DBQ Native  Jay B.

John  Jacob  "Jay"   Berwanger,  a native of Dubuque, Iowa ,  was the recipient of the first Heisman Trophy in 1935 as a running back while earning his business degree at the University of Chicago.  Jay also played Rugby in Illinois for  the Chicago Rugby Football Club in  1938 and was unanimously inducted into the Dubuque Rugby Hall of Fame as an honorary member in 2016. 

Above: Berwanger as an

American Football player

 at the University of Chicago  

  & below in the Chicago Tribune  September 14, 1939

The words above from the Chicago Tribune include: 

" Jay Berwanger, University of Chicago's one-man football team a few seasons ago, is tackled by Bob Childs, former Yale player, as the Chicago Ruby Football club works out for its Oct, 8 game in Soldiers'Field against Victor MacLaglen's  Hollywood club [Light Horse Lancers].  The  Chicagoans claim theNational Championship."  Many Dubuquers  and others nation-wide admire Jay for his athletic abilities and achievements  complimented by his natural humility and simply being a very likable person.

Born:  March 19,  1914

Passed to Rugby Heaven:  June 26, 2002

On March 30, of 2016, upon hearing the announcement  Jay Berwanger would be a 2016  inductee  to the  U. S. Rugby Hall of Fame,  B. J. Weber—former DBQ Rugby Club President and founder of  the original DBQ Rugby Club shared:

" I was on the board of  advisers for  the Downtown Athletic Club where the Hesiman trophy is awarded.  In 1996,  I was Jay Berwanger's dinner partner and gave the benedictions; he was great and signed a  football for me.  I remember him fondly recalling his rugby career, and how excited he was that was part of Dubuque's history.  Bj Weber ."