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Dexter Very

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Dexter Very
Very at Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions
PositionEnd
ClassGraduate
Personal information
Born:(1889-11-27)November 27, 1889
Fairdale, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:September 27, 1980(1980-09-27) (aged 90)
State College, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Weight165 lb (75 kg)
Career history
College
Career highlights and awards
College Football Hall of Fame (1976)

Dexter W. Very (November 27, 1889 – September 27, 1980) was an American college football player for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team of Pennsylvania State University.[1]

Biography

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Very started at right end for the Nittany Lions in every game from 1909 to 1912. During that time, Penn State was undefeated in 1909, 1911 and 1912, while losing just two games in 1910.

Very was elected as the team's captain in 1911, and helped the Nittany Lions defeat the Penn Quakers, for its first victory over Penn in 18 years. That game he stripped the Quakers' Ray Mercer of the football and ran it back for a Penn State touchdown. In 1912, Very scored nine touchdowns in eight games. He never wore a helmet while playing. He was also the Middle Atlantic wrestling champion in 1915 at 158lbs.[2][3]

After college, he worked as a manufacturer's representative in Pittsburgh and also worked as a football official.[4] He officiated the 1927 Georgia vs. Yale football game. On January 2, 1933, Very officiated the Rose Bowl.

Early years

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Very was born in Fairdale, Greene County, in southwestern Pennslyvania. In 1907, he graduated from the Scotland Orphan Industrial School, in Scotland, Pennsylvania, which was later renamed the Scotland School for Veterans' Children.

For two years, before he enrolled at Penn State, Very attended Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.

Later years and death

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Very was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976. He died on September 27, 1980.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Yes, Dexter Very Knew The Doctor, The Boston Globe, 1933, retrieved March 13, 2023
  2. ^ P.A.A. Wrestlers Make Brillian Showing in Middle Atlantic Meet, The Pittsburgh Daily Post, 1915, retrieved March 13, 2023
  3. ^ Last Week To Enter Wrestling Tourney, The Pittsburgh Press, 1921, retrieved March 13, 2023
  4. ^ Big Games Assigned to Local Officials, The Pittsburgh Press, 1931, retrieved March 13, 2023
  5. ^ Hall of Famer Very dies, Oakland Tribune, 1980, retrieved March 13, 2023
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