display "after [he] was done with it." The embarrassed store owner gave it to him on the spot. In a similar incident, Washington and Lee traveled to Washington for a game, but refused to play against West, as it was against their "tradition." Robert M. Murphy sent the Washington and Lee team, who knew that West was on the roster when they scheduled the game, a message saying, "W&J does not play without Pruner West." Washington & Lee balked and went home with their "guarantee" and a 1–0 forfeit loss amid catcalls and a "near riot" at the train station. It became known later that Murphy knew that West had a sprained ankle and would not have been able to play anyway, but he refused to honor W&L's request. Pruner missed the first half of the November 4, 1922 game against Lafayette at the Polo Grounds with his arm taped to his side. He returned for the second half to spark a 14-point comeback to win, 14–13. Walter Camp named him as an All-American honorable mention in 1923. Coaching and medical career West signed with the Akron Pros of the National Football League (NFL), but quit to attend medical school at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he also coached football. He was an assistant coach under head coach Louis L. Watson in 1925. West succeeded Watson as head coach in 1928. West was in turn succeeded by Tom Verdell in 1929, but returned as head coach in 1934 and 1935. He practiced medicine in Alexandria, Virginia for many years. West and his wife, Laverne, had two children: Linda West Nickens and Nathaniel West. He was an excellent skeet and trap shooter and loved hunting and fishing. In 1978, West was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from W&J. He died in 1979. Legacy West was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on May 6, 1979. In 2011, his role in the advancement of African Americans in collegiate sports was recognized in a joint W&J/West Virginia University ceremony at the U. Grant Miller Library. A large photo of West's throwing a javelin is displayed at the W&J Hall of Fame at Cameron Stadium. At the 2017 Rose Bowl Game, West was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. Head coaching record References External links 1899 births 1979 deaths 20th-century American physicians American football halfbacks American football quarterbacks