Faurot, Don (1902-1995), Papers, 1920s-1996 (C2971)
.6 linear feet
INTRODUCTION
The papers of Don Faurot, University of Missouri football coach and athletic director, consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and publications documenting his career at the University of Missouri.
DONOR INFORMATION
The Don Faurot Papers were donated to the State Historical Society of Missouri by Mary Faurot, on April 18, 1999 (SHS Accession No. 5807).
Don Faurot. From collection C2971 folder
6. For information about obtaining copies
of images contact whmc@umsystem.edu.BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Don Faurot devoted his life to the University of Missouri, serving as both football coach and director of athletics from 1935 to 1967. During his tenure he succeeded in building a nationally recognized football team and, at the same time, running a highly effective and efficient athletic department. Coach Faurot was born June 23, 1902, in Mountain Grove, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1924, and later received a master's degree in horticulture. Faurot's first coaching position was with Kirksville State Teachers College, where he coached for nine seasons and led his teams to a record of 63-13-3, including a victory over his alma mater in 1933. Faurot returned to the University of Missouri in 1935, where he would coach the football team from 1935 to 1956 and serve as athletic director from 1935 until his retirement in 1967. During his tenure as football coach he amassed a record of 101-79-10, four conference titles, and four bowl appearances, including the Orange, Gator, and Sugar bowls.
In 1941 Coach Faurot would make his greatest contribution to college football with the invention of the Split-T offense. This was the first option offense, which used three running backs and the quarterback, behind six blockers and a tight end. The Split-T was the foundation for many of the modern formations used today, such as the Wishbone and the I formation.
After his retirement Coach Faurot remained very active at the university and in the community. He devoted much of his spare time organizing golf trips all over the world. He died in Columbia, Missouri, on October 19, 1995. Faurot was a member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Hall of Fame, the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor, the Blue-Gray Game, Hall of Honor, and recipient of the Alonzo Stagg award.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Don Faurot Papers consist of newspaper clippings, publications, photographs, and correspondence that document Faurot's career as football coach and athletic director at the University of Missouri. The papers are arranged in three series:
FOLDER LIST
PersonalSeries
ThePersonalseries comprises correspondence, personal papers, and photographs arranged chronologically. The correspondence consists of personal and professional letters. A major portion of this series contains condolence letters to Mary Faurot after the death of Coach Faurot in October 1995. Most notable are the letters written by the 1941/1942 Missouri football team members shortly after their 55th Reunion. Included within this series are Don Faurot's Naval Commission, Death Certificate, and writings on the Split-T Offense. The photographs document both Don Faurot and Missouri football from 1956 to1995.
f. 1 Correspondence, 1939 May 7-1995 October 19 f. 2 Correspondence, 1995 October 19-1996 January f. 3 Correspondence, n.d.. f. 4 Correspondence, 55th Reunion of 1941/1942 Football Team, 1996 f. 5 Correspondence, Golf Trips, 1976-1983 f. 6 Photographs, 1940s-1990s PublicationSeries
ThePublicationseries consists of newspaper articles, magazines, university publications, and football game programs arranged by type, then in chronological order. These published sources document the career of Don Faurot and the University of Missouri football and athletic programs for much of the twentieth century.
f. 7 Newspapers, 1930-1940s. f. 8 Newspapers, 1950s. f. 9-10 Newspapers, 1960s. f. 11-12 Newspapers, 1970s. f. 13-14 Newspapers, 1980s. f. 15 Newspapers, 1990s. f. 16 Newspapers, n.d. f. 17 Newspapers, n.d. f. 18 Publications, 1937-1942 f. 19 Publications, 1950-1966 f. 20 Publications, 1967-1984 f. 21 Publications, 1984-1997 f. 22 Football Programs, 1925-1990 f. 23 Football Programs, 1995 MiscellaneousSeries
TheMiscellaneousseries contains materials relating to Don Faurot and the University of Missouri football program. Included in this series are drawings of Coach Faurot, game tickets, and a certificate from the Governor of Alabama certifying Faurot as an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Aide-de-Camp.
f. 24 Miscellaneous INDEX TERMS
These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact thereference staff.
Index Terms Location Broeg, Bob (1918-2005) f. 2 Christman, Paul (1918-1970) f. 7, 10 College Football f. 1-24 Cox, Lester (1895-1968) f. 6 (pictorial material) Dalton, John M. (1900-1972) f. 1 Devine, Dan (1924-2002) f. 6 (pictorial material)
