Biography abstract:

Emerson said, “All history is but the lengthened shadow of a great man”.  If true, few men cast longer shadows in the history of Kansas sports than H. W. “Bill” Hargiss, who came onto the scene of Kansas athletics in the early days of the 20th century.  While Bill Hargiss was an excellent athlete in his own right, he possessed a remarkable ability to promote athletic performance in others.  As a coach he had imagination, initiative, and skill.  As a man he was generous and warm-hearted.

Homer Woodson Hargiss was born September 1, 1887, on a Cherokee County farm in southeastern Kansas.  He gave himself the nickname “Bill”� as a schoolboy when he was forceful enough to make it stick. Only his mother continued to call him "Homer”.  Bill Hargiss grew up big and athletic as the middle of five sports-competitive brothers.

Beulah, a small town seven miles west of Pittsburg, Kansas, had a high school football team that was the scourge of the Cherokee Neutral Lands of the early 1900s.  It was not important at that time that all players attend school and most of the team members, including the coach, were ex-college players.  The team played three legitimate students including Bill and one of his brothers.  Arc-lights were rigged on the practice field, possibly the first time for high school play, so that practice was possible after farm chores were completed after school.  Hargiss, playing fullback, led the football team to an undefeated season, and was a three-sport standout at Beulah High School.

After high school Hargiss attended Kansas State Normal (KSN) during 1905-1909, today's Emporia State University (ESU) and became a 4-year letterman in football (as fullback), basketball (as center), and track.  He was the regular first baseman in baseball when a game did not coincide with a track meet.  Hargiss also participated in gymnastics and boxing.  He earned 16 college athletic letters and was named a team captain five times, all while working his way through school.  He graduated in 1909 with a BSE.

After coaching one year at Marion High School in Kansas, Hargiss coached at the College of Emporia (C of E) in 1910 for three years  Hargiss produced the first winning football season for C of E in his first year, with a 17-6-1 record overall.  At C of E Hargiss exploited the athleticism and intelligence of quarterback Arthur A. Schabinger, an eventual Kansas Hall of Famer, to implement the forward pass play as an regular and effective part of the offensive repertoire beginning in 1910; three years earlier than the first regular use often credited to Knute Rockne and Gus Dorais at Notre Dame.  Also in 1910, the innovative Hargiss employed a halfback pass option play, pulled guards to run interference for the ball carrier on end runs, an early user of the T-formation, and created a lightweight football shoe by modifying a baseball shoe.

In 1913 Hargiss went to University of Kansas (KU) in Lawrence to assist with coaching football, track, and several other minor sports with the understanding to become head football coach in the following year.  During the summer he attended the Harvard Graduate School to obtain a certification in "Special Proficiency in Physical Education."  

However, the head coaching position at KU did not materialize as promised and Hargiss returned to his alma mater KSN to coach multiple sports over 1914-1917, and returning over 1920-1927, with two years in Oregon between.  While at KSN state track championships were won in 1915, 1916, 1917, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, and conference football titles in 1915, 1916, 1926, and co-champion in 1927.  Three of his KSN football teams went undefeated.  The 1926 team won the Kansas Conference championship, was undefeated and untied, and its goal line was never crossed, scoring 144 points while allowing the opponents just three.  The KSN gridiron teams he fielded won 61 games, lost 23, and tied 12 - the highest win percentage in ESU football. 

While at KSN, Hargiss mentored world class athletes John Kuck, collegiate and Olympic champ in shot put; Earl McKown, two-time collegiate champ in pole vault; Lige Williams, intercollegiate record holder of the 220-yard dash; and Fran Welch, football player/coach and Kansas Sports Hall of Famer.

During 1918-1919 Hargiss was in Corvallis, Oregon to coach football, track, and basketball at Oregon Agricultural College (OAC), today's Oregon State University.  There Bill Hargiss introduced the offensive huddle.  This huddle was first used in the OAC game played at the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1918.  Hargiss brought the huddle to the mid-west upon his return to KSN in 1920 and soon Bob Zuppke of Illinois began employing it.  In 1923 Bill Hargiss introduced the defensive huddle.

Following a second duty at KSN 1920-1927, Hargiss served as KU's head football coach for five years beginning in 1928.  His 1930 KU football team went 6-2 to win a rare Big Six league title having Carnie Smith, Ormand Beach, Jim Bausch, and Elmer Schaake in the backfield.  At KU Hargiss compiled an 18-16-2 football record.  His overall record in 21 years of college football head coaching was 102-53-16: a win percentage of 0.643. 

Hargiss was KU's head track coach for ten years beginning in 1933.  Indoor and outdoor conference track championships were won in 1934.  Hargiss coached world class athletes Glenn Cunningham (1932, 1933 NCAA mile champ, 1932 Olympics 1,500 meters fourth, 1936 Olympics 1,500 meters silver, and WR 1,500 meters/mile); Jim Bausch (Football All-American and 1932 Olympics decathlon gold ); Elwyn Dees (1935 NCAA champ shot put); and Clyde Coffman (1935 AAU pentathlon champ and 1932 Olympics decathlon seventh).  Bill Hargiss directed the Kansas Relays for many years and was later recognized as its "Honorary Referee" in 1974.

Hargiss served as president of the Missouri Valley A.A.U. from 1940-1942, helped coach a professional football team in 1942, went overseas during World War II as an athletic consultant for the U.S. Armed Services, served as executive director of the Kansas Athletic Commission during 1952-1962, and selected/trained Air Force athletes for the 1960 Olympics in Oxnard, California.  In 1962 the Kansas Athletic Commission was abolished and Hargiss, almost 75 years old, reluctantly retired. 

Recognition continued for Bill Hargiss in retirement.  He was selected to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame as a charter member, the NAIA Track Hall of Fame, the KU Sports Hall of Fame with his portrait hanging in Allen Fieldhouse, the ESU Hall of Honor as a charter member, the ESU All-Centennial team as a top 25 football players over the last century, and an ESU Distinguished Alumnus.  In 1970, over 200 persons, comprising former athletes, gathered in Emporia from across the country to honor him, with the Mayor of Emporia issuing a “Bill Hargiss Day” proclamation. 

Hargiss remained active during retirement.  He was known nationally as a coach and as a entertaining speaker.  He possessed a keen memory for detail and could call hundreds of people by name.  His invigorating spirit and charisma made it a joy to be around him.  Hargiss painted in oils, crafted in wood, played golf (shooting his age at 80), looked after his yard growing tea roses, traveled around the country, and was an educated spectator at football games and other athletic events. 

In 1978 Bill Hargiss attended his final KU football game with friends September 23, passing away October 15 at age 91 in Lawrence, Kansas.  While Bill Hargiss received much honor during a long and busy athletic career, his most rewarding was the help provided to the many young men and women who sat by his side.  Not only was he a great athlete and coach, Hargiss instilled values to develop character and enrich lives. 

Bill Hargiss played the game right and he taught others to do the same.

Website contact: Clarke Oberheide (a Bill Hargiss grandson) clarke <at> oberheide.org 
Revision level:  13 March 2009

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