Wyandot Sports Hall of Fame

Gaylord Roscoe “Pete” Stinchcomb was born in Sycamore, where he attended grade school. As he was nearing his high school years, Stinchcomb changed schools and started attending Fostoria schools because they had a football program. He would ride the train from Sycamore, through McCutchenville, Berwick and New Riegel, every day in order to attend school and play football before his family finally moved to Fostoria.

In high school, Stinchcomb was an All-Ohio halfback while playing for the undefeated Fostoria gridiron squad. In the fall of 1916, Stinchcomb enrolled at Ohio State University and went on to play for the Buckeyes in 1917, 1919 and 1920, missing the 1918 season because he was enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

As a sophomore in 1917, Stinchcomb played quarterback and was named an All-Western Conference player. Although Chic Harley was the veteran star (and first Ohio State football All-American) of the Buckeyes, Stinchcomb was praised as the “co-star” of the backfield. In 1918, Stinchcomb played for the Cleveland Naval team that had impressive wins over Cornell and the University of Pittsburgh.

Returning to Ohio State in 1919, he and Harley were on the first team to beat Michigan, and he was selected as a first-team All-Western Conference quarterback. After Harley’s graduation, Stinchcomb returned for his senior season and played halfback, leading the Buckeyes to their first undefeated season while earning All-American first-team honors, thus becoming the Buckeyes’ second All-American. Stinchcomb also competed for the Ohio State baseball and track and field teams, and in 1921, won the NCAA broad jump competition.

After graduation, Stinchcomb played several years of professional football – two years for the great George Halas’ Chicago Bears while also playing for the Columbus Tigers, Cleveland Indians and the Louisville Colonels. He was selected a first-team All-Pro in 1921 and 1922. Years later, he returned to Ohio State as its backfield coach.

Stinchcomb’s other claim to fame at Ohio State was that he founded the Student Bookstore in 1920. He announced on the trip to the 1921 Rose Bowl that he would marry Anne Jane Summers of Columbus, and they remained married for over 50 years until his death in 1973 in Findlay, where he served as president of Linworth Homes. In 1973, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, but he passed away before the induction ceremony.