| Wins against Kentucky - 7 | Losses against Kentucky - 1 |
Alma Mater: Nebraska
Hometown: Sutton, NE
Date Born: May 14, 1882
Date Died: July 24, 1928
Overall Record: 41-18 [4 Seasons]

Obituary - Lincoln (NE) Journal Star (July 25, 1928)

JOHNNY BENDER IS DEAD AT HOUSTON

WILL RETURN BODY OF ATHLETE TO SUTTON

Famous Backfield Star of 1901-04 Succumbs Following Operation - Funeral Services Friday Morning

HOUSTON, Tex., July 25 - The body of Maj. John Reinhold Bender, former all-American football star at the University of Nebraska, was en route to Sutton, Neb., today for burial.

Bender, coach at Houston Junior College and formerly with Texas A.&M. college, died Tuesday following an operation.

Johnny Bender was one of Nebraska's most famous athletes. He played both baseball and football playing at halfback and quarterback with the Cornhuskers of 1901-2-3-4. He was captain of the 1904 team. Bender caught on the baseball team when J.E. Beltzer, now president of the Nebraska state league, was pitching for the Huskers.

Those were the days when John Westover was crushing opponents as a tacklet. Cortelyou was at end, Tobin at guard, Pillsbury, Belt, Kingsbury and Crandall other backfield men.

Bender, with Maurice Benedict, formed as great a combination of backs as has ever donned the Scarlet, in the opinion of veteran followers.

Funeral services will be held at the old home at Sutton, Friday morning.

Bender had been suffering from gallstones for several years but put off having an operation until too late, it was said.

Bender was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and he had intended enrolling his oldest son at Nebraska this fall.

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