Jewel Rex Farrior Sr. (October 5, 1896 – January 17, 1993) was an American college football and baseball player and coach for the Florida Gators of the University of Florida,[1] as well as a lawyer. He became a founding partner in a prominent Tampa-based law firm, and remained one of the biggest boosters of the Gators sports program until his death.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 5, 1896 Chipley, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | January 17, 1993 (aged 96) Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1912 | Tampa A. C. |
| 1913–1916 | Florida |
| Position(s) | Guard, center, fullback (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1917 | Florida (assistant) |
| 1920-1922 | Gainesville HS (FL) |
| 1923 | Florida (freshmen) |
| Baseball | |
| 1924 | Florida |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 5–14 (college baseball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame Florida Sports Hall of Fame Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award (1986) | |
Early years
editFarrior was born October 5, 1896, in Chipley, Florida, to Joseph R. Farrior and Gussie Brown.[2] His father was a physician.
Farrior attended Hillsborough High School in Tampa, where he played football and baseball, graduating in 1913. Future Gator teammate Rammy Ramsdell was in the same class.
University of Florida
editFarrior is the namesake of Farrior Hall on the UF campus.[3]
Football
editFarrior was a prominent guard and center for the Florida Gators football team from 1913 to 1916.[1][4] His first ever game was the 144–0 victory over the Florida Southern Moccasins.
Farrior was captain of the football team in his senior year. In that season the Gators lost all their games, suffering multiple injures and transfers, requiring Farrior to shift to fullback. He broke his ankle that year in the Indiana game.[5] A member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity at UF, the Kappa Alpha Journal reads "J. Rex Farrior of the University of Florida has been for several seasons the 'Gators most brilliant performer."[6]
He was nominated though not selected for an Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1869-1919 era team.[7] As a football player, he was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. The "Rex Farrior Award" was once given to the most "team-oriented" player.[8] Originally the award was given to the defensive lineman who showed the most effort.[9]
Return to UF and coaching
editFarrior to Florida in 1921 after serving in World War I to earn his law degree, graduating in 1924.[10][3]
Gainesville High
editFrom 1920 to 1922, Farrior coached the Gainesville High School Purple Hurricane football team. The 1922 team was his best and won a state title.[11] Athletes who played for him include Jack McDowall, Lamar Sarra, and Goof Bowyer.[1]
Florida
edit
Farrior coached the 1924 baseball team. In his one-season the team posted a 5–14 record.
Cigar Bowl
editFarrior was chairman of the selection committee for the Cigar Bowl.[12]
Law practice
editFarrior became a partner in Shackleford and Farrior, which evolved into one of Tampa's largest law firms.[1][13] Law partner Bob Shackleford was a former Florida Gator quarterback. Farrior was elected president of the Florida Bar in 1975.[3][14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Rex Farrior". National Football Foundation.
- ^ Database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7R3-R9K : accessed June 24, 2015), Jewel Rex Farrior, October 5, 1896; citing Chipley, Washington, Florida, reference; FHL microfilm 978,727.
- ^ a b c "Farrior Hall".
- ^ 2014 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived September 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 74, 75, 76–86, 87–90, 91–93, 94, 95–96, 98–106, 107–116, 141–144, 146–159, 160, 171–175, 176–183 (2014). Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "Florida Put Out 14-3, by Stiehm Men". The Indianapolis Star. November 19, 1916. p. 33. Retrieved August 23, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Order, Kappa Alpha (1918). "[No title]". Kappa Alpha Journal. 34 (3): 43.
- ^ "U-T Greats On All-Time Southeast Team". Kingsport Post. July 31, 1969.
- ^ "Football Team Awards Announced at Banquet". February 11, 2002.
- ^ "UF Roundup". Gainesville Sun. February 24, 1993.
- ^ "Jewel Rex Farrior".
- ^ "Fleming Field: Gainesville's forgotten sports venue". September 15, 2017.
- ^ "Cyclones, Drake Among Eyed For Cigar Bowl". October 26, 1949. p. 9. Retrieved June 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tampa Bay Magazine".
- ^ The Florida Bar, History, List of Past Presidents. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
