Colorado University Athletics
Hatfield Chilson earned 11 letters at Colorado before going on to a distinguished career in law.
CU Athletic Hall of Fame Profile: Hatfield Chilson
November 09, 2018 | Football, General
It's Hall of Fame Week for Colorado Athletics! The 11-member Class of 2018 was inducted on Nov. 8 at the Boedecker Gym in the CU Events Center, and will be recognized at Saturday's football game against Washington State at 1:30 p.m. Our eighth CU Athletic Hall of Fame Profile is Hatfield Chilson, a three-sport star in the 1920s and inventor of the "jump pass."
Hatfield "Chilly" Chilson was born in Pueblo, Colo., on November 22, 1903, to Annie and Leonard Chilson. Before his playing career at the University of Colorado, Chilson worked as a carpenter in order to earn enough money to attend the university, along with earning a rotary scholarship.
Standing at 5-foot-8 and 142 pounds, he would turn out to be one of Colorado's first multi-sport star athletes.
"No doubt the best all-around athlete in the university at present and perhaps the most valuable Colorado has had within a number of years is Hatfield Chilson, all-conference quarterback, basketball guard, and baseball catcher," proclaimed a 1925 fraternity publication.
During his four years, from 1923-26, Chilson earned 11 letters in football, baseball, and basketball. In 1925, he was captain for the basketball and football teams and vice-captain in baseball.
Under football coach Myron Whitman, Chilson began playing quarterback halfway through his sophomore year. He was thrown into a road game facing defending league champion Utah due to Art Quinlan suffering from an injury.
That game would set the tone for how things would look throughout his time at Colorado. Chilson went 11-of-21 passing for 170 yards and ran for a touchdown. Capping his first game off with a 17-7 win against Utah, he would then lead the Buffaloes to a 9-0 record for the 1923 season and Colorado's first conference football championship since 1913.
One newspaper account contributed his success due to some of Chilson's physical features, "The reason Chilson was such a fine passer was that he had extremely large hands. The reason he was not very fast was he has extremely big feet, size 10 ½."
Chilson continued his dominance as quarterback the following season in 1924, leading the Buffaloes to unbeaten season at 7-0-1 and another conference championship. Chilson's success was widely be attributed to hiss unique style of play. He is considered to be one of the nation's first "jump passers."
A 1925 excerpt from the Louisville (Ken.) Hearld-Post described his unique ability, "He dashes out toward the wings, leaps into the air in full stride, and turns with an acrobatic twist, flipping his passes while at the top of his leap. The altitude he achieves, added to his six feet of height, gives him a birdseye view of his objective. His flip lays the ball easily and accurately into the receiver's hands."
Chilson's achievements did not stop on the field. In 1927 he graduated from CU's School of Law. He held his own practice in La Jara, Colo., before moving to Loveland, Colo., where he continued his practice. He then became district attorney of the Eighth Judicial District of Colorado.
He was Assistant Secretary of Interior in the 1950s before President Dwight Eisenhower nominated him to be the US District Judge for the State of Colorado on Feb. 19, 1960. The Senate confirmed his nomination within two weeks and he would serve as US District Judge for 26 years.
Chilson was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and was named a member CU's All-Century Football team in 1989. Chilson passed away on September 28, 1991 at the age of 87.
At Thursday's CU Athletic Hall of Fame induction, his grandson, Mark, accepted the honor, noting "It's all about the team. All of his sports were team sports (football, basketball and baseball); he earned 11 letters across the sports. He went from being from the poor part of Pueblo to being appointed a district judge by President Eisenhower. How did that happen? Because of right here, the University of Colorado.
"The pleasures of competition are their own reward. Where would we be without organized athletics today."
Hatfield "Chilly" Chilson was born in Pueblo, Colo., on November 22, 1903, to Annie and Leonard Chilson. Before his playing career at the University of Colorado, Chilson worked as a carpenter in order to earn enough money to attend the university, along with earning a rotary scholarship.
Standing at 5-foot-8 and 142 pounds, he would turn out to be one of Colorado's first multi-sport star athletes.
"No doubt the best all-around athlete in the university at present and perhaps the most valuable Colorado has had within a number of years is Hatfield Chilson, all-conference quarterback, basketball guard, and baseball catcher," proclaimed a 1925 fraternity publication.
During his four years, from 1923-26, Chilson earned 11 letters in football, baseball, and basketball. In 1925, he was captain for the basketball and football teams and vice-captain in baseball.
Under football coach Myron Whitman, Chilson began playing quarterback halfway through his sophomore year. He was thrown into a road game facing defending league champion Utah due to Art Quinlan suffering from an injury.
That game would set the tone for how things would look throughout his time at Colorado. Chilson went 11-of-21 passing for 170 yards and ran for a touchdown. Capping his first game off with a 17-7 win against Utah, he would then lead the Buffaloes to a 9-0 record for the 1923 season and Colorado's first conference football championship since 1913.
One newspaper account contributed his success due to some of Chilson's physical features, "The reason Chilson was such a fine passer was that he had extremely large hands. The reason he was not very fast was he has extremely big feet, size 10 ½."
Chilson continued his dominance as quarterback the following season in 1924, leading the Buffaloes to unbeaten season at 7-0-1 and another conference championship. Chilson's success was widely be attributed to hiss unique style of play. He is considered to be one of the nation's first "jump passers."
A 1925 excerpt from the Louisville (Ken.) Hearld-Post described his unique ability, "He dashes out toward the wings, leaps into the air in full stride, and turns with an acrobatic twist, flipping his passes while at the top of his leap. The altitude he achieves, added to his six feet of height, gives him a birdseye view of his objective. His flip lays the ball easily and accurately into the receiver's hands."
Chilson's achievements did not stop on the field. In 1927 he graduated from CU's School of Law. He held his own practice in La Jara, Colo., before moving to Loveland, Colo., where he continued his practice. He then became district attorney of the Eighth Judicial District of Colorado.
He was Assistant Secretary of Interior in the 1950s before President Dwight Eisenhower nominated him to be the US District Judge for the State of Colorado on Feb. 19, 1960. The Senate confirmed his nomination within two weeks and he would serve as US District Judge for 26 years.
Chilson was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and was named a member CU's All-Century Football team in 1989. Chilson passed away on September 28, 1991 at the age of 87.
At Thursday's CU Athletic Hall of Fame induction, his grandson, Mark, accepted the honor, noting "It's all about the team. All of his sports were team sports (football, basketball and baseball); he earned 11 letters across the sports. He went from being from the poor part of Pueblo to being appointed a district judge by President Eisenhower. How did that happen? Because of right here, the University of Colorado.
"The pleasures of competition are their own reward. Where would we be without organized athletics today."
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