John Wyatt "Cap" Cardwell (June 6, 1896 – October 19, 1979[a]) was an American football player who played one season with the St. Louis All-Stars of the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the Kokomo American Legion football team as well as coached their 1940s baseball team.

John Cardwell
Personal information
Born:(1896-06-06)June 6, 1896
Waverly, Tioga County, New York, U.S.
Died:October 19, 1979(1979-10-19) (aged 83)
Kokomo, Indiana, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school:Waverly
College:None
Position:Halfback, Quarterback, Placekicker, Punter
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
  • Kokomo American Legion baseball (1940s)
Career NFL statistics
Games played:2
Games started:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life and education

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John Cardwell was born on June 6, 1896, in Waverly, Tioga County, New York. He played high school football there before going to the United States Army during World War I in France. While at the high school he played quarterback and halfback, leading his team to the 1913 State Championship.[1] He did not attend college.

Football career

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Before playing professionally, he was a popular player for the Kokomo American Legion football team as team captain.[1] They won the State Championship in 1921. After a few seasons with the American Legion team, he went to the professional St. Louis All-Stars of the National Football League. He played two games there,[2][3] starting one,[4] before a shoulder injury forced him to miss the season.[1] He played multiple positions with the All-Stars, they included: quarterback, halfback, placekicker, and punter. The next year, the All-Stars folded from the league, ending Cardwell's professional career.

Later life and death

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Cardwell got a job at the Stone Webster Company in 1920.[1] He later worked for the Public Service of Indiana. During the early 1940s, Cardwell was the chief clerk of Howard County War Price and Rating Board.[1] He held the position until 1944 when he became the district mileage representative of the Indiana Office of Price Administration.[1] He was defeated in the 1945 primary election while running for sheriff as a republican.[1] Cardwell was then employed at Sears Roebuck and Company for 18 years as a division manager.[1] He retired in 1961 to travel Europe, Asia, and the United States.[1]

Two years after his professional career ended, he married Mildred Tiplady (Cardwell).[1] They had two sons, Richard and John.[1]

Cardwell died on October 19, 1979, at the St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Kokomo, Indiana. He was 83 and died of an apparent heart attack.

Notes

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  1. ^ His Indiana Death Certificate says he died on October 20

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "John Cardwell, former pro ballplayer, dead". The Kokomo Tribune. October 21, 1979 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "John Cardwell Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "John Cardwell football Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ^ "John Cardwell Stats - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com.
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