 Captain John W. Guckeyson, left, and his crew chief, S/Sgt. Alvin H. Walther, pose in front of his P-47 fighter. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | (1915-07-07)July 7, 1915 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died: | May 21, 1944(1944-05-21) (aged 28) Stendal, Germany |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Bethesda-Chevy Chase (MD) |
| College: | Maryland |
| Position: | Halfback,punter |
| NFL draft: | 1937: 6th round, 51st pick |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
John William Guckeyson (/ˈɡaɪkɪsən/; July 7, 1915 – May 21, 1944) was an American athlete and military aviator. He was the firstUniversity of Maryland football player selected in theNFL Draft. Guckeyson was killed in combat as a fighter pilot during theSecond World War.[1]
Guckeyson was born inWashington, D.C. He attendedBethesda-Chevy Chase High School, where he played basketball, soccer, and competed intrack & field. At the 1932 Maryland state track meet, he won the100-yard dash with a time of 10.2 seconds and set a stateshot put record—50 feet (15 meters)—that stood for 28 years. He was the captain of the varsity soccer team for three years and of the basketball team for two years. He graduated from high school in 1933.
Although B-CC had no football team, Guckeyson's soccer skills won him a football scholarship to theUniversity of Maryland,[2] where he played football, basketball, and baseball, and ran track. He set the schooljavelin throw record: 204 ft 5 in (62.31 meters). In 1935 and 1936, he was named an All-Southern Conference football player and an honorable-mentionAll-American.[2][3][4]Frank Dobson—who coached football for 40 years atGeorgia,Clemson,South Carolina,Richmond, and Maryland—said Guckeyson was the best athlete he had known.[5] He earned ninevarsity letters during his four years at Maryland.
During his senior year, Guckeyson was elected class president.[2]
Upon graduation from Maryland, Guckeyson was selected by thePhiladelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the1937 NFL draft, the first Maryland player so selected.[6][2][7] However, he turned down offers to play professional sports, and instead accepted a nomination to attend theUnited States Military Academy at West Point.[2] Guckeyson, no longer eligible to play football, was named a first-team All-American insoccer in 1941,[2][8] the firstArmy soccer player to earn the distinction.[9] Once again, he was elected class president.[2]
Guckeyson graduated from West Point in 1942 and received a commission as an officer in theUnited States Army. He again turned down offers for a professional sports career when theWashington Senators' ownerClark Griffith and pitcherWalter Johnson asked him to join themajor league. He attended flight school and was certified as a fighter pilot in theUnited States Army Air Forces before being deployed overseas in December 1942.[2]
As a fighter pilot, Guckeyson earned aPurple Heart, threeAir Medals, and twoDistinguished Flying Crosses—the fourth-highest award for combat valor in flight.[2] While serving in the 375th Fighter Squadron,361st Fighter Group, Guckeyson flew aP-47 Thunderbolt ("Contrary Mary"), then aP-51 Mustang (serial: 42–103349) after his unit switched to the newer aircraft. He was credited with shooting down at least 2.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat: twoBf 109 fighters and aJu-188night fighter, which was destroyed with the assistance of another pilot.[10][11][12]Captain Guckeyson was killed on a strafing run on 21 May 1944 when his P-51 Mustang was shot down.[13][1] His remains are interred at theLorraine American Cemetery and Memorial inSaint-Avold, France.[14]
In 1955, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School named its athletic playing field Guckeyson Memorial Stadium in his honor.[2] He was inducted into theTouchdown Club Hall of Fame,[15] and in 1982, theUniversity of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.[16] Maryland's M Club annually honors the university's most outstanding male student-athlete with the John W. Guckeyson award.
