| [[Western Reserve Red Cats football|Western Reserve Red Cats]] — No. N/A | |
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| Major: {{{major}}} | |
| Date of birth: December 9, 1913 | |
| Place of birth: Woodville, Florida, U.S. | |
| Career history | |
|---|---|
| High school: Dover (OH) (1930–1933) | |
| College(s): Western Reserve (1935–1937) | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
* Silver All-American, Sports Illustrated (1962)[1]
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Frank L. "Doc" Kelker (December 9, 1913 – May 23, 2003) was an All-American football end who played college football for Western Reserve, now known as Case Western Reserve University, from 1935–1937. Spanning high school and college, he played in 54-consecutive football games without a loss. As an African American, his athletic career ended after college as no professional sports had yet broken the color barrier.
Early years[]
Kelker was born in Woodville, Florida in 1913. He and his family moved north to Dover, OH when he was a child.
High school[]
Doc attended Dover High School in Dover, OH where he was described as "Mr. Everything," earning 14 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was All-Ohio in football and basketball. The Dover football team posted a combined 30-1 record the three seasons he played (1931-1933), including two wins over the Massillon Tigers, famously coached by Paul Brown.[2] He was voted captain his senior year.
As a senior on the basketball team, he played an integral role in the team winning the 1933 Ohio basketball state championship.[3] Doc was the first Ohio high school athlete to be named All-Ohio in both football and basketball in the same calendar year.
As a member of the baseball squad in 1932 and 1933, Kelker's unofficial stats included a .521 batting average with 12 doubles, 7 triples, 5 home runs and 22 stolen bases. The team posted a combined record of 23-4, including a victory over state champion Warren.[4]
In track as a 9th grader, he set the school record for the 100-yard dash at 9.9 seconds.
College[]
Doc attended Western Reserve, now known as Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, OH, earning 9 varsity letters in football, basketball, and track.[5]
During his college football career, the team went a combined 27-2-1, including victories over Cornell, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Ohio, Toledo, and Akron. In Big Four Conference league play, the team was a perfect 9-0, winning all three titles against John Carroll, Baldwin Wallace, and Case Tech
Later years[]
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References[]
- ↑ https://www.si.com/vault/1962/12/10/666805/the-silver-allamerica-1962
- ↑ http://www.massillontigers.com/statistics/1932/np_dover_32.htm
- ↑ http://www.doverohclassof1984.org/docs/funstuff/1965-1966/Doc%20Kelker.pdf
- ↑ http://www.timesreporter.com/x123454799/Dover-names-first-HOF-class
- ↑ http://athletics.case.edu/sports/spartan_club/bios/kelker_frank?view=bio