James Gordon "Klepto" Holmes (March 31, 1906 – February 26, 1952) was an American football coach. He was the sixth head football coach at Arlington State College—now known as the University of Texas at Arlington—serving for 16 seasons, in from 1935 to 1950, and compiling a record of 71–66–5.[1][2] The school discontinued its football team after completion of the 1985 season.[3]
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 31, 1906 Grand Saline, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 26, 1952 (aged 45) College Station, Texas, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1927 | Texas A&M |
| Position(s) | Tackle |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1929–1932 | Texas A&M (line) |
| 1933 | Cuero HS (TX) |
| 1934 | Alamo Heights HS (TX) |
| 1935–1950 | North Texas Agricultural / Arlington State |
| 1951 | Texas A&M (freshmen) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 71–66–5 (junior college) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| First-team All-SWC (1927) | |
Holmes earned his nickname while a student at North Texas Agricultural College. While visiting Terrell, Texas for a football game against Texas Military College, he and other students toured the state sanatorium located in Terrell. A female patient at the sanitorium reportedly hugged and kissed Holmes, who was dressed in his cadet uniform, and shouted "Klepto, my kleptomaniac has returned from the war."[4]
Holmes died of a heart attack in 1952.[5]
