitney, the New York World and the New York Mail.[6][7][8][9] The New York Times wrote that Knox was "as useful as any man on the field in general work."[10]

Knox later served as the private secretary to his father while he served as the U.S. Secretary of State.[1] In 1910, Knox traveled incognito to Southern California to visit with Yale football legend, Walter Camp. The Los Angeles Times reported on Knox's visit as follows: "Short of stature, he bears a striking resemblance to his distinguished father, with the same restless dark eyes and dark hair growing sparse on the forehead. Mr. Knox is a bachelor and has not had the romantic marital history of his two younger brothers."[11]

In December 1911, Knox was married at New York's Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church Katherine McCook, the daughter of Anson G. McCook, a member of the "Fighting McCooks," one of the most prolific military families during the American Civil War.[12] The couple planned to live in Washington, D.C.[12]

Knox died in 1936 at Ithaca, New York.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Son of Aide to Taft Succumbs". Los Angeles Times. 1936-01-03.
  2. "MR. KNOX'S SON DISCHARGED: Did Not Assault a Citizen – Other Students on Trial at South Norwalk" (PDF). The New York Times. 1903-05-17.
  3. "SOUTH NORWALK JUDGE LENIENT TOWARD STUDENTS: Fines E.L. White and Walbridge Taft, but Says Latter Acted in Straight-forward Manner" (PDF). The New York Times. 1903-05-19.
  4. "Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University Deceased during the Year 1935-1936" (PDF). Yale University. 15 October 1936. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  5. "YALE STRATEGY WINS FROM HARVARD, 6–0; Tide of Splendid Football Game Turned by a Forward Pass; HARVARD LOSES BY FUMBLES; Throng of 32,000 in the Stadium at New Haven Cheers on the Teams" (PDF). The New York Times. 1906-11-25.
  6. "Walter Camp Football Foundation". Archived from the original on 2007-12-18.
  7. Caspar Whitney. "The View-Point". The Outing Magazine. p. 537.
  8. "untitled". Daily Gazette And Bulletin. 1906-12-05.
  9. "'Bob' Edgren Picks Out An All-American Team: Yale and Princeton Predominate His Choice". The Post-Standard. Syracuse. 1905-12-03.
  10. "NEW FOOTBALL PRODUCES INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCY; Many Players Merit Places on Fanciful All-American Team; CHOICE OF ELEVEN DIFFICULT; While Line Men Are Handicapped by Rule Changes, Star Backs Are Developed" (PDF). The New York Times. 1906-12-09.
  11. "HIS INCOGNITO IS UNCOVERED: Son of Secretary of State Masquerades at Avalon". Los Angeles Times. 1910-07-13.
  12. "HUGH S. KNOX WEDS KATHERINE M'COOK; Son of Secretary of State Married to Only Daughter of Gen. and Mrs. Anson G. McCook" (PDF). The New York Times. 1911-12-15.
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