Harry F. Hazlett
Encyclopedia
Harry Fouts Hazlett was a career officer in the U.S. Army. Prior to that he was an American football
coach for the Canton Professionals-Bulldogs
of the Ohio League
, which was the direct predecessor to the modern National Football League
, as well as the head football and basketball
coach at Canton McKinley High School
. He was fired as the head coach of the Canton Bulldogs, by manager Jack Cusack
, after he benched Canton rookie, Jim Thorpe
, for first game of the 1915 league title game. The first game in the two game series resulted in a 16-0 victory over the Bulldogs by their rivials, the Massillon Tigers
. It is unknown why Hazlett benched Thorpe. Some historians feel it was due to Thorpe, not having time to practice with the team, while others feel that he resented Thorpe's high salary. After Hazlett was fired, the Bulldogs' quarterback
, Don Hamilton
left the team in protest. Thorpe was later named the teams' new head coach and led the Bulldogs' to the 1915 Championship, which was split between Canton and Massillon.
Hazlett joined the Ohio National Guard as a captain in 1916 and participated in the Mexican Expedition. During World War I
he served as a machine gun officer and was cited for bravery. After the war he taught at the University of Akron
and the University of Dayton
as a Professor of Military Science and Tactics. Before World War II
, Hazlett attended the Army War College and published a paper, Procurement and Processing during the Voluntary Enlistment Period of Initial Mobilization in 1933. Then Lt. Colonel
Hazlett served as an instructor at the Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth
from 1935 to 1936.
During 1945 Hazlett served as Commanding General of the Replacement and School Command. In June 1946 he succeeded Major General
Paul J. Mueller
as commander of the 86th Infantry Division (United States). He commanded the division until it was deactivated in December 1946 on Leyte
, Philippines
. After commanding the 86th, he was the Post Commander at Yokohama
, Japan
until 1947.
In retirement Hazlett lived in California
. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach for the Canton Professionals-Bulldogs
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and its successor, the National Football League, from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs would go on to win the 1917, 1918...
of the Ohio League
Ohio League
The Ohio League was an informal and loose association of American football clubs active between 1903 and 1919 that competed for the Ohio Independent Championship . As the name implied, its teams were based in Ohio...
, which was the direct predecessor to the modern National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, as well as the head football and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach at Canton McKinley High School
Canton McKinley High School
Canton McKinley Senior High School is a public high school in Canton, Stark County, Ohio, U.S. It is one of the largest and oldest high schools in Ohio.-Athletics:...
. He was fired as the head coach of the Canton Bulldogs, by manager Jack Cusack
Jack Cusack
Jack Cusack was one of the prominent early figures in professional football in Ohio. At the age of twenty-one, Cusack became the manager and owner of the Canton Bulldogs, one of the leading teams of the day...
, after he benched Canton rookie, Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe
Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
, for first game of the 1915 league title game. The first game in the two game series resulted in a 16-0 victory over the Bulldogs by their rivials, the Massillon Tigers
Massillon Tigers
The Massillon Tigers were an early professional football team from Massillon, Ohio. Playing in the "Ohio League", the team was a rival to the pre-National Football League version of the Canton Bulldogs. The Tigers won Ohio League championships in 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906, then merged to become...
. It is unknown why Hazlett benched Thorpe. Some historians feel it was due to Thorpe, not having time to practice with the team, while others feel that he resented Thorpe's high salary. After Hazlett was fired, the Bulldogs' quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, Don Hamilton
Don Hamilton
Donald Munson Hamilton of Columbus, Ohio was an American football player for the University of Notre Dame, as well as a professional baseball player and a football referee....
left the team in protest. Thorpe was later named the teams' new head coach and led the Bulldogs' to the 1915 Championship, which was split between Canton and Massillon.
Hazlett joined the Ohio National Guard as a captain in 1916 and participated in the Mexican Expedition. During 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...
he served as a machine gun officer and was cited for bravery. After the war he taught at the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
and the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
as a Professor of Military Science and Tactics. Before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Hazlett attended the Army War College and published a paper, Procurement and Processing during the Voluntary Enlistment Period of Initial Mobilization in 1933. Then Lt. Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
Hazlett served as an instructor at the Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
from 1935 to 1936.
During 1945 Hazlett served as Commanding General of the Replacement and School Command. In June 1946 he succeeded Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Paul J. Mueller
Paul J. Mueller
-External links:* Retrieved 2009-02-20* Retrieved 2009-02-20* Retrieved 2009-02-21...
as commander of the 86th Infantry Division (United States). He commanded the division until it was deactivated in December 1946 on Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. After commanding the 86th, he was the Post Commander at Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
until 1947.
In retirement Hazlett lived in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.