Very, Dexter, 1889-1980

Dexter W. Very, of Fairdale, Pennsylvania, was born November 27, 1889. He began playing football in 1904 at the Soldier's Orphan Industrial School in Scotland, Pennsylvania, where he captained the team in 1905 and 1906 before playing for Mercersburg Academy in 1907 and 1908. Very came to Penn State in 1909 and was put on Penn State's first team as a right end that year, remaining in that position until he graduated in 1913. Very was the only Penn State player of his era to be named by football critic Walter Camp to any of his All-America football teams. Very was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976. Besides playing football, Very was also a wrestler at Penn State for four years in the 158-pound division. He lost only two bouts. For many years Very served as a football official for high school and college games, reaching the top of the college officials' list with assignments in the Rose Bowl and the Army-Navy classics. From 1914 to 1917 he represented the Pittsburgh Athletic Club in various tournaments. In 1917 Very won the National AAU Wrestling Championship at Atlantic City in both the 175-pound and heavyweight classes, although he never weighed more than 162 pounds during his football and wrestling careers. For many years Very worked for the Johns Manville Company and Sinclair Refining in a sales capacity. He was also employed by a Cleveland building supply firm, representing this company with major customers in the Pittsburgh area. He died in State College, Pa., September 27, 1980.