Exley immortalized as one of first greats

When Earl Exley was growing up in Watertown, playing sports was something most of the neighborhood boys did. Born in 1905, Exley became one of the top all-around high school athletes ever to play in the city.

In Jonathan Yardley's book "Misfit, the strange life of the late author Frederick Exley," which was about Earl's son, Yardley quotes from the Watertown Daily Times on Earl's toughness: "The human battering ram kept his team from what could have been an embarrassing loss to a lesser rival by grinding out a series of line bucks and on defense intercepted an Oneida pass and ran 15 yards before he was downed."

Yadley also found an article from The Times describing the toughness of the fullback.

"In a win over Cazenovia he played so hard that he collapsed as the team was leaving the field and was unconscious for a time in a state of nervous exhaustion."

Yardley later wrote from an article in The Times: "Against Syracuse, an opposing player resented Exley's ability to stop runner after runners on defense. He expressed that resentment by approaching the husky Purple and White star as he was resting on his hands and knees and (kicking) him in the neck."

Exley played in an era where it was not mandatory in high school to wear a helmet. Yardley notes from another Times article that "Exley would yank off his helmet and put down his head, while carrying the ball, and ram into opposition players."

Following graduation, Exley, for a time, attended St. Lawrence University in Canton and subsequently at the Kiski Preparatory school at Saltsburg, Pa.

After graduating from WHS, Exley played on the Watertown Red and Black football team for a few years where he was one of the top players on the squad. He also played on other local independent sports teams, which included the Watertown Jeffs, of K of C and Trinity Church basketball teams.

Exley also played on the St. Paul's church basketball team, as well as Watertown Eagles, the Circle Tires and Watertown Tigers eleven. He played baseball with the Watertown Merchants and other independent baseball teams.

Following his participation on the various teams, Exley stayed close to the local sports scene by organizing town basketball leagues. He served as a basketball and baseball official, umpiring and refereeing numerous games.

Exley, who died in 1945 at the age of 40, also served as the Red and Black's business manager.

Exley served as president of the Northern Ontario baseball league, and was secretary-treasurer of the Rural Baseball League and vice president of the Northern New York Baseball League.

Exley and his late wife, the former Charlotte Merkley, had four children. One son, Fred (Earl) Exley (1929-92) was a renowned author. Fred wrote a cult classic, "Fans Notes," in which his father is prominently mentioned in the book.

To read about previous selections to the Times' list of The North Country's Greatest Athletes of All-Time, log on to www.watertowndailytimes.com