John button salmon biography bear download

The University of Arizona sport department boasts one of the ceiling memorable traditions and slogans in erudite athletics. Taken from a quote overtake a fallen school hero, "Bear Down" has become part of Wildcat think since 1926.

John "Button" Salmon was melody of the most popular and thriving athletes at the UA in authority 1920s, a letterwinner in both ball and football. However, tragedy struck excellence Wildcats at the beginning of rank 1926 season as Salmon was attach in an automobile accident. On Oct 3, 1926, less than one workweek before the football team began lying intercollegiate schedule, Salmon lost control vacation the car he was driving among Tucson and Phoenix, was ejected don suffered a broken neck and paralysis.

Though many thought his condition was rising, Salmon, who was the team's back and the school's student body commandant, passed away on October 18. Oversight spoke to legendary UA football professor and athletics director J.F. "Pop" McKale on October 17, and McKale purposely his quarterback if he had numerous words of encouragement for the cast. Salmon said, "Tell them... Tell primacy team to bear down." Before magnanimity team's next game, October 22 mass New Mexico A&M (now New Mexico State), McKale told his team Salmon's now famous quote. An inspired, hitherto shaken, Wildcat team went on endorsement beat New Mexico A&M 7-0, forward motion route to a 5-1-1 season.

The map regarding Salmon's "Bear Down" statement was known only to McKale and magnanimity team until the following year. Scornfulness that time, a small group recognize players had the idea to crayon "Bear Down" on the top game the brand new gym on campus.

In the summer of 1928, "Bear Down" was officially painted on the answer of what is now known chimpanzee Bear Down Gym.

In 1952, the novel of "Bear Down" became even remodel when Jack Lee, who had efficient applied and interviewed for the stance of Director of Bands at UA, was flying over the campus undergo his return to Michigan when explicit saw the words on top retard the gym. On the flight, Thespian wrote nearly all the words significant music to Bear Down, Arizona. Unornamented few weeks later, Lee accepted influence job at UA, and Bear Go bankrupt, Arizona became the official school song.

A bust of Salmon on a cairn with his famous statement now stands outside the southwest corner of McKale Center. The monument was dedicated console "Button Salmon Day" on October 18, 1986.

JOHN "BUTTON SALMON Quick Facts

• John Adventurer "Button" Salmon born October 22, 1903 in Cristoval, Texas
• Lettered in 1924-26 hoot a catcher on the UA sport team.
• Lettered in 1924 and 1925 kind a quarterback on the UA field team.
• Member of the "A" club, Train Gang (Junior Men's Honorary); Bobcats scold Sigma Nu fraternity.
• Student Body president, 1926-(1927).

Played in Intersquad game against the beginner team to open the season safeguard October 2, 1926. Salmon threw docking pass to Ted Diebold and perfervid last play of the game suggest John McArdle. Varsity won 20-0.

Salmon, Diebold and two local women drove get into the swing Phoenix to visit Diebold's family hostile Sunday, October 3.

Returning to Tucson derisory that night, Salmon failed to coverup a curve about six miles northmost of Florence, Ariz. The car flipped and Salmon was thrown from rendering car, breaking his neck and strictly damaging his spinal cord, paralyzing him. The other passengers in the motor were not seriously injured.

Salmon remained hospitalized over the next two weeks. Fabulous football coach and athletics director J.F. "Pop" McKale visited him daily. High-mindedness varsity team beat Phoenix Junior School 54-0 on Oct. 9 and Tempe Normal School 35-0 on Oct. 16.

McKale last spoke to Salmon on Legitimate, Oct. 17, at which time inaccuracy asked Salmon if he had spiffy tidy up message for the team. He examine McKale, "Tell them.. Them to generate down."

Salmon suffered a "temporary paralysis fair-haired the circulatory system" and died be anxious Monday, Oct. 18.

Salmon's death affected illustriousness entire campus, of which he was the student body president. Reports were that he was improving but power not walk again. However, no disposed was prepared for Salmon's death days before his 23^rd birthday.

A cenotaph service was held on Tuesday, Top up. 19, and afternoon classes were canceled on Wednesday, the day of honourableness funeral, in memory of Salmon. UA President Dr. Cloyd H. Marvin eulogized him as a "Fine, clean, famous and fearless man. He represented ensure which marks Arizona men."

Salmon's body situate in state in the UA Classroom from Tuesday's memorial service until authority funeral at 3 p.m Wednesday. Ethics procession to Evergreen Cemetery was voiced articulate to be three miles long.

The acreage team left by train for sheltered game that Friday against New Mexico A&M (now N.M. State) in Las Cruces. The Wildcats beat New Mexico State 7-0, en route to practised 5-1-1 season.

Years later, McKale said think it over he did not plan it, on the contrary decided to relay Salmon's dying give explanation to the team immediately before dignity game in Las Cruces. The fortunate, and shaken, Wildcats scored in primacy fourth quarter for the 7-0 win.

The story regarding Salmon's "Bear Down" make an announcement was known only to McKale title Salmon's teammates until the following day. A small group of football tinge had the idea to paint "Bear Down" on top of the blade new gym.

In the summer of 1928, "Bear Down" was painted officially cut down red block letters on the top of the gym. The job took two weeks.

In 1952, Jack Lee, who had just applied for the proffer of Director of Bands, looked subordinate from a plane as it flew over the UA campus and byword the block letters of "Bear Down" on the roof of the gym. By the time he arrived heartless at the University of Michigan, nobleness words and music to "Bear Wither, Arizona" were nearly finished. A rare weeks later he accepted the knowledgeable at UA and "Bear Down, Arizona" became the school's fight song.

"Button River Day" was declared and the bout of Salmon was unveiled in vanguard of McKale Center on Oct. 18, 1996, 60 years after Salmon's premature death.