Sport(s) Football Name Tubby Meyers 1906 Western State Normal Role American football player | 1906 Western State Normal Positions Halfback Overall 1–3 | |
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Died 1942, Port Huron, Michigan, United States Education Western Michigan University | ||
Melvin J. "Tubby" Meyers (September 5, 1887 – 1942), sometimes spelled "Myers," was an American football player and coach. He was the first head coach and first captain of the Western Michigan Broncos football program, holding both titles as a player-coach during the 1906 college football season.
Meyers was born in Gobleville, Michigan in 1887, and moved with his family to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1895. His father, Rollie Meyers was a Michigan native who worked as a mail clerk at the post office. His mother, Vivia Meyers, was an Ohio native. He had an older brother, Rauel, a younger brother, Carl, and a younger sister, Fern.
Meyers enrolled at the Western State Normal School (now known as Western Michigan University) in Kalamazoo as a student in the Manual Training department. He was the coach, captain and halfback for the football team in the school's inaugural season of college football in 1906. He is recognized both as the first head football coach and "the first great player" in the history of the Western Michigan Broncos football program.
After graduating from Western State in 1909, Myers was hired by Port Huron High School in Port Huron, Michigan. He served as supervisor of manual training and director of athletics at the school. He also served for many years as the school's football coach. In June 1917, Myers completed a draft registration card stating that he was employed at Port Huron High School as a manual training and athletics instructor.
In 1920, he was married to Mary "Mayme" McCallum (1887–1978) at Port Huron. At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Meyers was living with his wife, Mary A. Meyers, in Port Huron. His occupation was listed as a teacher in a high school. As of 1925, he was serving in the National Guard with the rank of first lieutenant. At the time of the 1930 United States Census, Meyers and his wife continued to reside in Port Huron. They had a daughter, Minola A. Meyers. His occupation was listed in 1930 as a teacher of manual arts. McCallum died in 1942 at Port Huron.
Since 1947, the "Tubby Meyers Award" has been presented each year to the outstanding player on the Port Huron High School football team.