April 23, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Former Western Washington University football player Howard Wilder passed away last Thursday at the age of 104.

Wilder played for what was then Bellingham State Normal School in 1923, a historic year in the athletic history of the school. The Viking nickname was adopted that year, and the newly-named team won its first conference championship.

Wilder attended Western from 1923 to 1925, earning a two-year teaching certificate, then returned in 1930-31 to complete his three-year certificate. A fullback, Wilder was a key member of the 1923 squad that went undefeated at 3-0-2 and won the Tri-Normal League title, as he scored two touchdowns in a victory over Ellensburg Normal and three in a triumph over Cheney Normal.

The 1923 team played its games at newly opened Waldo Field, at the present location of Red Square, and was coached by Sam Carver, for whom the current gymnasium is named.

Wilder went on to teach and later managed a lumberyard in Mount Vernon and owned a neighborhood grocery store, retiring in 1968