Rube Barker

Reuben Allen Barker (July 23, 1889 – August 6, 1958) was an American football player and track athlete for the Ole Miss Rebels of the University of Mississippi and Virginia Cavaliers of the University of Virginia.^[1] He was then a practicing physician.

Rube Barker

Barker in Ole Miss yearbook.
Virginia Cavaliers
Position	Tackle
Class	Graduate
Major	Medicine
Personal information
Born:	(1889-07-23)July 23, 1889 East St. Louis, Illinois, U.S.
Died:	August 6, 1958(1958-08-06) (aged 69)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career history
College	Ole Miss (1911–1913) Virginia (1914; 1916–1917)
Career highlights and awards
SAIAA championship (1914) All-Southern (1911, 1912, 1914)

Ole Miss

Football

He was selected an All-Southern tackle in 1911 and 1912,^[2] "Rube" was the captain of the 1913 team.

University of Virginia

Football

"Rube"

He was selected All-Southern again by Dick Jemison in 1914. He graduated with an M. D. from the University of Virginia in 1917. Barker was often split between his medical studies and football.^[3] Barker was therefore often in and out of the lineup.^[4] One account of the excitement upon one of his reentries reads "With Allan Thurman and "Rube" Barker, two of the best linemen who ever wore the Orange and Blue colors, back in the line-up, Virginia's chances of emerging victorious over the University of Georgia today are exceedingly bright.^[5]

Medical practice

Barker was a practicing physician in Oakland, Illinois.^[6]