GA_081519

14 | August 15, 2019 | The glencoe anchor sound off
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Glencoe: Yesterday and Today
Are you ready for some football?
Glencoe Historical
Society
Contributing Columnist
Throughout its history,
Glencoe has
been the home of
a number of great professional
athletes. As the
National Football League
prepares to enter its 100th
season in a few weeks, it is
timely to take a look back
at one of Glencoe’s most
famous football players,
“Pug” Rentner.
Born Ernest John
Rentner in 1910, “Pug”
grew up in Joliet, where he
attended Farragut School
before entering Northwestern
University in 1930 as
an explosive fullback who
was expected to contribute
substantially to an already
talented Northwestern
team. He used his speed,
passing and kicking skills
that year to help lead
Northwestern to a conference
title. His best year for
the Wildcats, however, was
1931.
At 6 feet, 187 pounds,
Rentner has consistently
been regarded as one of
the best athletes to play
football at Northwestern.
“Pug” was known for
being an accurate passer
and a dazzling breakaway
runner. He had great arm
strength and huge hands
that enabled him to “thread
the needle” with passes
of 60 yards or more. In
almost every game he
played, Rentner reeled off
long runs from scrimmage,
punt returns, kickoffs or
pass interceptions.
In the opening game of
the 1931 season, the Widcats
hosted the University
of Nebraska at Dyche Stadium.
Under the watchful
eye of Chicago’s most famous
gangster, Al Capone
(who headed to Evanston
for relief from his tax
evasion problems), “Pug”
scored three touchdowns
in the first 10 minutes of
a game in which Northwestern
coasted to victory.
Coincidentally, that Wildcat
team also included Irv
Kupcinet who would later
become a celebrated Chicago
newspaper columnist.
Kupcinet transferred from
the team, however, after
getting into a fistfight with
the coach’s brother.
Stopping “Pug” Rentner
was the focus of Ohio
State when Northwestern
faced them in a 1931
matchup in Columbus.
The strategy almost
worked as the Buckeyes
held the Weldcats scoreless
in the first half. A rousing
halftime speech from the
coach, coupled with a few
offensive adjustments,
however, led to a 50-yard
touchdown run by Rentner
in the third quarter which
proved to be the game
winner.
Renter similarly
wreaked havoc on the
University of Illinois that
year. He ran 66 yards for a
score just one minute into
a game in which Northwestern
scored 25 points in
the first 10 minutes of the
contest. Minnesota, also in
the hunt for a Big Ten title,
fell victim to Rentner’s
skill in an exciting game in
which “Pug” scored on a
95-yard kickoff return and
then again on a 70-yard
punt return on the way to
another Wildcat victory.
Rentner led Northwestern
through an “almost”
undefeated season and a
share of the Big Ten title
in 1931. The team played
Notre Dame to a scoreless
tie and then lost to Purdue
in the Thanksgiving Day
Shiners’ game at Soldier
Field. “Pug” was nevertheless
named an All-American
that year and was later
inducted into the College
Football Hall of Fame.
He played four years
in the National Football
League, three with the
then-Boston Redskins and
one year, 1937, with the
Chicago Bears. He moved
to Glencoe after leaving
his football career in favor
of a job as an investment
securities banker. When he
retired from banking, he
enjoyed helping his Glencoe
neighbors as a beloved
employee of Wienecke’s
Hardware. “Pug” Rentner
died in 1978 at the age
of 67.
2019
Awards Luncheon
presented by 22nd Century Media and Autohaus on Edens
11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12,
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
Speakers include a Panel of NS WIB 2018 Winners
• Education: Tina Tranfaglia, College Knowledge LLC
• Entrepreneur: Amy Torf, Noggin Builders
• Legal: Cynde H. Munzer, Dykema Gossett PLLC
• Senior Care: Margalit Tocher, Home Care Assistance
{ Tickets on sale now! }
22ndCenturyMedia.com/women
The 2019 winners
who will be honored include:
Education - Susan Magill, Experts in Education
Entrepreneur - Jennifer Fondrevay, Day 1 Ready M&A Consulting
Financial - Maureen McPeek, Lynch McPeek Wealth Management
Health & Wellness - Cathy Irwin, Illinois Bone & Joint Institute
Hospitality & Dining - Kelly Yang, 5b2f Akira
Large Company - Meaghan Johnson, Lakeshore Recycling Systems
Legal - Maria Doughty, Allstate
Medium Company - Lisa Pickell, Orren Pickell Building Group
Non-Profit - Melinda Harris, Sing to Live Community Chorus
Real Estate - Natasha Patla, @properties
Seasoned Professional (Age 41 and older) - Diana Sotelo, Galaxie
Professional Cleaning Service
Senior Care - Charlotte Bishop, Creative Care Management
Small Company - Dr. Terrie Briggs, Banner Literacy
Woman-Owned Business - Tanya Fretheim, Street Level Studio
Young Professional (Age 40 and younger) - April Doremus,
Villa Healthcare
Ticket Deadline: Sept. 4