William J. Duff (August 17, 1856 – May 26, 1922) was an American football player, medical doctor, and state legislator. He played college football for the University of Michigan in 1882 to 1884.

William J. Duff
Dr. William J. Duff, 1912
Born(1856-08-17)August 17, 1856
DiedMay 26, 1922(1922-05-26) (aged 65)
CitizenshipUnited States
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Known forFootball player/Medical doctor

Duff was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, in 1856. In 1868, the family moved to Fort Gratiot, now a part of Port Huron, Michigan. His father, George Duff, was an officer in the U.S. infantry stationed at Fort Gratiot. Duff attended the public schools of Port Huron and was sent to Ann Arbor High School for his preparatory education.

He enrolled at the University of Michigan where he studied medicine. While attending Michigan, he played college football for the 1882 and 1884 Michigan Wolverines football teams.[1][2]

In 1885, Duff returned to Port Huron and entered the practice of medicine. During the Spanish–American War, he went to Cuba with the 33rd Michigan Volunteers. After the war, he served in the Michigan legislature in the sessions of 1899 and 1900. In June 1899, he married Wilhelmina Ross. They had one son, William Robert Mercer, born in 1901.[3][4]

Duff died in May 1922 from angina pectoris.[5][6][7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "1882 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  2. ^ "1884 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  3. ^ William Lee Jenks (1912). St. Clair County, Michigan: Its History and Its People. Lewis Publishing Co. pp. 628–629.
  4. ^ Justus S. Stearns, Secretary of State (1899). Michigan Legislative Manual and Official Directory for the Years 1899-1900. Robert Smith Publishing Co. pp. 638–639.
  5. ^ "Deaths" (PDF). Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 78. 1922.
  6. ^ "Death Takes Dr. W. J. Duff". The Port Huron Times-Herald. May 27, 1922. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Resolution Of Commission In Honor Of Duff". The Port Huron Times-Herald. May 29, 1922. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.