Adam Martin Wyant
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's31st district
In office March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1933
Preceded by	John M. Morin
Succeeded by	M. Clyde Kelly
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's22nd district
In office March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923
Preceded by	John Haden Wilson
Succeeded by	Samuel F. Glatfelter
Personal details
Born	September 15, 1869 Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 5, 1935(1935-01-05) (aged 65) Greensburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Katherine N. Doty
Residence(s)	Greensburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	Bucknell University,University of Chicago,University of Pittsburgh
Profession	Professional football player,Educator,Lawyer,Politician,

Adam Martin Wyant (September 15, 1869 – January 5, 1935) was an American politician who served asRepublican member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania. He served six terms, a total of twelve years, in the House.^[1][2][3][4]

Wyant is also remembered for being the first professionalfootball player to be elected to theUnited States Congress. He played football from 1895 until 1897 with theGreensburg Athletic Association, an early professional club fromGreensburg, Pennsylvania.^[5][6]

He is also known for playingcollegiate football forBucknell University and theUniversity of Chicago from 1890 through 1893. During his playing career, Wyant was cited by his coach at Chicago,Amos Alonzo Stagg, as “one of the best men that ever donned the canvas jacket” (which was then a part of the football uniform). Wyant also served at one time as principal of the Greensburg schools before becoming a U.S. Congressman. His brother,Andy, played at Bucknell and Chicago, under Amos Alonzo Stagg. He was elected into theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 1962.^[7][8]

Adam Wyant was born nearKittanning^{[9][10][11][12]} on his family's rural farm in the village ofMontgomeryville, son of Christian Yerty Wyant and Elizabeth John, both of Washington Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Adam was named after his paternal grandfather whose ancestors (originally spelled Weyandt) were early German settlers of Bedford County, Pennsylvania arriving in October 1770 fromFreinsheim, Palatinate, Germany.

Adam attended the Mount Pleasant Institute, which is located inLewisburg, Pennsylvania, and also attendedBucknell for three years, playing on pioneer football teams there with his brother Andy. When Any left Bucknell to attend theUniversity of Chicago Divinity School, Adam followed his brother to Chicago and playedguard for the legendary coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg. In 1895, Adam graduated from the University of Chicago and returned to western Pennsylvania to teach inMt. Pleasant.^[13] He moved toGreensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1896.^[14][15][16]

In Greensburg, Wyant was widely known for his football skills and, at 6'0" and 196 pounds, he was considered a big person for that era. In the fall of 1895, was one of four college stars signed to play professionally with the Greensburg Athletic Association. His teammeates consisted ofLawson Fiscus andCharlie Atherton. Wyant playedquarterback for the team, a position that was not too different from guard in the style of play at the time. In 1896, while still playing pro football, he became the first principal ofGreensburg High School and soon thereafter became the city's first superintendent of schools.^[17][18][19]

In the summer of 1897, he ended his football career and studied law at theUniversity of Pittsburgh, and was admitted to theWestmoreland County, Pennsylvania Bar in 1902. He then commenced the practice of law in Greensburg. He was interested incoal mining and other business enterprises.^[20][21]

In 1910, Wyant married Katherine N. Doty, the daughter of a Westmoreland County judge. In 1920, he was elected as a Republican to the67th United States Congress. He won thestate's 22nd congressional district with the largest majority ever given a Republican candidate in the district's history. He was then re-elected five more times. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1932.^{[22][23][24][25]}

He resumed his former business pursuits and died in Greensburg, after succumbing tocancer on January 5, 1935. He was interred in the St. Clair Cemetery.^{[26][27][28][29]}

Minor party candidates not shown
Election winner inbold

• Media related toAdam Martin Wyant at Wikimedia Commons

• 1869 births
• 1935 deaths
• American athlete-politicians
• 19th-century players of American football
• Players of American football from Pennsylvania
• Chicago Maroons football players
• Bucknell Bison football players
• Greensburg Athletic Association players
• Pennsylvania lawyers
• People from Greensburg, Pennsylvania
• University of Chicago alumni
• University of Pittsburgh alumni
• Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
• Deaths from cancer in Pennsylvania
• 20th-century United States representatives

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from July 2024
• Commons category link is on Wikidata