 Schwenk in 1946 | |||||||||||||
| No. 45, 64, 40, 88 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positions | Quarterback Halfback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | (1917-08-26)August 26, 1917 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Died | October 1, 1980(1980-10-01) (aged 63) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 201 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Beaumont(St. Louis) | ||||||||||||
| College | Washington (MO) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1942: 3rd round, 19th overall pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL/AAFC statistics | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Wilson Rutherford "Bud" Schwenk Jr. (August 26, 1917– October 1, 1980) was an American professionalfootball player who was aquarterback for four seasons in theNational Football League (NFL) andAll-America Football Conference (AAFC).
Schwenk was acollege football star with theWashington University Bears, for whom he was asingle wing halfback, setting numerous passing records in his senior year. After college, Schwenk played one season for theChicago Cardinals in the NFL, before leaving to serve for three years as aPT boat captain in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II.
Upon his discharge, Schwenk signed a contract for the 1946 season with theCleveland Browns of the new AAFC. Although Schwenk was hobbled by injury, the Browns won the AAFC championship that year. Schwenk was traded after the 1946 season, landing with the expansionBaltimore Colts, for whom he was the team's first starting quarterback. The 1947 season was his best year as a player, with Schwenk setting a professional football record for passing attempts.Waived by the Colts, Schwenk was picked up by theNew York Yankees for 1948, his final season in football.
Schwenk was inducted into the Washington University sports hall of fame in 1991. His jersey number 42 is the only one retired by the school's football program.
Schwenk was a native ofSt. Louis, Missouri and attended the city'sBeaumont High School.[1] A three-sport athlete, he became a starhalfback who both threw forward passes and ran with the ball atWashington University in St. Louis.[2][3] He played for theWashington University Bears football team, starting as a junior in 1940. He set a college football record the following year by running and passing for a combined 516 yards in a single game.[4] He surpassed a three-year-old college record for completed passes in a season later in the year, with 114.[5][6] He passed and ran for a total of 1,628 yards.[6]
Schwenk was recruited by professional football teams and wasdrafted by theChicago Cardinals of theNational Football League at the end of 1941.[7] That December, he said he had abandoned plans to play in theNational Football League because ofWorld War II.[8] Nevertheless, he played for the Cardinals during the 1942 season.[9] He broke the NFL record for most passes completed in his first season, although thePhiladelphia Eagles'Davey O'Brien also broke the record and beat him with 146.[10]
Schwenk did not play between 1943 and 1945 as he served as the captain of aPT boat in theU.S. Navy during the war.[11]
Following his discharge from the Navy, Schwenk signed with theCleveland Browns of the newAll-America Football Conference.[6] Limited by an ankle injury, Schwenk played sparingly for the Browns in the 1946 season, substituting on occasion forquarterbackOtto Graham.[12] The Browns won theAAFC championship that year.[13] Schwenk was traded to theBuffalo Bills forfullback Jim Thibaut early in 1947.[12] The Bills then sent him to theBaltimore Colts in August.[12][14]
Schwenk started at quarterback in the first regular season game in Baltimore Colts franchise history.[15] As a Colt in 1947, Schwenk had what would be the best season of his career, passing for 2,236 yards and throwing 13touchdowns.[7]
In November, Schwenk bested his own professional football record, set while with the Cardinals in 1942, of 295 passing attempts in a season.[16] Despite his production, the Colts put him out on waivers after the season, however.[17] He was picked up by theNew York Yankees.[17] Schwenk played for the Yankees in 1948 before leaving professional football.[7]
Schwenk began work in 1950 as thechief operating officer of the Mississippi Valley branch ofJunior Achievement, anon-profit that prepares young people for the workforce.[1] He stayed at Junior Achievement for 30 years.[1] He engaged in civic organizations in St. Louis, and was on the board of the city'sBetter Business Bureau.[1] He also was a director and founder of the Spanish Lake Bank & Trust Company.[1] Between 1971 and 1975, he was chairman of the Missouri State Athletic Commission.[1]
Schwenk died on October 1, 1980, of lung cancer.[11] He was 63 years old at the time of his death.
Schwenk was inducted into the Washington University Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, and his number 42 jersey is the only one retired by the Washington Bears.[2]
