George B. Walbridge
Encyclopedia
George B. Walbridge was an All-American
football player for Lafayette College
and a co-founder of Walbridge of Detroit, Michigan
, one of the 50 largest construction companies in the United States
.
in what was then known as Stony Fork when he enrolled at Lafayette in 1894. Walbridge was right halfback
and captain of Lafayette's 1896 team, which was named the national co-champion of college football
37 years later by the team's coach, Parke H. Davis
, who had become the sport's leading historian.
Walbridge was selected by Walter Camp
as a third team All-American in 1897
.
in 1898, Walbridge enlisted, serving as a private in the light artillery in Puerto Rico
.
Upon returning to civilian life, he graduated from Cornell with a degree in civil engineering
in 1900.
Starting out as a draftsman, Walbridge worked his way up. He spent six years with D. Burnham and Company in Chicago before joining Hedden Construction Company of New York City as general superintendent. He resigned that position to become vice president of the George F. Fuller Company of New York City, which transferred him to Detroit in 1914. In 1916, he co-founded Walbridge Aldinger in what was becoming the "motor city". According to the Walbridge company website, his partner
Walbridge felt the call of service to his country again with America's involvement in World War I
, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Engineers Corp.
With Walbridge serving as vice president and general manager, the company that bore his name became one of the 50 largest construction companies in the United States.
In 1925, he was named national president of the Associated General Contractors of America.
In 1934, Walbridge, a Republican, was named a member of the advisory council to the Federal Housing Administration
, created under the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
.
Walbridge remained a leader of his company for some 39 years, retiring as Chairman in 1955.
In 2008, the company he helped create changed its name to simply "Walbridge."
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
football player for Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
and a co-founder of Walbridge of Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, one of the 50 largest construction companies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Football career
Walbridge was living near Wellsboro, PennsylvaniaWellsboro, Pennsylvania
Wellsboro is a borough in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, 52 miles northwest of Williamsport. Early in the twentieth century, Wellsboro was the shipping point and trade center for a large area...
in what was then known as Stony Fork when he enrolled at Lafayette in 1894. Walbridge was right halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and captain of Lafayette's 1896 team, which was named the national co-champion of college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
37 years later by the team's coach, Parke H. Davis
Parke H. Davis
Parke Hill Davis was an American football player, coach and historian who retroactively named the national championship teams in American college football from the 1869 through the 1932 seasons. He also named co-national champions at the conclusion of the 1933 season...
, who had become the sport's leading historian.
Walbridge was selected by Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
as a third team All-American in 1897
1897 College Football All-America Team
The 1897 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans for the 1897 college football season, as selected by Walter Camp for Harper's Weekly...
.
Military service and the construction industry
With the outbreak of the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
in 1898, Walbridge enlisted, serving as a private in the light artillery in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
Upon returning to civilian life, he graduated from Cornell with a degree in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
in 1900.
Starting out as a draftsman, Walbridge worked his way up. He spent six years with D. Burnham and Company in Chicago before joining Hedden Construction Company of New York City as general superintendent. He resigned that position to become vice president of the George F. Fuller Company of New York City, which transferred him to Detroit in 1914. In 1916, he co-founded Walbridge Aldinger in what was becoming the "motor city". According to the Walbridge company website, his partner
(Albert H.) Aldinger, a German immigrant, was a banker who founded a construction company in Canada shortly before meeting George Walbridge. Both men became widely respected industry leaders who were instrumental in founding the Associated General Contractors of America and the Detroit Chapter.
Walbridge felt the call of service to his country again with America's involvement in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Engineers Corp.
With Walbridge serving as vice president and general manager, the company that bore his name became one of the 50 largest construction companies in the United States.
In 1925, he was named national president of the Associated General Contractors of America.
In 1934, Walbridge, a Republican, was named a member of the advisory council to the Federal Housing Administration
Federal Housing Administration
The Federal Housing Administration is a United States government agency created as part of the National Housing Act of 1934. It insured loans made by banks and other private lenders for home building and home buying...
, created under the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
.
Walbridge remained a leader of his company for some 39 years, retiring as Chairman in 1955.
In 2008, the company he helped create changed its name to simply "Walbridge."