Wayne Eugene Alderton (April 3, 1934 – July 2, 1992) was an American football player. He played college football for the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in the 1957 NFL draft.
College career A native of Cumberland, Maryland, Alderton attended college at the University of Maryland, where he played as a center on the football team. As a sophomore in 1955, he was pressed into service to replace injured starting center Bob Pellegrini.Jim Tatum Isn't Ready To Downgrade Early Appraisal of Maryland Gridders, The Free Lance-Star, September 16, 1955. In 1956, he was an honorable mention Associated Press All-American.1956 Associated Press All-America Football Team Announced; Vols' Johnny Majors is Picked as First String, Times Daily, December 7, 1956. The Associated Press also named him to its All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team."All-Time Honors", 2007 Maryland Football Media Guide, pp. 162–163, University of Maryland, 2007.
As a senior in 1957, he served as the team co-captain alongside Jack Healy.1958 Terrapin, p. 226, University of Maryland, 1958. That season, Maryland played North Carolina in the "Queen's Game"—the first American football game attended by Queen Elizabeth II. Alderton was scheduled to meet the Queen in the pre-game ceremonies., Sports Illustrated, October 14, 1957. After he lost a tooth in the previous week's game, "university officials speedily ordered up a replacement so he could smile properly when he and the other co-captains were introduced to Elizabeth and Philip".Maryland's queen for a day, The Washington Times, October 19, 2007.All He Wants Is New Tooth as Queen Calls , Chicago Daily Tribune, October 18, 1957. Alderton presented a souvenir football to the Queen and Prince Philip alongside fellow co-captain Jack Healy before the game.1958 Terrapin, p. 226, University of Maryland, 1958. The Newspaper Enterprise Association named him an honorable mention All-American.Three SEC Players Selected, Gadsden Times, November 18, 1957. The Atlantic Coast Conference selected him as a member of its All-ACC second-team.Christy Heads All-A.C.C. Team , The Baltimore Sun, December 3, 1957.
Head coach Tommy Mont recommended Alderton, alongside back-up center Wilbur Main, for selection to the South squad in the all-star Shrine Game to Miami coach Andy Gustafson., The Miami News, November 17, 1957. Upon the conclusion of his collegiate playing career, Alderton received the Teke Trophy for service by a football player over four years.Gene Alderton Wins Maryland Sports Award , The Washington Post and Times-Herald, p. A17, January 18, 1958. He graduated from Maryland in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education for industry.1958 Terrapin, p. 336, University of Maryland, 1958.
After college Alderton was selected 179th overall in the 15th round of the 1957 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions., Database Football, retrieved August 25, 2010. In the summer of 1958, he was competing for a position at the Lions' training camp,Five Rookies Figure In Lions' Plan, Ludington Daily News, August 11, 1958. and considered to have a good chance at making the roster.Veteran Performers to Carry Load for Lions in 1958 Camp, Ludington Daily News, July 7, 1958. He played for Detroit, the defending NFL champions, in the 1958 College All-Star Game.Underdog College Team Tackles Lions Friday, Herald-Journal, August 10, 1958., The Miami News, August 15, 1958.
In mid-August, he was hired as the freshman team coach at his alma mater.Terp Frosh Post To Gene Alderton , The Baltimore Sun, August 12, 1958. In 1964, Alderton was elected to the board of trustees of the University of Maryland M Club, an athletic alumni organization.Appendix D; M Club Board of Trustees; 1923 – 2000 , University of Maryland M Club, retrieved August 29, 2010. He died on July 2, 1992, while living in Hyattsville, Maryland.Social Security Death Index, retrieved August 29, 2010.
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