| Birth: | Sep. 15, 1895
Chicago
Cook County
Illinois, USA | | Death: | Apr. 21, 1974
Danville
Vermilion County
Illinois, USA | 
Nicknamed "Chic" because he was born in Chicago.
First All-American football player (1916, 1917, 1919) from Ohio State. He left school for one year (1918) to serve in World War I as a pilot with the U.S. Army Air Service. He returned to school in 1919 and led Ohio State to its first-ever victory over Michigan. So many people came to see Harley play that he is given credit for the early popularity of the OSU football program. The following year a fund-raising campaign raised 1.3 million dollars to build Ohio Stadium --- called "the house that Harley built".
In 1941, James Thurber described Harley's running skills for the New York City newspaper, PM, "If you never saw him run with a football, we can't describe it to you. It wasn't like Red Grange or Tom Harmon or anybody else. It was kind of a cross between music and cannon fire, and it brought your heart up under your ears."
In 1951, he became a charter member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
James Thurber wrote the inscription on his marker.
Inscription:
All American halfback Ohio State University
1916 1917 1919
First Ohio State University player inducted
into the College Football Hall of Fame 1951
His playing inspired the drive to build Ohio Stadium, commonly referred to as "the house that Harley built"
"And there's nothing quite so thrilling from the first year to today,
Like the glory of the going when Chic Harley got away". - James Thurber
| | | Burial:
Union Cemetery
Columbus
Franklin County
Ohio, USA
Plot: 1946 Addition, Lot 25, Space 2, 300' from the entrance |
Created by: Paul Gabriel
Record added: Jul 18, 2001
Find A Grave Memorial# 5622594 |
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