Today in Wheeling History: January 8--Leland S. Devore, All-American football player and military officer, was born in Wheeling (1889).
Leland Swarts Devore was born on January 8, 1889, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to James Harvey Devore and Ada Swarts. Growing up on Wheeling Island, Devore attended Wheeling High School, where he excelled in sports. He was an outstanding athlete, participating in football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. After high school, Devore attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he continued to shine as an athlete. He played as a tackle for the Army football team and was selected as a first-team All-American in 1911 and a third-team All-American in 1912. Devore also captained the 1912 Army Cadets football team and was the heavyweight boxing champion at the academy.
After graduating from West Point, Devore was commissioned as a lieutenant in the infantry and served in various military roles. He accompanied General John J. Pershing on the Pancho Villa Expedition into Mexico in 1916 and served as an infantry officer in France during World War I, where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. Devore later served as commandant and professor of military science at West Virginia University. He married Genevieve Welty in 1913, and they had one son, Leland S. Devore, Jr. Devore passed away on January 15, 1939, in Washington, D.C., and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/22hwhvmk), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/556f86hp), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/679z53fr)
Photo credits: Wheeling Hall of Fame, West Point
Leland Swarts Devore was born on January 8, 1889, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to James Harvey Devore and Ada Swarts. Growing up on Wheeling Island, Devore attended Wheeling High School, where he excelled in sports. He was an outstanding athlete, participating in football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. After high school, Devore attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he continued to shine as an athlete. He played as a tackle for the Army football team and was selected as a first-team All-American in 1911 and a third-team All-American in 1912. Devore also captained the 1912 Army Cadets football team and was the heavyweight boxing champion at the academy.
After graduating from West Point, Devore was commissioned as a lieutenant in the infantry and served in various military roles. He accompanied General John J. Pershing on the Pancho Villa Expedition into Mexico in 1916 and served as an infantry officer in France during World War I, where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. Devore later served as commandant and professor of military science at West Virginia University. He married Genevieve Welty in 1913, and they had one son, Leland S. Devore, Jr. Devore passed away on January 15, 1939, in Washington, D.C., and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/22hwhvmk), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/556f86hp), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/679z53fr)
Photo credits: Wheeling Hall of Fame, West Point
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