Duke Wyre

Alfred J. "Duke" Wyre (September 26, 1906 – April 1, 1968) was an American athletic trainer and coach. He invented the Duke Wyre Shoulder Vest,^[1] a protective device for football players against shoulder dislocations and separations.^[2] Wyre was an athletic trainer at the College of the Holy Cross for one year and at Yale University for 15 years.^[3] From 1947 to 1967, he was the head trainer at the University of Maryland.^[1] He was a trainer for the United States Naval Academy team during the 1960 Summer Olympics held in Rome.^[3]

Duke Wyre
Wyre in Maryland in 1961
Born	Alfred J. Wyre (1906-09-26)September 26, 1906
Died	April 1, 1968(1968-04-01) (aged 61) Cheverly, Maryland, USA
Occupation(s)	Athletic trainer, coach
Known for	Duke Wyre Shoulder Vest

Wyre was hospitalized in Prince George's County Hospital in Maryland for a stomach illness in March 1968. While there, he suffered a fatal heart attack on April 1, 1968, at the age of 61.^[3] Wyre was inducted into the Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame in 1961,^[3] the National Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 1966,^[1] and the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.^[4]