Raymond "Red" Markley Letters

Coach H. W. Hargiss

Dear "Bill"

When I came to Emporia, September 1910 I didn't know about Bill HARGISS - or football. I'm sure I had never touched a football. In short you had the greenest of the green aspiring football player. At least I had no BAD football habits or techniques to unlearn. Football signals were were a mystery to me. Capt. Weidrick gave me one lesson - I imagine he thot I was impossible. Fortunately for you and the STARS I never seriously injured anyone by missing signals.

My first game was vs. Washburn at Topeka., Your admonition to me was to charge that guard opposite me off the field - mission accomplished - third quarter. As you know, when you came across that hay field near Belle Plaine in 1911 unannounced, I said to my father, why that's Bill Hargiss. You said something like, you are overdue for football practice in Emporia. I was at practice in Emporia the next day. I SHALL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INTEREST IN ME AND YOUR ENCOURAGMENT.

We had great and often spectacular games in all sports, I shall remember games especially at St. Marys, Washburn, Baker, Fairmount and many in Emporia - even on the enemy field, in all sports.

It has been my privilege to have been associated with employment in athletics, Military, and schools and Colleges, these institutions believed that discipline a necessary and important part of LIFE. Now discipline is breaking down in these areas, even in athletics and the Military, a sad situation to contemplate, lets hope and help the pendulum to swing back.

Your admonition to live by the Rules, to play to our potential, the result we could live with, always. Life should be about the same, live by the rules of health and good conduct and perform to one's potential - no regrets.

'TWAS GOOD TO HAVE HAD YOU.

Sincerely,

Raymond "Red' Markley

Mr. R. L. Markley
3416 Moore Avenue
Cheyenne, Wyoming
93001

15 March 1971

Mrs. George Oberheide,
5739 E. Sycamore,
Evansville, Ind.

Dear Mrs. Oberheide

     I'm delighted
     I played my first foot ball game Oct. 1 1910 against Washburn University at Topeka, Kansas, I was a member of the College of Emporia foot-ball team.
     Homer W. (Bill) Hargiss was our coach.
     Our most used formation was the 'T' from which we ran sweeps, tackle swings, line plays and forward passes. Our quarterback and passer was Arthur Schabinger a very accurate and effective passer, this all helped make the team very colorful for spectators.
     Washburn won this game 27 to 15. Our team was very light in weight but fast and sudden which I suspect was the reason we used the pass so frequently and effectively. The College of Emporia, won 5, lost 3 and tied one during the 1910 football season. The forward pass was a most effective play because of the surprise element.
     No doubt the reason Knute Rockne is given credit as the first to use the forward pass was that in 1913 he surprised the Army with the pass, three years after Coach Hargiss had used the forward pass while coaching the College of Emporia. I'm sure the Topeka Capitol and the Emporia Gazette would have records showing the College of Emporia used the forward pass in 1910.
     It would be great to get the record straight.

Sincerely

R. L. (Red) Markley
Former Coach Friends University,
Kansas and Rocky Mountain
Conference foot-ball Official