Bertrand Leslie Shurtleff (3 Aug. 1897 – 15 Feb. 1967) was an Americanfootballoffensive lineman who spent three seasons in theNational Football League with theProvidence Steam Roller (1925-1926) and theBoston Bulldogs (1929) after playing forBrown University. Later he was aprofessional wrestler,teacher,public speaker, andauthor.^[1][2]

Bertrand Leslie Shurtleff was born August 3, 1897, inAdamsville, Rhode Island, to Eugene Kossuth Shurtleff (1856 - 1942) and Hattie Elma Cook (1898 - 1943). He was the seventh of their ten children.^[3]

At age 14 Shurtleff set out on his own and became self-supporting. At age 18, he went back to school, attendingEast Greenwich Academy and preparing for college in three years. At the start ofWorld War I, he enlisted in theU.S. Naval Reserve Force. He stayed in school for a time then spent the summer working in a powder factory inNew Jersey. Going into the active service, he trained atNewport, Rhode Island and served at State Pier inNew London, Connecticut until he was sent toBrown University to study for a commission.^[4][5]

When the war ended, he stayed at Brown, where he participated in wrestling and football.^[6] Shurtleff wrestled four years at Brown and won the New England Intercollegiate lightweight wrestling title in 1919-20.^[7] He paid his way through college working at odd jobs at everything from construction to crewing on a fruit boat toCosta Rica. Shurtleff was a member of the fraternityLambda Chi Alpha and graduated with the Class of 1922.^[5][8]

Shurtleff wrote a little book of original verse while still a student atBrown University and sold 2,000 copies in 1922-23.^[8] He was a professional football player for seven years, seeing action with theNew York Giants,Providence Steamroller andBoston Bulldogs. Later he wrestled professionally under the name "Mad Murdock" and ran a wrestling carnival, meeting all comers.^[7][9]

His first novel,Carey's Carnival was published inLondon byHurst and Blackett.Charleston Bound, a novel about Rhode Islanders in theAmerican Revolution, was also published by Hurst and Blackett under the pen name, S. B. Leslie.^[8] Between 1938 and 1963 Shurtleff had 14 books published and placed stories in about 30 magazines.^[5][10]

In addition to teaching and coaching, Shurtleff lectured widely at high schools, civic clubs and other groups on the fakery in professional wrestling. He also attempted to break into the movies. He was considered a possibility to replace the lateLouis Wolheim. He made several trips toHollywood, getting only bit parts and writing scenarios.^[9][5]

On August 3, 1922, Bertrand L Shurtleff was married to Hope C. Seal. They had three children.^[3][11]

• Jeane (1923 – 1981 )
• Faith (1928 – 1997)
• David (1930 – )

Shurtleff married second Margaret D. Dorgan on Aug. 3, 1946.^[11]

Bertrand Shurtleff died on February 15, 1967, inOrange County, California.

• 1922:Songs at Anchor

• 1944:AWOL K-9 Commando
• 1946:AWOL Musters Out
• 1948:AWOL at Large (The British edition ofAWOL Musters Out)
• 1948:AWOL the Rajah
• 1951:AWOL the Courier

• 1949:Two Against the North: A Story of Huskie and Spareribs
• 1952:Escape from the Icecap: A Tale of Huskie and Spareribs

• 1938:Carey's Carnival (as Bert Shurtleff)
• 1939:Charleston Bound (as S.B. Leslie)
• 1945:Short Leash
• 1947:Long Lash
• 1951:Colt of the Alcan Road
• 1953:Flying Footballs
• 1963:Ten Fathoms by Scuba

Bertrand Shurtleff also wrote many short stories that were published in popular magazines such asArgosy,Amazing Stories,Astounding Science Fiction and others.^[12]

The Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame^[13]

• 1897 births
• 1967 deaths
• People from Newport County, Rhode Island
• Players of American football from Rhode Island
• Brown Bears football players
• Boston Bulldogs (NFL) players
• Providence Steam Roller players
• 20th-century American short story writers
• Writers from Rhode Island
• 20th-century American male writers

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from June 2024