60 Days Until Gameday – Day #34 Gage County, Nebraska

We have 60 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026.
Yesterday we looked at Furnas County, Nebraska.


Gage County, Nebraska

• Established in 1855 when the land was acquired from the Otoe Tribe in an 1854 treaty.
• The county was named for William Gage, the first chaplain of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature.
• The population is ~21,700 (2025) and has been declining since 1890 when it reached a peak of over 36,000 people.
• Beatrice is the county seat and largest city in the county. It is also the 15th largest city in Nebraska.
• License Plate prefix #3.
• Approximately 860 square miles, making it the 25th largest county in Nebraska by total area.
• The Big Blue River runs through the middle of the county.
• The Homestead National Historic Park lies 5 miles west of Beatrice where some of the first acres were claimed under the Homestead Act of 1862. The Homestead Heritage Center and Education Center have many exhibits that showcase the effect of the Homestead Act of 1862. The roof of the building is shaped like a plow.
• Rockford Lake State Recreation Area is a 300-acre park that surrounds a 150-acre lake offering boating, fishing, swimming, and camping.
• The Nebraska-Kansas state line runs through Lanham, where part of the town is in Nebraska and part is in Kansas (similar to Bristol VA/TN).
• Hoag was the site of the first station on the railroad out of Beatrice.
• The Elijah Filley Stone Barn is listed on the National Reister of Historic Places. It is a 3-story limestone barn that Elijah Filley had built after the drought and grasshoppers of 1873 in order to provide income to the local farmers by hiring them to build the barn. It is the largest limestone barn in the state.
• Cortland was at one time named “Galesburg”.
• Barneston was settled at the site of one of the largest Oto villages in the 1800’s.

Former Huskers and Spotlights
According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln records, there have been 27 letterman football players from Gage County, NE.


Leonard Purdy – HB 1911-1913, Beatrice, NE.

• Played for Nebraska from 1910-1913, lettering from 1911-1913.
• Approximately 170lbs
• 1913 Team Captain

Harold Mulligan – E 1912, Beatrice, NE.

• Played for Nebraska in 1912 and 1913, lettering in 1913.
• Played for Head Coach Ewald Stiehm and was part of Nebraska’s 34-game win streak.

Richard Rutherford – HB 1913-1915, Beatrice, NE.

• Played for Nebraska from 1912-1915, letter from 1913-1915.
• He also earned 3 letters in basketball and 2 letters in wrestling.
• Considered one of Nebraska’s best all-around athletes in university history.
• Was an assistant coach at Nebraska in 1917.
• (side note: he kind of looks a little like JJ Watt)

Guy Chamberlain – HB & E 1914-1915, Blue Springs, NE.

• 6’2” 200lb End out of Blue Springs HS.
• Began his career at Nebraska Wesleyan in 1911-1912 before transferring to Nebraska.
• The 1914 and 1915 teams both went undefeated and were Missouri Valley Conference Champions.
• 1915 All-American.
• Selected in 1936 as the greatest player in Husker history (obviously a small sample size at that time) in a poll of former players.
• Played 9 years in the NFL and spent his last 6 years as a player-coach.
• 6x NFL Champion.
• His 58-16-7 record as an NFL head coach is the best winning percentage (.759) of any coach with more than 50 games.
• He is the only NFL head coach to win an NFL championship with 3 different programs.
• Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame member
• Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member
• College Football Hall of Fame member
• Pro Football Hall of Fame member (his bust is on display in the gallery cabinet at the Beta Theta Pi frat house at UNL)
• His jersey was retired at Nebraska and his name is on Memorial Stadium.

John Cook – QB 1915-1917, Beatrice, NE.

• All-Conference QB who was part of the early success of Nebraska football.
• Led the Huskers in part of their 34-game win streak.

Ted Riddell – E 1915-1917, Beatrice, NE.

• Another all-around athlete that excelled at Nebraska.
• Earned letters in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was the first Husker to letter in 4 sports.
• Was known for his speed on the field as an End.
• Caught the game winning 30-yard touchdown to upset Notre Dame in 1915.
• He became a doctor after playing football.

Ernest Hubka – G 1917-1920, Virginia, NE.

• 1918 Team Captain
• Played fullback, tackle, guard, and end for the Huskers
• Older brother of Ladimer Hubka (Below).
• After college, he would be a teacher and coach in York, NE until he became the head coach for the University of Nebraska-Omaha football program in 1928 for that season while attending law school.
• He served 2 terms in the Nebraska state legislature from 1930-1938.

William Day – C 1917-1920, Beatrice, NE.

• Played at Nebraska from 1917-1920, lettering in 1917, 1919, and 1920.
• He left the University during 1918 to serve in WWI but never left the states.
• Born and raised in Beatrice, he played for Beatrice HS.
• Starting center for Nebraska in 1919 and 1920.

Ladimer Hubka – E 1923-1924, Virginia, NE.

• Following his brother’s footsteps, he played football for Nebraska from 1921-1924, lettering in 1923-1924.
• Also following his brother’s footstpes, he would go on to attend law school and also serve in the Nebraska state legislature.
• Lettered as an end and a guard for the Huskers.

Elbert “Al” Bloodgood – QB 1923-1924, Beatrice, NE.

• 5’8” 155lb quarterback out of Beatrice HS.
• State champion in the 100-yd dash in 1920 and 440-yd dash & 880-yd relay in 1921.
• Played at DePauw University from 1921-1922 and then transferred to Nebraska where he lettered in 1923-1924.
• Member of the 1923 Husker team that upset the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame.
• Starting QB in 1924 for the Huskers.
• Played 5 seasons in the NFL with the Kansas City Cowboys, Cleveland Bulldogs, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers.
• Won an NFL championship in 1930 with the Green Bay Packers.
• Tied an NFL record with 4 dropkicked field goals in a game.
• Passed away at the age of 45 from pneumonia.

Merle Zuver – G 1926-1928, Adams, NE.
6’1” 200lb guard out of Adams HS.
Played at Nebraska from 1925-1928, lettering from 1926-1928.
2x All-Conference guard (1x All-Missouri Valley, 1x All-Big Six)
Helped lead Nebraska to finish as 1928 Big Six Champions
He played 1 season in the NFL in 1930 for the Green Bay Packers, playing with Al Bloodgood.
1930 NFL Champion.

Harold Frahm – HB 1928-1930, Beatrice, NE.
185lb half back from Beatrice HS wearing #33 for the Huskers.
Played at Nebraska from 1927-1930, lettering in 1928-1930.
2x Big Six Champion, played his final 2 seasons for Dana Bible.

Harold Holmbeck – T 1931-1935, Beatrice, NE.
5’11” 195lb tackle out of Beatrice HS wearing #34 for the Huskers.
Played at Nebraska from 1930-1935, lettering in 1931, 1934 and 1935.
Known for being a strong run blocker, he earned All-Big Six honors in 1935.

Elmer Hubka – G 1932-1933, Virginia, NE.
Younger brother of Ernest and Ladimer.
Wore #36 for Dana Bible’s Huskers.
Lettered in 1932-1933 where the Huskers went a combined 15-2-1 and 10-0 in conference play to be back to back Big Six Champions.

Harris Andrews – HB 1936-1937, Beatrice, NE.
5’9” 185 half back out of Beatrice HS wearing #21
Played at Nebraska from 1934-1937, lettering from 1936-1937.
Finished 1936 and 1937 as Big Six Champions under Dana Bible and Biff Jones, respectively.

Max Kennedy – HB 1951, Beatrice, NE.
5’9” 160lb half back out of Beatrice HS wearing #11.
Also a member of the university gymnastics team.
Served 20 years in the Air Force.
Lettered for the 1951 team that went 2-8 in Bill Glassford’s 3rd season.


William Hawkins – T 1955-1957, Beatrice, NE.
6’2” 180lb end and tackle out of Beatice HS wearing #81.
Set career records in football, basketball, and track for Beatrice HS.
High School All-American in football averaging nearly 10 yards per carry his senior year.
Nebraska state pentathlon champion in track in 1952 winning gold in both hurdles races, shot put, high jump, and second place in long jump.
1952 Nebraska State Athlete of the Year.
Lettered from 1955-1957 for Nebraska in football and track.
Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Played at Nebraska in 1952 and 1955-1957.
He left Nebraska from 1953-1954 to serve in the Army during the Korean War.
3-year starter at Nebraska and 2x Academic All-Conference.
Football Head Coach for Plattsmouth HS from 1958-1960.

Max Martz – RE 1957-1959, Beatrice, NE.
6’2” 191lb halfback and end from Beatrice HS wearing #12.
Lettered 3 years for Bill Jennings, compiling an 8-22 record.

Joe McNulty – FB 1963, Wymore, NE.
5’11” 200 fullback and linebacker by way of Wymore HS wearing #41.
Played 3 years for Bob Devaney, who referred to McNulty as a very disciplined and smart player.
Member of the 1962 football team that saw the beginning of the sellout streak.
Passed away in 2022 at 79 years old.


Robert Hohn – HB 1963-1964, Beatrice, NE.
5’11” 180lb halfback out of Beatrice HS wearing #18.
2x All-State football and 2x All-State basketball, and won 4 gold medals in track.
Member of the 1959 Class A State Championship basketball team.
1960 Nebraska Athlete of the Year.
Played at Nebraska from 1962-1964, lettering in 1963 and 1964 and a member of Bob Devaney’s first 3 bowl teams.
1964 All-Big Eight.
1964 Co-Captain.
Selected in the 20th round of the 1964 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
Played four season for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Passed away in 2002 at 62 from ALS.


Joe Armstrong – OG & P 1966-1968, Beatrice, NE.
6’1” 210lb right guard out of Beatrice HS wearing #65.
1968 All-American and All-Big 8 guard.
Also the starting punter in 1966, averaging 39.1 yards per punt.
Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.


Chuck Jones – DB 1974-1975, Beatrice, NE.
6’ 185lb defensive back out of Beatrice HS wearing #35.
Played at Nebraska from 1972-1975, lettering from 1974-1975.


L.G. Searcy – S 1980, Wymore, NE.
6’1” 185lb defensive back out of Wymore HS wearing #37.
1976 All-State football.
Played at Nebraska from 1977-1980, lettering in 1980.


Curt Lenners - RE 1997, Filley, NE.
6’3” 225lb rush end out of Filley HS wearing #82.
2x All-State running back who rushed for over 6,000 yards in his career.
4x Letterman in football, basketball, and track.
Played at Nebraska from 1996-1997, lettering in 1997.
Played in 2 games at Nebraska.
Nebraska 8-Man Football Hall of Fame member.


Ben Zajicek – WR 2001-2004, Beatrice, NE.
6’ 220lb wingback/split end/wide receiver out of Beatrice HS wearing #3.
Played at Nebraska from 2000-2004, lettering from 2001-2004.
College football fans may not remember him specifically, but he was involved with a play in the 2002 Rose Bowl against Miami that is often remembered and replayed where Zajicek was running a reverse and Jonathan Vilma read it from the snap and blew up the play laying a monstrous hit on Zajicek. Vilma was quoted after the game saying “they are going to be very sore tomorrow.”


Daniel Davie – CB 2012-2015, Beatrice, NE.
6’1” 190lb defensive back out of Beatrice HS wearing #23.
All-State football and state champion in the 100m and 200m sprint.
He was born and raised in Michigan, but moved to Beatrice during high school.
Played at Nebraska from 2011-2015, lettering from 2012-2015.
Member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team and the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team.
Finished his career at Nebraska playing in 42 games, starting 18, making 67 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2 INTs, 11 PBUs, and 1 QB hurry.


Cam Jurgens – C 2019-2021, Beatrice, NE.
6’3” 290lb center out of Beatrice HS wearing #51.
Originally came to Nebraska as a tight end, but converted to center after his freshman season.
Played at Nebraska from 2018-2021, lettering in 2019-2021.
Competed on the Nebraska Track & Field Team in shot put.
First freshman to start at center for Nebraska.
2021 All-Big Ten center
2021 Nebraska Offensive Lineman of the Year
Because of the COVID year, Jurgens still had 2 seasons of eligibility remaining if he wanted to use it when he declared for the NFL draft.
Selected in the 2nd round of the 2022 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles where he is currently their starter.
Super Bowl Champion.
2x Pro Bowl center.
So far has played in 58 games in the NFL, starting 41.

Other Notable or Prominent People from/born in Gage County:

Kenneth Wherry – Born in Liberty, NE, he served in the U.S. Navy Flying Corps during WWI. Graduate of UNL. 2x Mayor of Pawnee City. Elected to the U.S. Senate from 1943-1951. At the invitation of General Eisenhower, he and other Senators visited the Buchenwald concentration camp shortly after it was liberated to learn firsthand what happened there and to see the piles of rotting corpses.

Robert Taylor – Born in Filley, NE, Taylor was a film and TV actor and one of the most popular men of his era. He was a long-time friend of Ronald Reagan, who gave the eulogy at Taylor’s funeral. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Appeared in over 80 films from the 1930’s to the 1960’s.

Jake Diekman – Born in Wymore, NE, and a graduate of Southern HS. Jake was primarily a relief pitcher in the MLB, drafted by the Phillies in 2007. Played 13 seasons in the MLB finishing with a 27-34 record, appearing in 602.1 innings over 705 games with 3.91 ERA and 764 strikeouts. In 2014, he pitched in a combined no-hitter. He is currently coaching at Lincoln Christian School.

Adam McMullen – Born in New York, his family moved to Wymore, NE, when he was a child. A UNL graduate and founding member of the Beta Tau chapter of Delta Tau Delta. He was the mayor of Wymore for some time, then served as the 21st Governor of Nebraska from 1925-1929. He was also the chairman of the National Governors Association from 1927-1928.

George Baker – Raised in Beatrice, NE. Baker was a silent film director in the 1910’s and 1920’s.

Gene Coon – Born in Beatrice, NE. Served in the Marine Corps (OORAH) during WWII. Coon was a screenwriter and television producer from the 1950’s-1970’s, most known for his work as the screenwriter during the first and second seasons of the original Star Trek television show.

Jim Faulkner – Born in Beatrice, Faulkner was an MLB pitcher from 1927-1930 for the New York Giants and Brooklyn Robins. Finished his career with a 10-8 record, 3.74 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 43 games and 127.1 innings.

Janet Shaw – Born in Beatrice, NE, Shaw attended elementary school in Beatrice before moving to California to complete high school. She starred in many films in the 1930’s-1940’s such as Alcatraz Island, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Prairie Thunder, and more. She moved back to Beatrice after her acting career where she remained until she passed away in 2001.

Everett “Pid” Purdy – A Beatrice native, Purdy played in the MLB and NFL. Most of his professional baseball career was spent in the minor leagues but he played 4 seasons in the MLB for the White Sox and Reds from 1926-1929. He played for the Green Bay Packers in the NFL in 1926 and 1927. Standing at 5’6” and 145lbs, he is the lightest player to throw a touchdown pass in NFL history. He is the younger brother of Leonard Purdy (above).

Algernon Paddock – A native of New York, Paddock moved to Omaha in his 20’s where he was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln as the Secretary of the Nebraska Territory from 1861-1867. After that position, he moved to Beatrice to farm. There, he was elected to the U.S. Senate where he served from 1875-1881. The town of Paddock in Holt County is named after him.

Xavier Omon – A graduate of Beatrice HS, Omon played college football at Northwest Missouri State where he was a 6th round draft pick in the 2008 NFL draft. He had 11 carries for 27 yards in his 2 season with the Buffalo Bills and spent 4 more seasons on practice squads for the Jets, Browns, 49ers, and Broncos. In college, he was a 4x All-Conference running back, the MIAA Most Valuable Player in 2007, and is a member of the Northwest Missouri State Hall of Fame. Omon finished his career as the all-time leading rusher for the MIAA with 7,073 yards. He rushed for 2,337 yards in 2007, scored 590 points in his career, holds 32 of 34 school rushing and scoring records, and appeared in 3 national title games.

Oliver Kirk – A native of Beatrice, Kirk was a professional boxer and Olympian. He competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis where he won the gold medal in the bantamweight division and the featherweight division. This has been the only time a boxer has won 2 gold medals in 2 different weight classes in the same Olympics in Olympics history. For context, however, Kirk only fought 2 fights combined for the Olympics. In the bantamweight division, there were only 2 contestants (including Kirk) and in the featherweight, there were 3 contestants. Kirk had a bye in the first round for the featherweight division. An American has won the bantamweight only 1 other time in Olympic history (Kennedy McKinney 1988). Two Americans have won the featherweight since Kirk, Jackie Fiels in 1924 and Meldrick Taylor in 1984.

Jim Gillette – From Beatrice, Gilette was a founding member and frontman of the 80’s band Nitro.

Dionne Searcey – A native of Wymore, NE, and a UNL graduate, Searcey is an award winning investigative journalist for the New York Times. She won an award for her reporting on Boko Haram and has specialized in African affairs.

Denny Zager – Born and raised in Wymore, NE, Zager was a member of the pop-rock duo Zager and Evans. Popular during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, their single In the Year 2525 went to #1 on the 1969 top hits.

GO BIG RED

Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/husk.../ZD6pyAK8hFocPYXCFPaVccH8170tcm1uOYyc7u0R.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gage_County,_Nebraska
https://gagecountyne.gov/
https://gagecountyne.gov/about-our-county/

Poster FKA schuele said:

Thanks for another great thread. Really enjoy these.

But a sports thread about Gage County needs more baseball, since Beatrice is arguably Nebraska's Baseball Capital (although St. Paul would beg to differ). Here's a recent TV news item about the Nebraska Baseball Hall of Fame in Beatrice:

https://www.1011now.com/2025/11/20/nebraska-baseball-hall-fame-beatrice-recognizes-hometown-legends/

Click to expand...

I primarily did this about Husker football since it’s for the football season countdown. I just don’t have the time to dig through all our other sports to give them the diligence they deserve. Maybe a countdown for the baseball season?

Poster FKA schuele said:

Oh I'm not being critical - the threads are great! I just wanted to offer some additional info about Gage County and its longtime reputation in the amateur baseball world.

Click to expand...

No worries. I didn’t take it as such. I honestly wasn’t aware of Gage County’s great success in baseball. I also just learned we had a Husker hall of famer in basketball as well come out of Beatrice.