E. L. "Dick" Romney
In December 1918, Ernest Lowell "Dick" Romney became athletic director and head coach for football, basketball, baseball, and track at Utah Agricultural College (now Utah State University). He was the athletic director for 31 years. From 1919 to 1949 he compiled a career record of 128-91-16 in 29 football seasons while leading Utah state to four conference titles and five second-place finishes.
Romney was a member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. He was the first coach to ever use the "trap" block. He directed the track and field program for 24 years (1919–43), winning four conference championships. Romney coached the basketball team for 22 seasons (1920–41) and produced four conference championships and one AAU national title. His 1936 basketball squad became the first team West of the Mississippi river to play in a national championship game in New York's Madison Square Garden. He coached the baseball team for 10 years before it was discontinued as a collegiate sport in the Rocky Mountain Conference.
Romney became the first commissioner of the Mountain States Athletic Conference (Skyline), and he served in that capacity for 11 years. During his tenure in the league office, he was a member of the NCAA's first television committee.
He was founder and director of the Utah State Coaching School for high school and college coaches from 1927 to 1956.
He was inducted into the Helms Athletic Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame in 1958 as both a player and coach. Utah State's football stadium was first named in his honor in 1927 and held that name until 2015 when it was renamed for a corporate sponsor.
Romney was born in Salt Lake City to George and Hannah Romney on February 12, 1895. He graduated from the University of Utah where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He also played football for the Fort Lewis football team as a member of the U.S. Army’s 362nd Infantry. He scored the only touchdown in a loss to Mare Island’s team in the wartime 1918 Rose Bowl.
He died on February 5, 1969. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame posthumously.
Romney married Elizabeth Florence Horlick in 1917. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His brothers are G. Ott Romney, Milton “Mitt” Addis Romney, Wilford Woodruff “Woody” Romney, and Floyd Eccles Romney. Each was a gifted athlete and coach.
