King, Ellston F.

KING

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/3/2011 at 15:42:53

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register

ONCE FAMOUS GRINNELL COLLEGE ATHLETE DEAD
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Ellston King Member of School's Greatest Teams.

Grinnell, Aug. 27 -- Ellston F. King, dubbed "Dynamite Bill" in days of his glory as an athlete, is dead at his home here. His demise followed a long period of invalidism.

King was a glamorous figure in college athletics.

He was a member of Grinnell college teams which defeated Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and other teams from 1890 to 1894. He was catcher on the baseball team, with Dr. H.E. Somers, Grinnell, as pitcher, when Grinnell defeated Wisconsin, Illinois and other outstanding teams.

In football, King was famous for his ability to break a flying wedge by throwing his body at it with such force that opposition simply piled up.

After being graduated from Grinnell, King played football and baseball at Cornell, later going to Nebraska and then finishing his college career with two years at Pennsylvania. He led an adventuresome career on a western ranch, which included shooting a bandit.

He returned to his home at Panora and later located at Webster City, where he entered the banking business.

During the depression he became a bank receiver and came to Grinnell eight years ago. He organized an oil company, but was stricken with paralysis five years ago and forced to retire.

Funeral services will be held here Saturday morning with burial at Webster City.