John W. "Ooter" Herrity 1893 - 1975

HERRITY, BURKE, HOFFMAN, WARK, CAVANAGH, MCDEVITT, JUDGE

Posted By: Michael J. Kearney (email)
Date: 1/24/2008 at 20:29:17

The Clinton Herald Thursday December 25, 1975 p. 8 John W. "Ooter" Herrity, called by former teammates the "best little man" in football during his era, died on Christmas Eve in his home, 534 9th Ave. S. He was 82. The 4-foot, 10-inch man, wispy at 160 pounds, played against 225-pound centers, who were consistantly moved aside by "Ooter" of the former Clinton American Legion semi professional football team. Herrity logged some 12 years playing time for the semi pro team, which initially was called the Lyons Bulldogs. "He took them all on," recalls Ed Walton, a teammate. "He always did a good job and was respected by all." Even the Clinton team's losses were respectable, according to die-hard fans, who cite the loss to Rock Island, 10-7. That opponent went on to defeat the Chicago Bears for the national championship. Duke Slater, star for the Rock Island professional squad, also teamed at tackle in some of the Clinton games in which Herrity played. "Ooter" volunteered services during a 20-year span as the second football coach at St. Mary's High School. "He coached during the days when coaches didn't have to be teachers," noted George Kampling, sports editor of the Clinton Herald. Walton, who played under teams which Herrity headed since 1913, recalled, "He was a tough coach. He expected you to put out everything. He had put out himself and he expected it from others. "He always played center," said Walton. "He had the right on the field to go wherever he wanted to go because his judgement was usually the best. He knew where a play should go. He was always where the play was." One long-time friend vowed "Ooter" was "never outplayed." The funeral for Mr. Herrity will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Mary's Church. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Roy Glendenning, Thomas Hayes III, Gary Herrity, Gerg Lackermann, John Leslie and Jeff Schuetzle. Visitation started at 2 p.m. Friday at Dalton Funeral Home where a parish Rosary was set for 7:30 p.m. Friday. He was born in Clinton Jan. 9, 1893, the son of John and Mary Herrity. He married Anna Burke in 1918 in Charlotte. She died in 1964. He graduated from Clinton High School around 1908. He was a St. Mary's High School football coach for some 20 years and operated Herrity's Bakery many years. He was an Army veteran of World War I and had worked at Schick General Army Hospital. Mr. Herrity was a member of St. Mary's Church, the American Legion and VFW. Survivors include five daughters, Mrs. Eugene (Delores) Hoffman and Mrs. Thomas (Marjean) Wark, both of Largo, Fla.; Mrs. Raymond (Mary) Cavanagh, Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. A.L. (Madonna) McDevitt, Cleveland, Ohio, and Mrs. Robert (Mollyann) Judge, Clinton; a son, John, Seattle; 31 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, and a sister, Irene Herrity, Clinton. A sister, a daughter and a brother preceded him in death.