Graham Kernwein

Graham Armin Kernwein (October 23, 1904 – January 25, 1983) was an American professional football halfback who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Racine Tornadoes. He played college football for the Chicago Maroons for three years, being a top player under head coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. In addition to being a member of the Tornadoes in the NFL, he also had a stint with the Chicago Bears. Following his football career, he became an orthopedic surgeon.

Early life and college

Graham Armin Kernwein was born on October 23, 1904, in Claremont, Illinois, to Armin and Cora Kernwein. He was recruited to the University of Chicago, showing "great promise" in his first season on the football team (1923). Playing halfback, Kernwein was reported by the Chicago Tribune as "displaying considerable brilliance at finding the holes [in the line]." He was "used considerably" by head coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, with The Pantagraph writing that Kernwein "is regarded as the best bet to succeed John Thomas and Willis Zorn" in 1924.

Kernwein "continue to improve" as a junior in 1924, earning his first varsity letter.

In 1925, The Daily Times reported that "Kernwein has been playing left half-back for the Maroons since the season opened and his stellar open-field running in the Big Ten games that Chicago has played so far this season has enabled Coach Stagg's proteges to defeat Purdue, Northwestern and tie Ohio State." A profile in the Chicago Tribune said "He's a triple threat athlete, with a few more threats tacked on for good measure. He can carry the ball, pass and kick. He can play brilliantly on defense, run fine defense, and he can think ... His speed is one of his greatest assets on the gridiron."

While at Chicago, Kernwein also competed in track, with his specialty being the 220 yard dash, where his best time was 22 seconds.

After graduating in 1926, Kernwein was awarded the Big Ten Conference Medal, given to a senior in each school who "has shown superiority in athletics and in scholarship." A report in The Capital Times wrote "Kernwein was an important cog in the Maroon grid machine of 1925 and 1926[sic], his fast running and clever dodging, combined with his kicking and tackling, making him an exceptionally valuable man to Chicago."

According to The Daily Times, Kernwein was "popular in university activities," and was chosen as a delegate of his fraternity for a national convention held in Denver. The Journal Times reported his "terrific driving ... pleased mightily" the spectators.

Despite being announced by George Ruetz as "undoubtedly not in condition" to start the next game against the Chicago Cardinals due to an illness, Kernwein played through the full game, a 0–20 loss. Against the Milwaukee Badgers in week three, Kernwein started and played through the entire game, a 2–13 loss. He missed the fourth game of the season, a loss to the Duluth Eskimos, with the flu.

A profile in the Green Bay Press-Gazette said of Kernwein: "A fast, slippery man who has proven the most consistent ground gainer on the Tornado squad. Does most of the Racine punting and is on the throwing end of many passes. Especially good, because of his speed at going around the ends." He started at right halfback in a 0–35 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the last game of the season for Racine, as they folded shortly afterwards.

In 1927, Kernwein was signed by the Chicago Bears, and scored a touchdown in an exhibition win against Ken Osbourne's Suburbans. He did not appear in any regular season games with the Bears.

Later life and death Kernwein announced his engagement to Dorothy Rice in July 1926. He married Elva Staud in February 1936. He served in the Army Medical Corps during World War II, and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was a member of the American Medical Association and was a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, as well as the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. He wrote many papers of medical literature and was writing a book on surgical procedure when he died in 1983, at the age of 78 in Rochester, Minnesota.