[cfhofer]

Winchester Dana Osgood was an All-American halfback for Cornell (1888-92) and the University of Pennsylvania (1893-94) football teams. Pudge Heffelfinger considered Osgood the "Red Grange of the pioneer era". He also competed in wrestling, track, boxing, crew and gymnastics. He coached the Indiana football team and was a player/coach for the Semi-Pro Indianapolis Light Artillery football squad in 1895. He volunteered his services for Cuba's fight for independence and was commissioned a Major in the artillery under General Calixto Garcia. On October 18, 1896 - During the Battle of Guaimaro, Major Osgood was in charge of shelling blockhouses with a Hotchkiss rifle using 12-pound shells. Osgood's artillery unit was under constant fire from small arms. When Osgood stooped over the gun to adjust the sight, he made the remark, “think that will do.” At that moment, he was shot in the head by a sharp-shooter stationed in a church tower eleven hundred yards away. Win Osgood was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970.

Attached is an extremely rare signature of Win Dana Osgood. It is on the back of a football photo acquired from his family's estate (see below). We were able to validate the signature with a copy in the Phi Gamma Delta archives (his collegiate fraternity). I believe this may be the first US athlete killed-in-action.