Nile Kinnick: Heisman Winner and Naval Aviator
Nile Clarke Kinnick Jr. (9 July 1918 – 2 June 1943) was an American college football player, naval aviator, and law student. He won the 1939 Heisman Trophy as a consensus All-American for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and died in a Navy training flight during World War II.
Early Life and Education
Nile Clarke Kinnick Jr. was born to Nile Clarke Kinnick Sr. and Frances Clarke and had two younger brothers, Ben and George. His maternal grandfather, George W. Clarke, graduated from the University of Iowa in 1878 and served two two-year terms as Governor of Iowa from 1913 to 1917. Both parents were devoted to Christian Science teachings and instilled in Nile values of discipline, hard work, and strong morals. He regularly attended the Christian Science branch church in Iowa City during his university years.
As a youth, Kinnick showed early athletic talent, playing on a Junior Legion baseball team with future major leaguer Bob Feller. At Adel High School, he led the football team to an undefeated season and scored 485 points for the basketball team, leading them to the district finals. After his junior year, the family relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, where Kinnick attended Benson High School. He was a first-team all-state selection in both football and basketball as a senior, leading Benson to a third-place finish in state basketball and a city baseball championship.
Career and Achievements
Kinnick enrolled at the University of Iowa in 1936, recruited by Coach Ossie Solem. Though he could have graduated in 1935, his parents delayed his enrollment to better prepare him for university. He was named co-captain of the freshman team and also played baseball and basketball during his first year. After Solem departed for Syracuse University following the 1936 season, Irl Tubbs replaced him as head coach.
As a sophomore in 1937, Kinnick excelled individually despite Iowa’s struggles. He led the nation in punting, was named first-team All-Big Ten, and earned third-team All-American honors. He also played basketball that year, becoming Iowa’s second leading scorer and the 15th leading scorer in the Big Ten. A preseason ankle injury in 1938 hampered his junior year performance, though he played through the pain. His Christian Science beliefs influenced his approach to medical treatment, though accounts vary regarding his exact choices. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 1938 and withdrew from basketball to focus on academics. After the 1938 season, Eddie Anderson, a physician, became head coach.
Kinnick was also a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity during his undergraduate years.
Notable Events and Milestones
The 1939 season marked the pinnacle of Kinnick’s college career. He won the Heisman Trophy that year and was named a consensus All-American, representing the culmination of years of preparation and perseverance through earlier setbacks.
After his college career, Kinnick pursued law studies and joined the United States Navy as an aviator. On 2 June 1943, he died during a training flight while serving in World War II.
Awards and Honors
Kinnick won the Heisman Trophy in 1939 and was a consensus All-American that same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. The University of Iowa renamed its football stadium Kinnick Stadium in his honor in 1972.
Additional Resources
Kinnick’s legacy as both an athlete and serviceman remains significant in college football history and Iowa athletics. More detailed information about his life, career statistics, and military service is available through Wikipedia and other biographical archives dedicated to college football history and World War II naval aviation.
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