Miller Pontius

Miller Pontius
Born	(1891-04-17) 17 April 1891 Circleville, Ohio, U.S.
Died	5 November 1960(1960-11-05) (aged 69) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Football player, coach, investment banker
Years active	1911–1913 (football player), 1914–1916 (coach), 1938–1960 (investment banker)

Miller Hall Pontius (April 17, 1891 – November 5, 1960) was an American football athlete and later an investment banking professional.

Originating from Circleville, Ohio, Pontius competed in college football as both a tackle and end under coach Fielding H. Yost for the Michigan Wolverines between 1911 and 1913. He achieved consensus first-team tackle recognition on the 1913 College Football All-America Team. Additionally, he played baseball at Michigan under the guidance of head coach Branch Rickey.

Following his playing career, Pontius worked as an assistant football coach at the University of Tennessee from 1914 to 1915 and returned to Michigan in a similar role in 1916. During World War I, he served in the United States Army. Subsequently, he pursued a career in investment banking with F. Eberstadt and Co. from 1938 until his passing in 1960.

Early years

Pontius was born in Circleville, Ohio, the son of Judge George Pontius and Ora Pontius. He attended Everts High School where he participated in football, basketball, and baseball, captaining the football squad in 1907. After completing high school in 1908, he enrolled at the preparatory Detroit University School, where he starred as a fullback on the football team. He then spent one academic year at Kenyon College.

University of Michigan

In 1910, Pontius matriculated at the University of Michigan, becoming a member of Alpha Delta Phi, Barristers, Michigammua, and The Friars societies. He distinguished himself as a multi-sport athlete excelling in football, baseball, and boxing.

Football

During his freshman year in 1910, Pontius played fullback on the freshman football squad. By his sophomore season, weighing approximately 200 pounds, he took on roles at end and tackle for the 1911 team. He later earned a reputation as a "slashing tackle."

1912 season

In the summer of 1912, Pontius contracted typhoid fever, which necessitated a period of recovery and affected his physical condition. Despite this challenge, he returned to participate in several games that season. Coach Yost shifted him from right end to right tackle, where he performed impressively as a "crackerjack tackle."

At the conclusion of the season, Pontius received first-team All-Western accolades from various authorities including George W. Axelson, E. C. Patterson for Collier's Weekly, Fielding H. Yost writing in the Detroit Free Press, and Walter Eckersall of the Chicago Tribune. Although nominated for captaincy of the 1913 squad, he was not selected.

1913 season

Entering the 1913 campaign, Pontius was widely anticipated to be a leading player. He contributed to guiding the Wolverines to a 6–1 record while outscoring opponents by a total of 175 to 21. Their sole defeat came against Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State), losing narrowly by 12–7. Key victories included wins over Vanderbilt, 33–2; Syracuse, 43–7; Cornell, 17–0; and Penn, 13–0.

Pontius’s final appearance for Michigan occurred on November 15, 1913, facing Penn. Collier's Weekly commended his vigorous performance at both end and tackle positions and highlighted his significant defensive contributions.

At season’s end, Pontius earned consensus first-team tackle honors on the 1913 College Football All-America Team, receiving recognition from prominent selectors such as Grantland Rice, Frank G. Menke, Tom Thorp, and Fielding H. Yost.

Baseball

At Michigan, Pontius distinguished himself as a baseball player under the guidance of coach Branch Rickey, sharing the field with future Hall of Famers such as George Sisler. In 1913, he played first base for Rickey’s most successful Michigan squad, which achieved a 21–4–1 record, marking the program’s inaugural season with over 20 wins.

Although Pontius was chosen as captain of the 1914 Michigan baseball team, he stepped down in February of that year due to academic difficulties. His leadership role was then assumed by George Sisler.

Coaching career and military service

After completing his law degree at Michigan in June 1914, Pontius gained admission to practice law in both Michigan and Ohio. He embarked on his coaching path as an assistant to Zora Clevenger at the University of Tennessee, where he implemented the "Yost-Michigan system." Under his mentorship, the 1915 Tennessee Volunteers went undefeated with a 9-0 record and secured their first Southern championship.

Pontius returned to Tennessee for the 1915 season but chose not to continue past January 1916 due to private business commitments. In March 1916, he joined the coaching staff of the 1916 Michigan Wolverines football team as an assistant focusing on linemen. He led spring training sessions and was credited with markedly enhancing the team’s line play. Contemporary accounts acknowledged his role in fortifying Michigan’s forward wall and improving overall protection.

He agreed to rejoin Michigan’s coaching staff in January 1917; however, following the United States’ entry into World War I, Pontius enlisted in August 1917 as a second lieutenant within a field artillery unit of the United States Army.

Business career

Following his military discharge in 1919, Pontius spent three years working in South America for National City Bank’s foreign division based in Rio de Janeiro. By 1922, he had transitioned to the Home Insurance Company’s foreign department and entered Chicago’s securities industry in 1925. Moving to New York City in 1934, he served a four-year term as president of the New York Michigan Club. In 1937, he took on the position of vice president at G.L. Ohrstrom & Co., an investment banking, brokerage, and real estate firm founded by fellow University of Michigan graduate George L. Ohrstrom.

In 1938, Pontius was appointed vice president of New York City’s Touchdown Club and acted as toastmaster at a Michigan Alumni Club banquet honoring newly appointed football coach Fritz Crisler. That same year, he joined Wall Street investment banking firm F. Eberstadt and Co., initially as Chicago partner before relocating to New York in 1943 to serve as syndicate manager and senior vice president. He remained with Eberstadt until his passing in 1960.

Family and later years

In 1922, Pontius married Mildred Carrington Taylor from Port Huron, Michigan. Their son, David Taylor Pontius (1924–1992), attended the University of Michigan during the 1940s. The family later settled in Bronxville, New York.

Pontius was honored in 1957 with the University of Michigan’s distinguished alumni service medal. He passed away at age 69 in 1960 at Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.

In April 1972, the Miller Hall Pontius Room was dedicated at the Clarke-May Museum of the Pickaway County Historical Society in his hometown of Circleville, Ohio. The ceremony was attended by his widow, son, and grandson Miller Hall Pontius II.

See also

• List of Michigan Wolverines football All-Americans