Charles Otis Bemies (March 19, 1867 – August 10, 1948) was an

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...

, and

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...

coach and Presbyterian minister. He became acquainted with

James Naismith James Naismith (; November 6, 1861November 28, 1939) was a Canadian-American physical educator, physician, Christian chaplain, and sports coach, best known as the inventor of the game of basketball. After moving to the United States, he wrote ...

while studying at Springfield College (then known as the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School) in the late 1880s. While serving as the athletic director at

Geneva College Geneva College is a private Christian college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional under ...

, he organized the first college basketball team in 1892. He graduated from the Western Theological Seminary and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1897. From 1899 to 1901, he served as the first basketball and second football coach at Michigan Agricultural College (now known as Michigan State University). After retiring from coaching, Bemies served for many years as a Presbyterian minister and evangelist in rural Pennsylvania. He was also active with

YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams (philanthropist), Georg ...

, serving with that organization in Russia in 1918 and in South Dakota in the early 1920s. Bemies lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in his later years and died there in 1948. He was posthumously inducted into the Beaver County Hall of Fame in 1992.

Early years

Bemies was born in Vermont in 1867. His father, James Otis Bemies, was a tinsmith who was born in Maine. His mother, Ellen Medora (Brigham) Bemies, was a native of Vermont. At the time of the 1870 United States Census, Bemies was living in

Randolph, Vermont Randolph is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,774 at the 2020 census, making Randolph the largest town in Orange County. The town is a commercial center for many of the smaller, rural farming communities that ...

, with his parents and an older brother, William H. Bemies (age 5). At the time of the

1880 United States Census The United States census of 1880 conducted by the Census Bureau during June 1880 was the tenth United States census.Springfield, Massachusetts, with his parents and two brothers, William H. Bemies (age 16) and James F. Bemies (age 7).

Early YMCA work and Springfield College

Bemies became involved in the work of

early in his life. He worked for YMCA in Burlington, Iowa, for two years. In the late 1880s, he attended the International YMCA Training School (now known as Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts. While studying at Springfield, Bemies became acquainted with

, the inventor of

, who was a physical education teacher at the school. Some accounts state that Bemies was a protégé of Naismith while at Springfield. One biographical account indicates that Bemies was also a teacher at YMCA College in Springfield for one year.

Geneva College

In 1889, Bemies accepted a position as the athletic director and head of the Department of Physical Culture at

, a Christian liberal arts college in

Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,005 at the 2020 census. Located 31 miles (50 km) northwest of Pittsburgh, the city lies along the Beaver River, six miles (9 km) north of its c ...

, north of

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

. He held that position from 1889 to 1894. In 1889, he organized the school's Athletic Association. He also organized a YMCA program at Geneva. As one book notes, "In the fall of 1890, Prof. Bemies organized a 'Young Men's Christian Association,' which continues as an educative factor in the religious life of students." Bemies organized the football program at Geneva College in 1890 and served as the coach, captain and a player at the halfback and center positions from 1890 to 1893.Glasgow, The Geneva Book, pp. 163-164. The 1890 Geneva football team played only one game, losing to

Western University of Pennsylvania The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a public state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The university is composed of 17 undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges at its urban Pittsburgh campus, home to the univers ...

by a score of 10 to 4. In 1891, Bemies led the team to an expanded six-game schedule in which the "Covies" (as the team was known at the time) compiled a 4–2 record and outscored opponents by a cumulative total of 126 to 78. In 1892, Bemies led the team to a 3–3 record. He led the team again in 1893 to a record of 3–2. During his four years with the program, the Geneva football team compiled an overall record of 10–8. Bemies is best known for his role as a pioneer of college basketball. In 1892, after witnessing an exhibition basketball game arranged by Naismith in Springfield, Bemies formed the first college basketball team at Geneva College. Under Bemies' guidance, Geneva College became the first college in the United States to field a basketball team. Interviewed in 2010, Ian Naismith, a basketball historian and the grandson of the sport's inventor, sought to settle disputing claims as to which college was the first to introduce basketball. Naismith said, "My grandfather considered Geneva to be the birthplace of college basketball, and how can anybody argue with him? If you say anything differently, you're calling my grandfather, my father, and me, liars." Records are inconsistent as to the date of the first Geneva College basketball game. One account indicates that Bemies staged basketball games at Geneva "in the early months of 1892." Another account suggests that a report on gymnasium football in the February 1892 edition of the college newspaper, the ''Geneva Cabinet'', may refer to the newly developed game of basketball. The newspaper account from February 1892 reported: "Football in the gym is a popular mode of exercise at present. Some severe knocks are received, but in the excitement, they are hardly noticed." In December 1892, the same newspaper reported: "Basketball is quite a go in the gym now. It suits very well to take the place of football for those who love a rough and tumble game." Several sources are in agreement that, in April 1893, Geneva's basketball team played a game against a YMCA team from nearby

Brighton, Pennsylvania Brighton Township is a township in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,829 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. History In late 2007, it was proposed that the borough of Beaver and Br ...

. According to the college's current web site, "Geneva first played in collegiate competition on April 8, 1893 using peach baskets as goals, defeating the New Brighton YMCA 3 - 0." However, a history of the college published in 1908 notes that, "Basket Ball was not introduced by a regularly organized team until the fall of 1897." In a 1972 article, J. Vale Downie wrote that "interest in the game lapsed with the departure of Professor Bemies," and it was not until 1897 the sport was revived at Geneva. Bemies was trained as gymnast and also instructed Geneva College students in fencing, boxing and wrestling.Geneva's Basketball First
He also played at first base for Geneva's baseball team in 1892. In an 1892 report, Geneva's Board of Trustees wrote of Bemies:

"Strong inducements to leave us have been held out to Prof. O.C. icBemies of the department of physical culture. The Board could ill afford to keep him; and still less could it afford to lose him. He is a master in the work of physical culture, and has far greater worth, to us, for the culture of the soul. Prof. Bemies is a thoroughly conscientious and consistent Christian, outspoken in his opposition to dancing, card playing, theater going, tobacco using, and all such degrading and demoralizing habits, which are so ensnaring to students. Arrangements have been made by which he will be with us next year."

Western Theological Seminary

After leaving Geneva College, Bemies enrolled at the Western Theological Seminary in

Allegheny, Pennsylvania Allegheny City was a municipality that existed in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1788 until it was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907. It was located north across the Allegheny River from downtown Pittsburgh, with its southwest border formed by ...

. He graduated in 1897 and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister that same year. Bemies also studied at The Graduate Divinity School at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chic ...

Michigan Agricultural College

Bemies served as the second head football coach (and first professional football coach) at Michigan Agricultural College, now known as Michigan State University, from 1899 to 1900, compiling a record of 3–10–1. According to one account, "When Michigan State began playing football in 1896, the game was considered such a rowdy affair that the college fathers demanded that a minister handle the team to keep it within decent bounds. Thus the Rev. Charles O. Bemies became the school's first coach." Bemies was also the first head basketball coach at Michigan Agricultural from 1899 to 1901, tallying a mark of 5–2, and the head coach of Michigan Agricultural's baseball team from 1900 to 1901, where his record was 4–10. According to one history of Michigan State University, Bemies was asked to resign after the poor showing of the football team in 1900: "The football team's poor performance in 1900, which ended with a 23-0 defeat by Alma, led the athletic association to ask for Bemies's resignation. Although the players saw Bemies as a 'good man,' they refused to play for him after the season ended."

Pastor and evangelist

After retiring from coaching, Bemies worked for two years as a country pastor in western Pennsylvania. He next served for 16 years as the pastor of the Presbyterian church in

McClellandtown, Pennsylvania McClellandtown is an unincorporated community in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The village was founded by a family of that name, who lived there many years ago. William McClelland, the founder, died there July 12, 1815, in the eigh ...

, a rural community located about 75 miles south of Pittsburgh. He remained at McClellandtown until the outbreak of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, when he left to serve as a chaplain. He also became prominent in Prohibition politics and briefly entered the newspaper business. One of his efforts as the pastor in McClellandtown was the construction of the "Brotherhood Building," a 72' by 42' structure including a gymnasium where the local boys played basketball, a kitchen, and an auditorium. In 1913, Bemies wrote an article on his experiences as a rural pastor that was published in a magazine called "Rural Manhood." He also wrote articles promoting issues such as good roads, better schools and scientific agriculture as means to promote the advancement of rural life. In 1909, his presbytery sought to remove Bemies from his position at the church in McClellandtown, but he continued to serve when his congregation refused to accept any other pastor. Bemies later wrote about the circumstances leading to the attempt to remove him as pastor:

"Our greatest drawback in the church work was the presence of several exceedingly active gossips and trouble makers. After four years of patient endurance the success of the work demanded that the practice stop, so we were forced to suspend a sister who was addicted to the habit. She immediately gathered on her side the other trouble makers, including the church boss and a few relatives and hangers-on, both in and out of the church. A majority leaders of Presbytery secured enough votes to forcibly remove me by vote from the official pastorate of the church against the unanimous vote and the protest of the congregation upholding me. It made no difference with the work, for I went right on just the same as before under the employment of the church as their supply."

During the 1910s, he also worked as an evangelist in various locations in Pennsylvania.

Europe and South Dakota

In December 1917, Bemies was appointed to a YMCA commission to Russia as "an ambassador of American country life to the new republic." In a passport application dated December 21, 1917, Bemies wrote that the purpose of his trip was "YMCA Work" and that he would be traveling to "Russia entering Russia at

Vladivostok Vladivostok ( rus, Владивосто́к, a=Владивосток.ogg, p=vɫədʲɪvɐˈstok) is the largest city and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai, Russia. The city is located around the Golden Horn Bay on the Sea of Japan, c ...

and passing through Japan." Bemies remained in Europe from 1918 to 1919 where he was involved in war reconstruction work. He was also a field lecturer at the A.E.F. University in

Beaune Beaune () is the wine capital of Burgundy in the Côte d'Or department in eastern France. It is located between Lyon and Dijon. Beaune is one of the key wine centers in France, and the center of Burgundy wine production and business. The annua ...

, France. After World War I, Bemies moved to

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who comprise a large porti ...

where he continued his work with YMCA and as a clergyman. While living in South Dakota, Bemies also held the position of State Survey Supervisor for the Interchurch World Movement.

Family and later years

Bemies was married to Lina Stracke (born 1863 in Iowa) in May 1891. They had two sons, Carl Louis Bemies (1892–1966) and Clifton S. Bemies (born May 1899). At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Bemies was living with his wife and sons in Meridian, Michigan, near

East Lansing East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city lies within Ingham County with a smaller portion extending north into Clinton County. At the 2020 Census the population was 47,741. Located directly east of the state capital ...

.Census entry for Charles O. Bemies and family. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census atabase on-line Census Place: Meridian, Ingham, Michigan; Roll: T623_716; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 54. At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Bemies was living with his wife, Lina, and two sons in German Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Bemies' first wife, Lina, died in 1913. In May 1918, Bemies met Madeleine Suzanne Lévy while in France. Madeleine was born in France in 1895, and they were married in France in October 1918. At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Bemies was living in

Brookings, South Dakota Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is South Dakota's fourth largest city, with a population of 23,377 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Brookings County, and home to South Dakota State Un ...

, with Madeleine and his two sons from his first marriage.Census entry for Charles O. Bemies and family. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census atabase on-line Census Place: Brookings Ward 1, Brookings, South Dakota; Roll: T625_1715; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 24; Image: 86. At the time of the

1930 United States Census The United States census of 1930, conducted by the Census Bureau one month from April 1, 1930, determined the resident population of the United States to be 122,775,046, an increase of 13.7 percent over the 106,021,537 persons enumerated durin ...

, Bemies was living with his wife, Madeleine, in

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

, and his occupation was recorded as Presbyterian minister. Bemies died in August 1948 after a short illness at the Minneapolis General Hospital in

Hennepin County, Minnesota Hennepin County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its county seat is Minneapolis, the state's most populous city. The county is named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. The county extends from Minneap ...

. Bemies was posthumously inducted into the Beaver County Hall of Fame in 1992.

Head coaching record

Football

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bemies, Charles 1867 births 1948 deaths 20th-century American Presbyterian ministers American Presbyterian ministers Geneva Golden Tornadoes football coaches Geneva Golden Tornadoes football players Geneva Golden Tornadoes men's basketball coaches Michigan State Spartans athletic directors Michigan State Spartans baseball coaches Michigan State Spartans football coaches Michigan State Spartans men's basketball coaches Springfield College alumni University of Chicago alumni YMCA leaders People from Northfield, Vermont Coaches of American football from Vermont Players of American football from Vermont Baseball coaches from Vermont Basketball coaches from Vermont