As a pass-catching end,
Walfred “Wally” Holmgren earned All-Northwest Conference honors in each of his final three seasons.
A two-time winner of Whitman’s Niles Trophy for leadership and inspiration, Holmgren capped his football career by becoming the first Northwest player chosen for the annual East-West Shrine game in San Francisco. According to Shrine game press reports, Holmgren starred on defense and caught a 15-yard pass that triggered a long touchdown drive.
A two-sport athlete who also starred in basketball, Holmgren was a key contributor in 1928 to what was a magical calendar year for Whitman. The Missionaries won NWC titles in all five of the major sports in existence at that time – football, basketball, baseball, track & field and tennis. Whitman, which won its four NWC football games that fall by a combined score of 159-25, did not lose a single game, match or meet in the other sports.
After playing on two state basketball championship teams for Walla Walla High School, Holmgren led Whitman to NWC roundball titles in his final three seasons. Coach R.V. Borleske wrote as follows in the college magazine:
“On defense the outstanding man is Wally Holmgren. I believe without doubt he is the outstanding defensive man on the coast today.”
Holmgren also played on the San Francisco Olympic Basketball Club that placed second in 1930 A.A.U. national tournament in St. Louis. After Whitman, he worked as a machinist at Boeing until his retirement in 1969. He died in 1983.
