Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 30, 2026

Ed Withers

Edward J. Withers was an American football player. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and moved to Madison, Wisconsin when he was a boy. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers football team. He was one of the first African-Americans to be a regular starter for the Badgers, playing at the defensive back position. He was selected by the Football Writers Association of America as a first-team defensive player on their 1950 College Football All-America Team. Withers later worked as a teacher and coach at Roosevelt and North Division High Schools in Milwaukee and subsequently as an insurance salesman. He died in Tomah, Wisconsin, in 1975 at age 48.

Last revised
Jun 30, 2026
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≈ 1 min
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Ed Withers
Withers from 1951 Badger
Profile
PositionDefensive back
Personal information
BornAugust 28, 1926
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedApril 17, 1975 (age 48)
Tomah, Wisconsin, U.S.
Career information
High schoolMadison (WI) Central
CollegeWisconsin
Awards and highlights

Edward J. Withers (August 28, 1926 – April 17, 1975) was an American football player. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and moved to Madison, Wisconsin when he was a boy. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers football team. He was one of the first African-Americans to be a regular starter for the Badgers, playing at the defensive back position.1 He was selected by the Football Writers Association of America as a first-team defensive player on their 1950 College Football All-America Team.234 Withers later worked as a teacher and coach at Roosevelt and North Division High Schools in Milwaukee and subsequently as an insurance salesman.1 He died in Tomah, Wisconsin, in 1975 at age 48.5

References

References

  1. "Celebrate UW's Black History: Ed Withers". University of Wisconsin. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  2. ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. 2005. p. 1220. ISBN 1401337031.
  3. Lawton Carver (November 27, 1950). "Youth Dominates INS All-America Teams". Lebanon Daily News.
  4. "FWAA All America" (PDF). Football Writers Association of America. December 17, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  5. Dates of birth and death (and place of death) taken from: Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935–2014 [database on-line].