Art Pharmer
{{Short description|American football player (1908–1970)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image=
|caption=
|image_size=
|number=2
|birth_date={{birth date|1908|07|21}}
|birth_place=Spokane, Washington, U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|1970|02|01|1908|07|21|mf=y}}
|death_place=Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
|height_ft=5
|height_in=10
|weight_lbs=186
|high_school=Gonzaga (WA)
|college=Minnesota
|teams=
- Minneapolis Red Jackets ({{NFL Year|1930}})
- Frankford Yellow Jackets ({{NFL Year|1930|1931}})
|highlights=
- Second-team All-Big Ten (1929)
|pfr=PharAr20
}}
Charles Arthur Pharmer (July 21, 1908 – February 1, 1970) was an American football player who played at the halfback and fullback positions. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1927 to 1929. He also played in the National Football League (NFL) for the 1930 Minneapolis Red Jackets and the 1930 and 1931 Frankford Yellow Jackets.
Early years and college
Pharmer was born in Spokane, Washington, in 1908. He attended Gonzaga High School. He was captain of the Gonzaga High football team in 1925.{{cite news|title=Bullpups Given Signal Practice|newspaper=Spokane Chronicle|date=September 21, 1925|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90398399/bullpups-given-signal-practice/|via=Newspapers.com}}
He played college football for Minnesota from 1926 to 1929.{{cite news|title=Art Pharmer Expected To Become Star|newspaper=The Dayton Herald|date=October 24, 1929|page=33|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90390398/art-pharmer-expected-to-become-star/|via=Newspapers.com}} On October 27, 1929, he scored 22 points in a victory over Ripon.{{cite news|title=Art Pharmer Has Big Day|newspaper=The Spokesman Review|date=October 28, 1929|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90398552/art-pharmer/|via=Newspapers.com}} He tied for the Big Ten Conference scoring title during the 1929 season.{{cite news|title=Art Pharmer Shares Lead|newspaper=The Minneapolis Star|date=November 25, 1929|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90390322/art-pharmer-shares-lead/|via=Newspapers.com}}
In early 1930, he also played basketball on an independent barnstorming team organized by his University of Minnesota teammate, Bronko Nagurski.{{cite news|title=Nagurski Team Battles Foley Outfit Sunday|newspaper=St. Cloud Times|date=January 22, 1930|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90395359/nagurski-team-battles-foley-outfit/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Professional football
=Minneapolis Red Jackets=
In September 1930, Pharmer joined the Minneapolis Red Jackets of the NFL. He appeared in a total of eight games for the Red Jackets, five of them as a starter. On September 21, he kicked five extra points in the Red Jacket's season opener against the Northland Oils.{{cite news|title=Red Jacket Team Drubs Oilers, 90–0|newspaper=The Minneapolis Tribune|date=September 22, 1930|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90395669/red-jacket-team-drubs-oilers-90-0/|via=Newspapers.com}} On October 12, as the team's starting halfback, he intercepted two passes in 13–0 victory over the Portsmouth Panthers.{{cite news|title=Red Jackets Meet Unbeaten Team Sunday|newspaper=The Minneapolis Star|date=October 13, 1930|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90395882/red-jackets/|via=Newspapers.com}}
=Frankford Yellow Jackets=
In mid-November 1930, Pharmer joined the Frankford Yellow Jackets of the NFL. He appeared in the final five games of the 1930 season for the Frankford team. On November 15, he kicked the game-winning extra point in a 7–6 victory over Portsmouth.{{cite news|title=Jackets Beat Spartans 7 To 6|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=November 16, 1930|page=38|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90396390/jackets-beat-spartans-7-to-6/|via=Newspapers.com}} He returned to the Yellow Jackets for the 1931 season, starting two games.
During two seasons in the NFL, Pharmer appeared in a total of 15 games, 12 as a starter.{{cite web|title=Art Pharmer|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|accessdate=July 16, 2020|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PharAr20.htm}}
=Minor league football=
After his NFL career ended, Pharmer continued to play for minor league teams. During the 1931 season, he played for the Clifton Heights Orange & Black. He was described as the team's "big gun", scoring 13 points in the first half of a game against the Bethlehem Panthers.{{cite news|title=Clifton Heights Eleven Defeats Bethlehem Panthers Before 3000 Spectators: Former Frankford Stars Play Major Roles for Clifton|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=November 16, 1931|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90394967/clifton-heights-eleven-defeats/|via=Newspapers.com}} He moved to the Eastern United States and played at the fullback position for the Pittsfield Professionals of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.{{cite news|title=Pro Eleven Scores Win|newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle|date=November 7, 1932|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90394602/pro-eleven-scores-win/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Pros Lose Home Contest|newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle|date=October 17, 1932|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90394731/pros-lose-in-home-contest/|via=Newspapers.com}} In 1933, he played for the Albany Knickerbockers of Albany, New York.{{cite news|title=Pharmer Stars in Grid Victory on Albany Field|newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle|date=December 4, 1934|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90394438/pharmer-stars/|via=Newspapers.com}} He returned to Minnesota in 1934, playing for the University of Minnesota All Stars and Ken Haycraft's St. Paul All Stars.{{cite news|title=Marines To Play All Stars Sunday|newspaper=Leader-Telegram|date=September 19, 1935|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90394300/marines-to-play-all-stars/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Former Gopher to Face Local Eleven|newspaper=The Minneapolis Star|date=October 12, 1935 |page=18|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90394166/art-pharmer/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Later years
After retiring from football, he worked at a Minneapolis sporting good store, specializing in fishing.{{cite news|title=Welcome Help For Fishermen|newspaper=The Minneapolis Star|date=May 14, 1936|page=23|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90393904/art-pharmer/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=The Referee's Sporting Chat|newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle|date=April 13, 1940|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90393473/art-pharmer/|via=Newspapers.com}} In 1939, he pursued, tackled, and captured a shoplifter who attempted to steal and then ran from the store. After tackling the shoplifter, Pharmer delivered him to the police.{{cite news|title=Blocks That Theft|newspaper=The Minneapolis Tribune|date=February 25, 1939|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90393680/art-pharmer/|via=Newspapers.com}} He later moved to White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and later still to Dayton, Ohio. He died in Dayton in 1970 at age 61.{{cite news|title=Rites Wednesday for Art Pharmer|newspaper=The Minneapolis Star|date=February 9, 1970|page=28|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90393159/art-pharmer/|via=Newspapers.com}}