Jonas H. Ingram
Jonas Howard Ingram | |
|---|---|
South Atlantic Force Task Force Three USS Tennessee (BB-43) Destroyer Squadron Six USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) USS Stoddert (DD-302) | |
| Battles/wars | Mexican Revolution
|
| Awards | Medal of Honor Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3) Purple Heart |
A noteworthy football player during his collegiate years, Ingram is remembered as the second commissioner of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), a professional American football league launched in 1946 and terminated in 1950 with the absorption of three teams into the rival National Football League. Ingram was appointed to the position in 1947 and resigned in 1949.
Early life and sports
Playing career
As a youth, Ingram attended Jeffersonville High School and Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, then was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1903, at the age of 17. He graduated in 1907 and his classmates included Patrick N. L. Bellinger, Henry K. Hewitt, George M. Courts, Claud A. Jones, and Willis W. Bradley.[1] During Ingram's time at the academy, he was a member of the school's rowing, track, and football teams, leading the latter team to the Midshipmen's first victory in six years over their bitter rivals from Army by scoring the lone touchdown in the 1906 clash. His athletic exploits helped earn him the academy's prestigious Athletic Sword and induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
Coaching career
As a lieutenant, Ingram was named the 15th head football coach of the United States Naval Academy and he held that position for two seasons, from 1915 until 1916, compiling a record of 9–8–2.[2]
From 1926 through 1930, Ingram was the director of athletics of the Naval Academy.[3] Thereafter he retained a close connection to football by working as a referee at the collegiate and professional level.[3]
Military career
Following his graduation in 1907, Ingram served in several battleships, cruisers and destroyers. As turret officer of the battleship USS Arkansas (BB-33), he established a world's record for firing 12-inch (305 mm) guns. On April 22, 1914, he landed at Veracruz, Mexico with the Arkansas battalion and was later awarded the Medal of Honor for "distinguished conduct in battle" and "skillful and efficient handling of the artillery and machine guns".
World War I and interwar years
During World War I, Ingram was awarded the
Earning the rank of commander in 1924, Ingram became the commanding officer of the destroyer USS Stoddert (DD-302) before returning to the United States Naval Academy to serve as both athletic director and football director from 1926 to 1930.
Ingram moved on to command the battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) for a period of time after that, before serving as Officer-in-Charge of the Public Relations Branch.
Prior to his promotion to captain in 1935, Ingram served as an aide to the
World War II
In the early years of World War II, Ingram was promoted to
On November 15, 1944, Ingram was appointed
Detached from duty as Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, during September 1946, he subsequently retired from active duty on April 1, 1947, after 44 years of service.
Football commissioner
In February 1947 Ingram was named commissioner of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), replacing Jim Crowley. The post carried with it an annual salary of $30,000 — approximately $470,000 in the 2023 equivalent.[5]
Serving until resigning in 1949, Ingram went on to serve as a vice president for the
Death and legacy
In August 1952, Ingram suffered a heart attack while serving as the superintendent of summer schools at Culver Academies, then was stricken again with another attack on September 9, while at the United States Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. He died the following evening.
Admiral Ingram and his wife Jean Fletcher (1892–1954) are buried at
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy. Born: October 15, 1886, Jeffersonville, Ind. Accredited to: Indiana. G.O. No.: 177, December 4, 1915.
- Citation
For distinguished conduct in battle, engagement of Vera Cruz, 22 April 1914. During the second day's fighting the service performed by him was eminent and conspicuous. He was conspicuous for skillful and efficient handling of the artillery and machineguns of the Arkansas battalion, for which he was specially commended in reports.
Additional awards
- Medal of Honor
- Navy Cross
- award stars
- Purple Heart (for wounds received during an encounter with a German submarine "wolf-pack" in 1942)
- Mexican Service Medal
- World War I Victory Medal (United States) with "Grand Fleet" clasp
- American Defense Service Medal with bronze "A" device
- American Campaign Medal
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
Ingram also held the following foreign decorations:
Legacy
The destroyer Jonas Ingram (DD-938), commissioned in 1957, was named in his honor.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navy Midshipmen (Independent) (1915–1916) | |||||||||
| 1915 | Navy | 3–5–1 | |||||||
| 1916 | Navy | 6–3–1 | |||||||
| Navy: | 9–8–2 | ||||||||
| Total: | 9–8–2 | ||||||||
See also
References
- ^ Lucky Bag. Nimitz Library U. S. Naval Academy. First Class, United States Naval Academy. 1907.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Navy Midshipmen football coaching records Archived December 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Arthur Lee Jones, "Commissioner Ingram Orders Anchors Aweigh," Pro Football Illustrated, 1947. Mt. Morris, IL: Elbak Publishing Co., 1947; pp. 10–11.
- ^ Rodman, Hugh (1927). Yarns of a Kentucky Admiral. p. 265.
- ^ Photo caption, Pro Football Illustrated, 1947. Mt. Morris, IL: Elbak Publishing Co., 1947; p. 3.
- ^ "Burial Detail: Ingram, Jonas H. (Section 30, Grave 643)". ANC Explorer. Arlington National Cemetery. (Official website).
- "Medal of Honor recipients". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links
- Jonas H. Ingram at the College Football Hall of Fame
- "Jonas Howard Ingram". at ArlingtonCemetery.net. (Unofficial website).
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
