Tribute to Wheaton's 'Galloping Ghost'

This is in regard to Red Grange of Wheaton - "The Wheaton Iceman" and/or "The Galloping Ghost."

Red was born June 13, 1903 in Forksville, Pennsylvania. Red's mom died when he was only five years old. The family moved to Wheaton where Red was worked and overworked by an uncle Ernest.

Entering Wheaton High School in 1918 through 1922, Red became a great four-letter man in football, basketball, baseball and track.

At the University of Illinois, Red was unmatched under Coach Zuppke. His greatest college game came on Oct. 18, 1924 when Illinois beat Michigan 39-14, and Red scored four touchdowns in the first 12 minutes of the game.

Red became a charter member of the football professional Hall of Fame. Red is also a charter member of the DuPage Heritage Gallery (located in the atrium of the DuPage County government center, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton.) He was also voted athlete of the last century.

We have a very nice small exhibit of Red's life at the Wheaton Public Library at 225 N. Cross Street, through the end of this month.

Please come and visit, comment and spread the good word of the one player from Wheaton who really put professional football on the map.

Bernie Hurley

Wheaton

Jean Moore

Carol Stream

David Malone

Wheaton College archives.