Feted as Former Coach
Homecoming at the University of Colorado this fall was just that for Myron E. Witham '04, football coach there for twelve years, 1920 to 1931. He returned to Boulder as the guest of his former players, who gathered from both coasts and points in between to honor him at a dinner party which highlighted the university's 34th annual homecoming celebration.
In Dartmouth football annals too, Witham holds a special niche. He was captain and quarterback of the 1903 Big Green team that christened Harvard's new stadium and spoiled the festivities for the Crimson by scoring Dartmouth's first gridiron victory over Harvard, 11-0. The Harvard-Dartmouth football program this fall recalled that memorable day and referred to "Big Chief Witham."
At the Colorado homecoming celebration, more than a hundred of Coach Witham's former "boys" met with him at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver the night before the Colorado-Kansas State game. On Homecoming Day, October 23, Witham was honored at pre-game ceremonies before a crowd of 20,000 at Folsom Field. He also attended the traditional buffalo barbecue before the game and met with friends and former associates at alumni gatherings after the game. Mrs. Witham accompanied her husband to the reunion, both she and the former coach receiving the round trip from Burlington, Vt.. to Boulder as a present from the players.
During his twelve years as a Colorado coach Witham tutored two undefeated teams and won 60 games, lost 24, and tied 7. In reminiscing about his teams of 25 years ago he picked 1923 and 1924 as his best years. His Buffaloes were then known as the "Wonder Team of the Rockies." Witham in 1932 left the University of Colorado, where he also taught civil engineering, later joining the faculty of the University of Vermont. Since reaching the retirement limit at Vermont he has been teaching at St. Michael's College.
MYRON E. WITHAM '04, University of Colorado football coach from 1920 to 1931, shown at Boulder with former players at the 34th annua! homecoming which honored him this past fall.
