Alfred J. Robertson
{{Short description|American football, basketball, and baseball player (1892–1948)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Alfred J. Robertson
| image = Alfred J. Robertson.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1891|5|19}}
| birth_place = South Haven, Minnesota, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1948|10|30|1891|5|19}}
| death_place = Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
| alma_mater =
| player_sport1 = Football
| player_years2 = 1910–1912
| player_team2 = Carleton
| player_years3 = 1913
| player_team3 = Minnesota (freshmen)
| player_years4 = 1914–1915
| player_team4 = Montana
| player_sport5 = Basketball
| player_years6 = 1910–1913
| player_team6 = Carleton
| player_years7 = 1913–1914
| player_team7 = Minnesota (freshmen)
| player_years8 = 1914–1916
| player_team8 = Montana
| player_positions = Quarterback (football)
Forward (basketball)
Third baseman (baseball)
| coach_sport1 = Football
| coach_years2 = 1919
| coach_team2 = Fort Hays State
| coach_years3 = 1920–1947
| coach_team3 = Bradley / Bradley Tech
| coach_sport4 = Basketball
| coach_years5 = 1918–1919
| coach_team5 = Georgetown (KY)
| coach_years6 = 1919–1920
| coach_team6 = Fort Hays State
| coach_years7 = 1920–1948
| coach_team7 = Bradley / Bradley Tech
| coach_sport8 = Baseball
| coach_years9 = 1919
| coach_team9 = Georgetown (KY)
| coach_years10 = 1921–1948
| coach_team10 = Bradley / Bradley Tech
| coach_sport11 = Track
| coach_years12 = 1919
| coach_team12 = Georgetown (KY)
| admin_years1 = 1919–1920
| admin_team1 = Fort Hays State
| admin_years2 = 1920–1948
| admin_team2 = Bradley / Bradley Tech
| overall_record = 147–70–10 (football)
330–198 (basketball)
244–157–6 (baseball, Bradley only)
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships = Football
4 IIAC (1925–1927, 1937)
1 ICC (1938)
| awards =
| coaching_records =
}}
Alfred James "Robbie" Robertson (May 19, 1891 – October 30, 1948) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, track athlete, coach, and college athletics administrator. He spent most of his coaching career at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where he was the athletic director and head coach in football, basketball, and baseball from 1920 to 1948. Robertson Memorial Field House, the former home basketball venue at Bradley, was named in his honor.
Playing career
A native of South Haven, Minnesota, Robertson lettered in football, basketball, and track at Carleton College. In 1912, he captained the football team and was named All-State quarterback. He played as a forward on Carleton's basketball team and as a third baseman in baseball. Robertson spent the 1913–14 academic year at the University of Minnesota, where he played on the freshman football and basketball squads.{{cite news |author= |title=Bradley Mentor Was Star Athlete in College Days |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55584230/the-dispatch/ |newspaper=The Dispatch |location=Moline, Illinois |agency=Associated Press |date=November 18, 1921 |page=24 |access-date=July 18, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }} He transferred to the University of Montana in 1914, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track. At Montana, he again played quarterback before graduating in 1916.{{cite news |title=Sports of the Times; Popping In From Peoria |first=John |last=Kieran |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1938/03/09/96805259.pdf |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 9, 1938 |access-date=June 23, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://apps.carleton.edu/alumni/council/stewardship/c_club/hall_of_fame/1914_1929/a_robertson/ |title=Carleton College: Alumni Council: Alfred J. Robertson |publisher=Carleton College |access-date=June 23, 2011}}
Coaching career
Robertson began his coaching career in 1917 at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky. From January to June 1919, he coached basketball, baseball, and track at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. Robertson spent the 1919–20 academic year at Fort Hays Kansas State Normal School—now known as Fort Hays State University—as athletic director and coach of all sports. He led the 1919 Fort Hays football team to a record of 3–6.[http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ii/miaa/fort_hays_state/coaching_records.php Fort Hays State University coaching records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525190416/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ii/miaa/fort_hays_state/coaching_records.php |date=May 25, 2011 }}
Illness and death
Robertson was hospitalized in October 1948 in Peoria, Illinois and had surgery for a "rare liver aliment" at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota later that month. He died on October 30, at the Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, at the age of 57.{{cite news |author= |title=A. J. Robertson, Bradley Athletic Director, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13728805/palladiumitem/ |newspaper=Palladium-Item |location=Richmond, Indiana |agency=International News Service |date=November 1, 1948 |page=8 |access-date=September 12, 2017 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
Legacy
Robertson Memorial Field House was dedicated to Robertson's memory on December 17, 1949.{{Cite web |last=Wessler |first=Kirk |date=2008-02-21 |title=Robertsons reunite at Field House |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2008/02/22/robertsons-reunite-at-field-house/47225362007/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=The State Journal-Register |language=en-US}} In 2008, Robertson was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |date=2008-03-07 |title=A.J. Robertson Inducted Into MVC Hall of Fame |url=https://bradleybraves.com/news/2008/3/7/1406871.aspx |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=Bradley University Athletics |language=en}} A bronze statue, sculted by Fisher Stolz, of Robertson on Bradley University's West Campus was unveiled in December 2012.{{Cite web |title=The Sporting Statues Project: Alfred Robertson: West Campus, Bradley University, Peoria, IL |url=http://www.offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk/statues/STUS_Robertson_Alfred.htm |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=www.offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk}}
Head coaching record
=Football=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Fort Hays State Tigers
| conf = Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
| startyear = 1919
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1919
| name = Fort Hays State
| overall = 3–6
| conference = 3–4
| confstanding = T–7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Fort Hays State
| overall = 3–6
| confrecord = 3–4
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Bradley Indians/Braves
| conf = Independent
| startyear = 1920
| endyear = 1922
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1920
| name = Bradley
| overall = 4–4
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1921
| name = Bradley
| overall = 8–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1922
| name = Bradley
| overall = 9–0–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Bradley Indians/Braves
| conf = Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
| startyear = 1923
| endyear = 1936
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1923
| name = Bradley
| overall = 6–2
| conference = 6–2
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1924
| name = Bradley
| overall = 8–1
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1925
| name = Bradley
| overall = 9–0
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1926
| name = Bradley
| overall = 9–0
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1927
| name = Bradley
| overall = 6–3
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1928
| name = Bradley
| overall = 7–2
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1929
| name = Bradley
| overall = 6–3
| conference = 4–2
| confstanding = T–7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1930
| name = Bradley
| overall = 4–3–1
| conference = 2–2–1
| confstanding = T–12th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1931
| name = Bradley
| overall = 5–3
| conference = 4–1
| confstanding = T–2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1932
| name = Bradley
| overall = 3–3–2
| conference = 3–1–1
| confstanding = T–4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1933
| name = Bradley
| overall = 3–5–2
| conference = 3–2–1
| confstanding = 12th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1934
| name = Bradley
| overall = 5–3
| conference = 3–2
| confstanding = T–8th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1935
| name = Bradley
| overall = 1–6–1
| conference = 1–5–1
| confstanding = 16th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1936
| name = Bradley
| overall = 6–3
| conference = 6–2
| confstanding = T–2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1937
| name = Bradley
| overall = 6–3
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Bradley Tech Braves
| conf = Illinois College Conference
| startyear = 1938
| endyear = 1945
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1938
| name = Bradley Tech
| overall = 7–0–1
| conference = 4–0
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1939
| name = Bradley Tech
| overall = 6–1–2
| conference = 2–1
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1940
| name = Bradley Tech
| overall = 4–4
| conference = 0–2
| confstanding = 9th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1941
| name = Bradley Tech
| overall = 8–1
| conference = 1–0
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1942
| name = Bradley Tech
| overall = 4–4
| conference = 0–1
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1943
| name = No team—World War II
| overall =
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1944
| name = No team—World War II
| overall =
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1945
| name = No team—World War II
| overall =
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Bradley Braves
| conf = Independent
| startyear = 1946
| endyear = 1947
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1946
| name = Bradley
| overall = 7–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1947
| name = Bradley
| overall = 3–6
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Bradley
| overall = 144–64–10
| confrecord = 72–26–4
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 147–70–10
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Find a Grave|98816040}}
{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Fort Hays State Tigers football coach navbox}}
{{Fort Hays State Tigers men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Bradley Braves athletic director navbox}}
{{Bradley Braves football coach navbox}}
{{Bradley Braves men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Bradley Braves baseball coach navbox}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Alfred J.}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Baseball third basemen
Category:Forwards (basketball)
Category:Bradley Braves athletic directors
Category:Bradley Braves baseball coaches
Category:Bradley Braves football coaches
Category:Bradley Braves men's basketball coaches
Category:Carleton Knights baseball players
Category:Carleton Knights football players
Category:Carleton Knights men's basketball players
Category:Montana Grizzlies track and field athletes
Category:College track and field coaches in the United States
Category:Fort Hays State Tigers athletic directors
Category:Fort Hays State Tigers football coaches
Category:Fort Hays State Tigers men's basketball coaches
Category:Georgetown Tigers baseball coaches
Category:Georgetown Tigers men's basketball coaches
Category:Montana Grizzlies baseball players
Category:Montana Grizzlies football players
Category:Montana Grizzlies basketball players
Category:People from Wright County, Minnesota
Category:Coaches of American football from Minnesota
Category:Players of American football from Minnesota
Category:Baseball coaches from Minnesota
Category:Baseball players from Minnesota
Category:Basketball coaches from Minnesota
Category:Basketball players from Minnesota