Frederick Schule

{{Infobox sportsperson

|name = Frederick Schule

|image = Frederick Schule.jpg

|caption = Schule at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis

|fullname = Frederick William Schule

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1879|9|27}}

|birth_place = Preston, Iowa, U.S.

|death_date = {{Death date and age|1962|9|14|1879|9|27}}

|death_place = Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.

|height =

|weight =

|sport = Track and field

|event = Hurdles

|club =

|college = University of Wisconsin
University of Michigan

|retired =

|coaching =

|pb =

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}}

}}

Frederick William Schule (September 27, 1879 – September 14, 1962) was an American track and field athlete, football player, athletic coach, teacher, bacteriologist, and engineer. He competed for the track and field teams at the University of Wisconsin from 1900 to 1901 and at the University of Michigan in 1904. He was also a member of the undefeated 1903 Michigan Wolverines football team that outscored its opponents 565 to 6.

In 1904, Schule won the gold medal in the 110 meter hurdles at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/79005 |title=Frederick Schule |work=Olympedia |access-date=January 17, 2021}} From 1905 to 1907, he was employed as the director of the gymnasium and coach of the football and basketball teams at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana.

Schule also worked as a school teacher in Wausau and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and as an assayer and bacteriologist in Utah and Chicago. He later worked as an engineer and superintendent for Westinghouse Lamp Company. In 2008, he was posthumously inducted into the University of Michigan Track & Field Hall of Fame.

Early years

Schule was born in Preston, Iowa in 1879. His father, Frederick Schule, was an immigrant from Germany who was employed as a physician. His mother, Sophia Schule, was also an immigrant from Germany. He had four older sisters, Clara, Augusta, Henrietta, and Sophia. At the time of the 1880 United States Census, the family was living in Fairfield Township, Jackson County, Iowa.Census entry for Frederick and Sophia Schule and family. 1880 United States Census Census Place: Fairfield, Jackson, Iowa; Roll: 346; Family History Film: 1254346; Page: 510D; Enumeration District: 320; Image: 0082. Source Information: Ancestry.com [database on-line].

University of Wisconsin

Schule began his collegiate studies at the University of Wisconsin, where he was a member of the track and field team from 1899 to 1900.{{cite web|title=Frederick W. Schule|publisher=fanbase.com|access-date=August 15, 2013|url=http://www.fanbase.com/Frederick-W-Schule|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130815012144/http://www.fanbase.com/Frederick-W-Schule|archive-date=August 15, 2013}}Census entry for Frederick W. Schule, student, residing in Madison, Wisconsin, born Sept. 1880 in Iowa, both parents born in Germany. Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Madison Ward 5, Dane, Wisconsin; Roll: 1783; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 0051; FHL microfilm: 1241783. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. In 1900, Schule won the Big Ten Conference championship in the long jump, becoming the first Wisconsin Badgers athlete to win a Big Ten championship in track and field.{{cite book|author=Don Kopriva, Jim Mott|title=On Wisconsin!: The History of Badger Athletics from 1896-1998|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|year=1998 |pages=10–11|isbn=9781571670380|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wvAV-TuxKtMC}} He repeated as Big Ten champion in the long jump in 1901 with a distance of 22 feet, 4-4/5 inches.

Schule received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1901 in bacteriology and chemistry.{{cite news|title=News from the alumni|newspaper=The Wisconsin alumni magazine|date=November 1901 |volume=3 |issue=2|page=76|url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/UW/UW-idx?type=div&did=UW.v3i2.i0007&isize=text}}The Badger 1903 (University of Wisconsin yearbook), p. 38. After receiving his degree, Schule worked as a bacteriologist for the Chicago Sanitary District for five months. He then returned to the University of Wisconsin for post graduate studies and as a fellow in bacteriology. From 1902 to 1903, he taught physics at a high school in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) champion in {{convert|120|yd|abbr=on}} hurdles in 1903.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sc/fred-schule-1.html |title=Fred Schule |publisher=Sorts Reference LLC |work=SR/Olympic Sports |access-date=August 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924124917/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sc/fred-schule-1.html |archive-date=September 24, 2013 }}

University of Michigan

In the fall of 1903, Schule enrolled at the University of Michigan where he studied chemistry. He received a master's degree from Michigan in 1904.{{cite book|title=The University of Wisconsin Alumni Directory, 1949-1911|publisher=University of Wisconsin|year=1912|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QlbPAAAAMAAJ}}

While attending Michigan, Schule was also a member of the 1903 Michigan Wolverines football team coached by Fielding H. Yost.{{cite web|title=1903 Football Team Roster|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=http://141.211.39.65/allroster/FMPro?-DB=allrost.fp5&-Format=fbresult.htm&-SortField=name&-SortOrder=Ascend&year=1903&-max=170&-Find|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130815012155/http://141.211.39.65/allroster/FMPro?-DB=allrost.fp5&-Format=fbresult.htm&-SortField=name&-SortOrder=Ascend&year=1903&-max=170&-Find|archive-date=2013-08-15}} The 1903 football team compiled a record of 11-0-1 and outscored its opponents 565 to 6.{{cite web|title=1903 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1903fbt.htm}}

In February 1904, Schule announced that he would also compete for the 1904 Michigan Wolverines men's track and field team coached by Keene Fitzpatrick.{{cite news|title=The Outlook in Track Athletics|newspaper=The Michigan Alumnus|date=February 1904|page=235|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1h3iAAAAMAAJ}} At the annual Penn Relays Carnival held in Philadelphia in April 1904, Schule "left the field behind in the [120-yard] hurdle event, and won in the good time of 15 4/5 seconds."{{cite news|title=Michigan Victories at Philadelphia|newspaper=The Michigan Daily|date=May 1904|page=398|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1h3iAAAAMAAJ}}{{cite news|title=Track and Field: 12,000 People Saw 800 College Athletes in Out Door Sports|newspaper=Reading Eagle|date=April 24, 1904|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9zMjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5796,2158392&dq=schule+hurdle&hl=en}} Schule also set a world record in the 75-yard hurdles while attending Michigan. Schule's record-setting time was 9-4/5 seconds at an indoor event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 5, 1904.{{cite news|title=Famous Hurdler Schule In City: Old Michigan Star Now Coaching University of Montana on Way to Pullman; Holds the World's Record|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|date=October 24, 1905|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OdgUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6333,2284485&dq=schule+hurdle&hl=en}}

In June 1904, the University of Michigan's Athletic Board of Control ruled that Schule was no longer eligible to compete for the school in intercollegiate athletics, because he had already competed for four years.{{cite news|title=News-Campus|newspaper=The Michigan Alumnus|date=June 1904|page=455|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1h3iAAAAMAAJ}}

In 2008, Schule was posthumously inducted into the University of Michigan Track & Field Hall of Fame.{{cite news|title=U-M to Induct 12-Man Class of 2008 Into Hall of Fame|publisher=CBS Sports|work=Mgoblue.com|date=May 7, 2008|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/050708aaa.html|access-date=August 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616042146/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/050708aaa.html|archive-date=June 16, 2012|url-status=dead}}

1904 Summer Olympics

Schule competed for the United States as a hurdler at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis. He won the gold medal in the 110 meter hurdle event with a time of 16.0 seconds, beating fellow American Thaddeus Shideler by two yards. Schule also competed in the 200 metre hurdles event and finished fifth.{{cite book|title=America's First Olympics: The St. Louis Games Of 1904|url=https://archive.org/details/americasfirstoly00matt|url-access=limited|author=George R. Matthews|pages=[https://archive.org/details/americasfirstoly00matt/page/n163 153]–154|publisher=University of Missouri Press|year=2005|isbn=0826264751}} The 1904 Summer Olympics have been called the "Michigan Olympics" due to the fact that University of Michigan athletes (including Schule, shot putter Ralph Rose, sprinter Archie Hahn, and pole vaulter Charles Dvorak) won ten medals, including six gold medals.{{cite web|title=Michigan the Olympics|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/olymp2/ol1904.htm}}

Coaching career

After competing in the 1904 Olympics, Schule was employed as an assayer and chemist in Utah from 1904 to 1905. In 1905, he was hired at the director of the gymnasium at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana.{{cite book|title=The Sentinel|publisher=State University of Montana|year=1907|pages=13, 16|url=https://archive.org/stream/sentinel_1907_pdf/1907_PDF#page/n0/mode/2up}} He also served as an instructor and coach at the University of Montana.{{cite news|title=News of the Alumni|newspaper=Wisconsin Alumni Magazine|date=December 1905|page=107|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=08EiAAAAMAAJ}} He was the head football coach from 1905 to 1906 and the head basketball coach from 1905 to 1907. In two season as the head football coach, Schule compiled a record of 4-7 as his teams were outscored by a combined total of 166 to 150.{{cite web|title=F.W. Schule|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=2896|access-date=2013-08-15|archive-date=2014-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509001446/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=2896|url-status=dead}}

Later years

At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Schule was living in Washington Township, Buchanan County, Missouri. He listed his occupation as a shoe merchant.Census entry for Frederick W. Schule, age 30, born in Iowa, both parents born in Germany. Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: St Joseph Ward 5, Buchanan, Missouri; Roll: T624_772; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0072; FHL microfilm: 1374785.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. He was also identified as a merchant residing in St. Joseph, Missouri in March 1912.{{cite news|title=News from the Classes|newspaper=The Michigan Alumnus|date=March 1912|page=282|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-BTiAAAAMAAJ}} Schule later worked a teacher at West Division High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In September 1918, Schule indicated in a draft registration card that he was living in East Orange, New Jersey, with his wife Flora Randolph Schule (born July 22, 1884, in Nortonville, Kansas). He listed his occupation as an engineer with the Westinghouse Lamp Company.Draft Registration Card dated September 12, 1918, for Frederick William Schule, born September 7, 1879. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Schule was still living in East Orange with his wife Flora. They had three sons, Frederick W. Jr., Robert, and Paul. Schule listed his occupation as an electrical engineer.Census entry for Frederick W. Schule, born in Iowa, both parents born in Germany. Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: East Orange Ward 1, Essex, New Jersey; Roll: T625_1029; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 29; Image: 99. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

At the time of the 1930 United States Census, Schule was living in DeRuyter, New York, with his wife Flora and their three sons. At that time, he listed his occupation as a stock speculator.Census entry for Frederick W. Schule, born in Iowa, both parents born in Germany. 1930 U.S. Census. Place: De Ruyter, Madison, New York; Roll: 1445; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 7; Image: 920.0; FHL microfilm: 2341180. Source Information: Ancestry.com.

At the time of the 1940 United States Census, Schule was living with his wife Flora in Jersey City, New Jersey. He listed his occupation at that time as a superintendent for a lamp manufacturer and also indicated that he and his wife had resided in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1935.Census entry for Fred and Flora Schule. Fred born in Iowa, both parents born in Germany. Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey; Roll: T627_2408; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 24-228. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. In 1942, Schule completed a draft registration card indicating that he was unemployed and living with his wife Flora R. Schule in Jersey City.Draft registration card for Frederick William Schule, born September 27, 1879, in Preston, Iowa. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 [database on-line].

Schule spent much of his retirement years in DeRuyter, New York. He moved to Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1960 and died there in 1962. He was buried at the Hillcrest Cemetery in DeRuyter.