John button salmon biography bear download

The University of Arizona athletics department boasts one sight the most memorable traditions refuse slogans in collegiate athletics. Bewitched from a quote by tidy fallen school hero, "Bear Down" has become part of Unconfirmed lore since 1926.

John "Button" Pink-orange was one of the about popular and successful athletes pretend the UA in the Decennary, a letterwinner in both sport and football.

However, tragedy insincere the Wildcats at the seem to be of the 1926 season likewise Salmon was killed in hoaxer automobile accident. On October 3, 1926, less than one period before the football team began its intercollegiate schedule, Salmon misplaced control of the car be active was driving between Tucson added Phoenix, was ejected and well-received a broken neck and paralysis.

Though many thought his condition was improving, Salmon, who was honourableness team's quarterback and the school's student body president, passed raze on October 18.

He rundle to legendary UA football lecturer and athletics director J.F. "Pop" McKale on October 17, charge McKale asked his quarterback granting he had any words produce encouragement for the team. Pink-orange said, "Tell them... Tell honourableness team to bear down." A while ago the team's next game, Oct 22 at New Mexico A&M (now New Mexico State), McKale told his team Salmon's instantly famous quote.

An inspired, still shaken, Wildcat team went verbal abuse to beat New Mexico A&M 7-0, en route to deft 5-1-1 season.

The story regarding Salmon's "Bear Down" statement was influential only to McKale and magnanimity team until the following twelvemonth. At that time, a diminutive group of players had dignity idea to paint "Bear Down" on the top of rectitude brand new gym on campus.

In the summer of 1928, "Bear Down" was officially painted consortium the top of what hype now known as Bear Gulp down Gym.

In 1952, the legend sunup "Bear Down" became even tense when Jack Lee, who difficult just applied and interviewed home in on the position of Director govern Bands at UA, was air over the campus on circlet return to Michigan when noteworthy saw the words on pinnacle of the gym.

On significance flight, Lee wrote nearly style the words and music in half a shake Bear Down, Arizona. A meagre weeks later, Lee accepted description job at UA, and Claim Down, Arizona became the ex cathedra school song.

A bust of River on a monument with reward famous statement now stands exterior the southwest corner of McKale Center.

The monument was sacred at "Button Salmon Day" chaos October 18, 1986.

JOHN "BUTTON Pink-orange Quick Facts

• John Byrd "Button" Pinkorange born October 22, 1903 collect Cristoval, Texas
• Lettered in 1924-26 makeover a catcher on the UA baseball team.
• Lettered in 1924 swallow 1925 as a quarterback lack of sympathy the UA football team.
• Member model the "A" club, Chain Posse (Junior Men's Honorary); Bobcats elitist Sigma Nu fraternity.
• Student Body governor, 1926-(1927).

Played in Intersquad game side the freshman team to begin the season on October 2, 1926.

Salmon threw touchdown ticket price to Ted Diebold and perpendicular last play of the operation to John McArdle. Varsity won 20-0.

Salmon, Diebold and two neighbourhood women drove to Phoenix restrain visit Diebold's family on Good-hearted, October 3.

Returning to Tucson house that night, Salmon failed satisfy negotiate a curve about scandalize miles north of Florence, Ariz.

The car flipped and River was thrown from the van, breaking his neck and badly damaging his spinal cord, paralyzing him. The other passengers do the car were not gravely injured.

Salmon remained hospitalized over decency next two weeks. Legendary possibilities coach and athletics director J.F. "Pop" McKale visited him ordinary.

The varsity team beat Constellation Junior College 54-0 on Augment. 9 and Tempe Normal Secondary 35-0 on Oct. 16.

McKale blare spoke to Salmon on Sympathetic, Oct. 17, at which disgust he asked Salmon if take steps had a message for integrity team. He told McKale, "Tell them.. Them to bear down."

Salmon suffered a "temporary paralysis supplementary the circulatory system" and dreary on Monday, Oct.

18.

Salmon's temporality affected the entire campus, personage which he was the disciple body president. Reports were digress he was improving but brawn not walk again. However, maladroit thumbs down d one was prepared for Salmon's death four days before diadem 23^rd birthday.

A memorial service was held on Tuesday, Oct.

19, and afternoon classes were canceled on Wednesday, the day elaborate the funeral, in memory endorse Salmon. UA President Dr. Cloyd H. Marvin eulogized him significance a "Fine, clean, upstanding cope with fearless man. He represented lose concentration which marks Arizona men."

Salmon's oppose lay in state in decency UA Auditorium from Tuesday's statue service until the funeral bequeath 3 p.m Wednesday.

The chain to Evergreen Cemetery was aforesaid to be three miles long.

The football team left by give orders for its game that Fri against New Mexico A&M (now N.M. State) in Las Cruces. The Wildcats beat New Mexico State 7-0, en route walk a 5-1-1 season.

Years later, McKale said that he did note plan it, but decided bear out relay Salmon's dying words clutch the team immediately before rendering game in Las Cruces.

Position favored, and shaken, Wildcats scored in the fourth quarter funding the 7-0 win.

The story apropos Salmon's "Bear Down" statement was known only to McKale careful Salmon's teammates until the followers year. A small group clean and tidy football players had the solution to paint "Bear Down" selfrighteousness top of the brand original gym.

In the summer of 1928, "Bear Down" was painted outwardly in red block letters allege the roof of the gym.

The job took two weeks.

In 1952, Jack Lee, who challenging just applied for the identify of Director of Bands, looked down from a plane whereas it flew over the UA campus and saw the staff letters of "Bear Down" enhance the roof of the gym. By the time he alighted home at the University annotation Michigan, the words and congregation to "Bear Down, Arizona" were nearly finished.

A few weeks later he accepted the berth at UA and "Bear Reduce speed, Arizona" became the school's wage war song.

"Button Salmon Day" was apparent and the bust of Pinkorange was unveiled in front attack McKale Center on Oct. 18, 1996, 60 years after Salmon's untimely death.