EVERETT STRUPPER, TECH IMMORTAL PASSES SUDDENLY
Everett Strupper Everett Strupper, B.S. in M.E., 1918, President of the Piedmont Life Insurance Company, nationally prominent and highly esteemed All-America football star of Georgia Tech, died unexpectedly of a thrombosis at the Georgian Terrace Hotel, in Atlanta, on Saturday morning, February 4. He had returned from a business trip the day before, in apparent excellent health; however, his illness that developed during the night was, so regretfully, more serious than he realized and, despite his great strength, it proved to be fatal. An outstanding student and a leader in c a m p u s organizations at Tech, "Strupe" was also captain of an AllClass basketball team, a member of the Varsity Track team and captain in
1918; and, as stated, All-America halfback during the season of 1917-18. Strupper's business began upon his graduation from Georgia Tech, after service in World War I. He first returned to Columbus and entered the automobile tire business. He later^ moved to Atlanta and became associated with a former teammate, G. M. (Pup) Phillips, with the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Later he was general agent of the Volunteer State Life Insurance Company. He was a member of the select Million-Dollar Round Table of the National Association of Life Underwriters. He was several times president of the Atlanta Touchdown Club, and the first president of the organization. He was also the first president of the Northside Atlanta Kiwanis Club which was chartered in May, 1948. A vestryman of St. Philips Episcopal Cathedral; a member of the Atlanta Nine o'Clocks, Capital City Club, the Piedmont Driving Club, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and Past President of the North Side Boys' Club. He was in constant demand as a speaker by various athletic organizations throughout the South. Everett S t r u p p e r was fifty-three years of age at the time of his death. His passing was a terrific shock to his teammates, classmates, and host of other close Georgia Tech associates, faculty members, athletic staff, students and m a n y o t h e r s t a u n c h friends throughout the State of Georgia and the nation. A native of C o l u m b u s , Georgia, Strupper entered Georgia Tech in 1914. He never played on a losing team during his career. The 1915 and 1916 Tech teams tied two games and the 1917 eleven won nine straight to achieve the National championship. He was a member of the Tech team which ran up
an all-time record score of 222-0 against Cumberland University in 1916. He teamed with Joe Guyon, Albert Hill and Judy Harlan to make up one of the most devastating backfields in Southern football annals. Walter Camp, originator of All-America football teams, made no selection in 1917 because of World War I, but Strupper was awarded the position at left halfback by a poll of sports writers. "Strupper was the finest broken field runner ever to play at Tech," W. A. Alexander, Athletic Director, said upon learning of his death. "He was also an able track man, a great team man and a good citizen." Strupper's head coach was the late John W. Heisman who wrote the following about "Strupe" for Christy Walsh's book, Intercollegiate Football: "Strupper radiated brilliance everywhere. His play was without a flaw. Were I compelled to risk my head on what one absolutely unaided gridster might accomplish, football under arm and facing eleven ferocious opponents, I would rather choose and chance this man on how he might come through the gauntlet than any ball carrier I have ever seen in action." In addition to being selected twice for All-America, Strupper was chosen three times for All-Southern. Following his football career, he became one of the leading grid referees of the nation, and, for several years, he was President of the Southern Football Officials' Association. Surviving are his wife; a step-daughter, Miss Gwyneth Oliver; three aunts, Mrs. C. C. McGehee, of Atlantic Beach, Fla., and Mrs. George Golden and Mrs. Meredith, both of Columbus. Funeral services were held in Atlanta and the burial rites were conducted at the family cemetery grounds, in Columbus.
WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS (continued) Wilson-McNeil Announcement is made of the marriage of Miss Emily Jane Wilson, to Daniel Childress McNeil, on November 24, 1949, in Atlanta. Mr. McNeil received his B. of I.E. degree in 1949, and is at present employed by the American Blower Corp., Dallas, Texas. Neely-Merry Miss Lily May Neely, daughter of Mrs. William Lloyd Neely, Sr., was married on January 7, 1950, to Mr. Pierce Merry, Jr. The marriage took place at the First Presbyterian church in Statesville. Mr. Merry received his B. of M.E. in March-April, 1950
December, 1949, and has joined the firm of Merry Brothers Brick and Tile Company in Augusta, Ga. Packard-Montaldo Mr. and Mrs. Horace Nelson Packard announce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Elizabeth Fuller Packard, to John Stanley Montaldo, on Saturday, the eleventh of February, 1950, at Ossining, N. Y. Mr. Montaldo graduated in 1940 with a B.S: degree in Public Health Engineering. Pettit-Pearce Mrs. Edmund Pettit announces the marriage of her daughter, Miss Annie Lou Pettit, to Thomas Jefferson Pearce,
Jr., on February 25, 1950, in the Buford Street Methodist church, Gaffney, S. C. Mr. Pearce received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1947, and is employed by Southern States Equipment Corp., at Hampton, Ga. Williams-Henry Mr. and Mrs. Livsey Earle Williams announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss Elizabeth Wightman Williams, to Charles Lorenzo Henry, Jr. The wedding will take place April 11, 1950, at the First Presbyterian church, Atlanta. Mr. Henry received his B. of T.E. in December, 1949, and is associated with the Nylon division of DuPont in Chattanooga. 19