George Gauthier and Sonny Winters Bios

George Gauthier

George Gauthier (Go-shay), known as the Little Giant, was a legendary figure at Ohio Wesleyan, having served as a coach and athletic director for nearly four decades. Gauthier played football and basketball for Michigan Agricultural College, which later become Michigan State. He arrived in Delaware in 1921 as the head football coach and athletic director. Gauthier coached football for 26 years, compiling a record of 121-98-14 and winning five conference championships. Two of his biggest wins were over Michigan and Michigan State. He served as athletic director for 34 years. He also coached men’s track and field and cross country, winning a combined 10 conference titles. He even coached basketball for one year. Gauthier was a member of the inaugural Ohio Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame in 1961, and the Selby Stadium track is named in his honor. He died in 1964 in Ontario, Canada, at age 74.

Sonny Winters

Quarterback Lingel “Sonny” Winters was the offensive star of the 1922 game against Ohio State—and the entire season. After the 5-0 loss to Ohio State, Winters led the Red and Black to eight consecutive wins and the Ohio Athletic Conference championship. Winters was born in 1900 in Napoleon, Ohio, and later graduated from Toledo Scott High School. According to his nephew, Jack Winters, Sonny was recruited to Ohio Wesleyan after head football coach George Gauthier saw him playing in a basketball tournament on campus. He arrived at Ohio Wesleyan at 5-foot-7, 155 pounds, but that small stature didn’t deter from his on-field abilities. As a junior, Winters was selected to the All-Ohio and All-Western teams. He was elected team captain as a senior, but was declared ineligible to play. Winters also played third base on the Ohio Wesleyan baseball team. In 1923 and 1924, Winters played in the National Football League for the Columbus Tigers. He was named the third-team All-Pro quarterback in 1924. He eventually became a chiropractor in Ashland, Kentucky. He died of a heart attack in 1945 at the age of 45.

Sonny’s younger brother, Jay, followed him to Ohio Wesleyan two years later. Jay also is a member of the Ohio Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame. He earned three letters in football and one in track. As a senior, he was named team captain and was the quarterback of the All-Ohio football squad in 1925.

Jack Winters graduated from Ohio Wesleyan in 1961 and was a four-year member of the golf team. The Winters Press Box at Selby Stadium is named after the family.