Expert on Notre Dame seeking information about two former Mendotans

Whatever happened to Rufus Waldorf and Frank Munson?

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Posted 4/20/17

MENDOTA – Cappy Gagnon is an expert on Notre Dame sports history. His first book was Notre Dame Baseball Greats, featuring ND men who played Major League Baseball.

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Expert on Notre Dame seeking information about two former Mendotans

Whatever happened to Rufus Waldorf and Frank Munson?

Posted

MENDOTA – Cappy Gagnon is an expert on Notre Dame sports history. His first book was Notre Dame Baseball Greats, featuring ND men who played Major League Baseball.

He is working on a project about early (1887-1917) Notre Dame Football. He has identified 370 men who suited up for “The Catholics” (their most common appellation from that time) for at least one of the 197 games during that period. This is two dozen more players than the Notre Dame Football Media Guide had previously listed. 

Two of the significant players he has researched grew up and/or lived in Mendota. Oddly, these two men are among only 18 for whom Cappy has not found a date of death or obituary. He is aware that Rufus Waldorf died in Mendota, sometime in 1934. According to the records of the Notre Dame Alumni Association, Frank Munson’s mail was returned from Mendota, “unclaimed,” in 1938.

Munson earned a law degree and Waldorf was one of the first 20 men to earn a degree in Electrical Engineering at Notre Dame, so they were bright students as well as great athletes.

Here is a short bio that Gagnon has prepared on these two men:

Munson, Francis Elmer “Frank”

  1. 7/15/1886, Ohio, IL; d? 5’ 10, 185.

 At ND, 1905-1908, LLB. His father was a watchmaker and owned a jewelry store in Mendota. After the 1907, 22-4 win over Knox, the SCHOLASTIC reported “Munson's playing at end was particularly noticeable. Time after time he received the long pass from Berteling for good gains and his punts were long. Aided by a slight wind, Munson's kicks averaged fifty yards throughout the entire game.” Munson had two TDs and kicked two extra points, accounting for 12 of ND’s 22 points. Sergeant at Arms of the Illinois Club of Notre Dame. Private, Illinois National Guard-WWI. Attorney. Living in Mendota, IL, in 1900, 1917, and 1930, according to Census and Draft Registration information.

Waldorf, Rufus William “Bumper”

  1. 11/9/1885, Mendota, IL; d.-1934, Mendota, IL. 6’, 160.

At ND, 1903-1909, Electrical Engineering Degree. Both parents born in Germany. His dad was a very successful farmer and banker. A leading citizen of Mendota, he built a two-story block building and served for 10 years as an Alderman. Rufus was an outstanding pitcher for ND, with a 14-5 record, including being the top hurler in 1907 (7-0), with the other two starters both later pitching in the Major Leagues. Minor League Baseball (Sioux City-1907; Atlanta-1912; Norfolk-1913, and Bloomington-1914). Signed by the Cubs, in June, 1912. In mid-August, 1914, he was released by the Bloomington (IL) Bloomers baseball team because his pay was higher than the younger pitchers they could bring in. Married Elsie May Reese, in Bessemer, MI, 8/29/1914. WWI-Ordnance Department Inspector, in Detroit. Manager of Auto factory-1920 Census. Lived in Miami, FL and later in Buffalo, NY, in 1925. Vice-President of Locke and Company, in Rochester, NY-1931. Locke produced custom auto bodies for luxury automobile chassis. Buried in Restland Cemetery, in Mendota. His widow was living in Evanston, in 1935.

If any of our readers can assist Cappy, please call the Reporter sports department at (815) 539-9396 or email kcheek@mendotareporter.com and the information will be forwarded to him.