Alured Chaffee "Slim" Ransom (November 12, 1908[1]-January 13, 1992[2]) was an American athletics coach and sports educator who helped develop physical education programs in Afghanistan. In the United States he was a college football and basketball coach, coaching from 1941 until 1954. His career football coaching record was 30–41–2 with a winning percentage of .411. He also spent some time coaching[3] and as an athletic director[4] at the high school level.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 12, 1908 Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 13, 1992 (aged 83) California, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1928–1932 | Geneva |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1941 | Geneva |
| 1946–1948 | Geneva |
| 1950–1951 | Washington & Jefferson |
| 1952–1954 | Dickinson |
| Basketball | |
| 1941–1942 | Geneva |
| 1946–1949 | Geneva |
| 1952–1955 | Dickinson |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 30–41–2 (football) 70–76 (basketball) |
International impact
editRansom was selected by the Asia Foundation to help develop physical education programs in Afghanistan for secondary schools and colleges. His work as an advisor to the minister of education in Afghanistan went for two years and included advising schools in the creation of facilities and preparation of instructors.[5]
Playing career
editRansom was a graduate of and played football for Geneva College,[6] where he earned 12 varsity letters. While at Geneva, he earned a Bachelor of Science in education. In 1939 he earned a Master of Education from the University of Pittsburgh.
Coaching career
editGeneva
editPrior to coaching at Dickinson, Ransom was the 19th head football coach at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania and he held that position for four seasons, for the 1941 season, and then returned for 1946 until 1948. His coaching record at Geneva was 20–12–2.[7] Geneva awarded a "Distinguished Service Award" to him in 1982.[8] His coaching was interrupted by World War II and his military service (see entry below).
Washington & Jefferson
editRansom also coached at Washington & Jefferson College from 1950 to 1951, posting a losing record of 3–11, with the 1950 team compiling a winless 0–8 record.[9]
Dickinson
editRansom was the 27th head football coach at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and he held that position for three seasons, from 1952 until 1954.[10] His football coaching record at Dickinson was 8–17.[11] This ranks him 13th at Dickinson in terms of total wins and 24th at Dickinson in terms of winning percentage.[12] He also was the basketball coach at Dickinson from 1953 through 1955, accumulating a 21–35 record.[13]
Military service
editRansom served in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant Commander aboard the USS Bataan as a gunnery officer. He saw action during World War II while in the Navy from 1942 until 1946.[14]
Head coaching record
editFootball
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva Covenanters (Independent) (1941) | |||||||||
| 1941 | Geneva | 4–3–2 | |||||||
| Geneva Covenanters (Independent) (1946–1948) | |||||||||
| 1946 | Geneva | 7–1 | |||||||
| 1947 | Geneva | 7–2 | |||||||
| 1948 | Geneva | 2–6 | |||||||
| Geneva: | 20–12–2 | ||||||||
| Washington & Jefferson Presidents (Independent) (1950–1951) | |||||||||
| 1950 | Washington & Jefferson | 0–8 | |||||||
| 1951 | Washington & Jefferson | 3–3 | |||||||
| Washington & Jefferson: | 3–11 | ||||||||
| Dickinson Red Devils (Independent) (1952–1954) | |||||||||
| 1952 | Dickinson | 3–6 | |||||||
| 1953 | Dickinson | 3–5 | |||||||
| 1954 | Dickinson | 2–6 | |||||||
| Dickinson: | 8–17 | ||||||||
| Total: | 30–14–2 | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ Archives: Dickinson College
- ^ FamilySearch U.S. Social Security Death Index Alured Ransom
- ^ McDonald Record-Outlook Archives October 8, 1942
- ^ McDonald Record-Outlook Archives July 7, 1932
- ^ Pittsburgh Press "District's 'Mr. Gulliver' on Move-This Time it's to Afghanistan" by Edwin Beachler, September 22, 1958
- ^ The Jambar (Student Publication of Youngstown College)[permanent dead link] "YoCo's Penguins Will Resume Gridiron Rivalry With Geneva College Tomorrow Night at Rayen" September 18, 1946
- ^ "Geneva College coaching records". Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
- ^ Geneva College Alumni Awards
- ^ "Presidents Football Media Guide" (PDF). Washington & Jefferson College. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2011.
- ^ Centennial Conference Archived October 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine "2008 Centennial Conference Football Prospectus"
- ^ "The History of Football at Dickinson College, 1885–1969." Gobrecht, Wilbur J., Chambersburg, PA: Kerr Printing Co., 1971.
- ^ Dickinson College Football Media Guide Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Dickinson College Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
- ^ Pittsburgh Press "District's 'Mr. Gulliver' on Move-This Time It's to Afghanistan" by Edwin Beachler, September 22, 1958