Herbert Danford

Herber "Bert" Danford was born Dec 2, 1879 in Topeka, Kansas to Joseph Frank and Nancy J. Bowman Thrapp. Herbert was a veteran of the Spanish American War.

History

"The Danford story would start in 1878 when he was born at Topeka. His father's side of the family had been Methodist preachers for generations, while on his mother's side the family included a gambling man and a horse-race follower. 'I followed after mother's side of the family,' Bert says. 'I was a roughneck.'

"His mother died when Bert was nine, and he decided to leave home. He followed a string of race-horses to Texas and on his tenth birthday was 1900 miles from home. He established himself in business at that tender age by 'selling newspapers and shining shoes.'

"Drifting back to Kansas City at 14, he realized that he hadn't learned to write, and at the suggestion of a girl-friend started night-school."3

In 1891, at the age of 12, Herbert moved to Cache Valley and stayed with Robert and Mary Griffiths in Smithfield, Utah.2 After his service in the Spanish-American War, Herbert moved to Wyoming, where he began his boxing career. He moved to Cache Valley sometime after 1900 and married Ella Cornelia Christensen on Oct 4, 1905, and moved to Richmond.3

Herber was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Feb 26, 1950, five years before his death.

Boxing

"[Bert's] introduction to boxing came one night when he and a friend attended a local card. 'I can fight anyone of those birds—and beat them.' Danford confided to his friends as the last bout was being staged.

"'Why don't you challenge one of them,' the friend suggested. Bert did. And the next Friday night he won. That start got him into Kansas University where he boxed with the intercollegiate team for two years before he decided to volunteer for the Spanish American War."3

"...In November of 1898, Omaha's new exposition building was to be dedicated with a big fight card. One of the featured fighters on the bill was on Oscar Gardner, a lightweight later described by Ring Magazine as one of the greatest left handers in the history of the sport.

"But a short time before the Omaha fight, Gardner's opponent was disqualified.

"At the same time, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas member of G. Company of the 22nd Kansas U.S. Volunteers had just returned from service in the Spanish-American War. Some of the troops read of the vacancy in the Omaha card and suggested that one of their battery-mates take on Gardner.

"This one was tough 130-pound Bert Danford, native of Topeka, Kansas, who had fought his way from camp to camp during the two years before that and had become Corps champion in the sensational 24-round fight with a Tennessee star.

"Bert was willing to 'fill-in' at Omaha. He went to that city and put the proposition to the promoters. They took his offer. He was to get $100 for every round he stayed with the lethal Gardner.

"'He's only got two arms and two legs, and that means he's no different from me.' Bert said.

"That night against Gardner, Danford lasted 20 rounds and gained what is known as a 'hometown' decision with the title contender. He pocketed $2,000.

Bert Danford of Richmond liked to look back upon that incident as probably the hight spot in his ring career that included 56 professional bouts and many amateur goes.

"Verily, it can be said that he introduced the manly art of fisticuffs to Northern Utah at the turn of the century.

"Twenty-round bouts were the rule, and fighters wore skin-tight gloves. They were rough, tough battles. Bert's professional career ended in 1907 after he had some 26 stitches taken in his face and lips.

"He never lost interest in sports, however. Not even upon the day he died."2

Epilogue