George Jewett - Athletic Alumni 2004

Mr. Jewett was a native Ann Arborite (born in 1870), the son of a wealthy blacksmith. He graduated, as Class Valedictorian, from Ann Arbor High in 1889 and was fluent in German, Italian and French as well as English. He captained the debate, football and baseball teams and was the fastest sprinter in the Midwest (AAU 100-yd. Dash champion).

 

In 1890, George Jewett became the first African-American athlete to play varsity football at the University of Michigan, where he was the leading rusher, tackler, scorer and kicker. His team defeated Oberlin, where it is said that he out-played John Heisman, and the University of Chicago, where he bested Amos Alonzo Stagg. Heisman described Jewett as a "superior athlete." Stagg referred to George as "a very tough opponent."

 

Mr. Jewett studied medicine at the U-M, but left abruptly following a run-in with Victor Vaughan, Dean of Medicine. He transferred to Northwestern University in 1893 where he completed his collegiate football career, graduated and went on to practice medicine in the Chicago area. 

 

Dr. Jewett returned to Ann Arbor in 1899, where he opened a highly successful cleaning and pressing shop, The Valet. He died very suddenly in 1908 at the age of thirty-eight, leaving his wife, Lillian, and two sons, George H. Jewett III (age 6) and Richard (8 days old). Richard became the father of Coleman Jewett, well known Ann Arbor athlete, educator and craftsman, and grandfather of Michael Jewett, a popular area radio personality.