Barton Cummings was a two-time All-Big 7 offensive and defensive end for the Rockford Rabs in 1929 and 1930. He was chosen captain of the 1930 team that was considered the greatest collection of athletes on a Northern Illinois Conference football team until the East powerhouses of 1973 and 1974.
The Rabs dropped their opening game to Chicago Bowen, 6-0, in the first night game in Beyer Stadium history. The Rabs then won their final eight games by a combined score of 276-18. At least six players off that team played major college football.
Cummings and Rockford quarterback Jack Beynon decided to play for legendary coach Robert Zuppke at the University of Illinois. We couldn't find record of Cummings playing for the freshman team in 1931, but he was a starter in 1932, 1933 and 1934. He was honorable mention All-Big 10 in 1932. Several stories said Cummings was an honorable mention All-American, but he is not listed as one in the University of Illinois record book.
The Rabs dropped their opening game to Chicago Bowen, 6-0, in the first night game in Beyer Stadium history. The Rabs then won their final eight games by a combined score of 276-18. At least six players off that team played major college football.
Cummings and Rockford quarterback Jack Beynon decided to play for legendary coach Robert Zuppke at the University of Illinois. We couldn't find record of Cummings playing for the freshman team in 1931, but he was a starter in 1932, 1933 and 1934. He was honorable mention All-Big 10 in 1932. Several stories said Cummings was an honorable mention All-American, but he is not listed as one in the University of Illinois record book.
The Illini were 5-4 in 1932, 5-3 in 1933 and then 7-1 in 1934. The Illinois won their first six in Cummings' senior year, but a 7-3 loss to Wisconsin in Wisconsin cost Illinois a chance at a national title.
Cummings earned a journalism degree from Illinois in 1935 and joined his father's advertising agency, Earl M. Cummings & Associates. Cummings moved to New York City after World War II to join Compton Advertising and was named president in 1955 at the age of 41. Compton was a national powerhouse in the advertising business with a decades long relationship with Proctor & Gamble.
Cummings remained in charge of Compton until it was acquired in 1982 by the company now known as Saatchi & Saatchi. Cummings was named board chairman of the newly created company and was chairman emeritus when he died in 1994.
Cummings never forgot his Illinois ties. He is credited with raising $150 million for the university through his advertising connections. He also donated $500,000 to establish the first national center for advertising study, which was named in his honor. Every year since his death, the American Advertising Federation gives out a Barton A. Cummings Gold Medal award to advertising professionals who volunteered their time to improve the profession.
Cummings was so big in the advertising industry that he was featured in Sports Illustrated in 1959 in a "Here Are The Men Who Made It" feature that included Don Hutson of the Packers and his collected papers are in the Smithsonian.
Cummings remained in charge of Compton until it was acquired in 1982 by the company now known as Saatchi & Saatchi. Cummings was named board chairman of the newly created company and was chairman emeritus when he died in 1994.
Cummings never forgot his Illinois ties. He is credited with raising $150 million for the university through his advertising connections. He also donated $500,000 to establish the first national center for advertising study, which was named in his honor. Every year since his death, the American Advertising Federation gives out a Barton A. Cummings Gold Medal award to advertising professionals who volunteered their time to improve the profession.
Cummings was so big in the advertising industry that he was featured in Sports Illustrated in 1959 in a "Here Are The Men Who Made It" feature that included Don Hutson of the Packers and his collected papers are in the Smithsonian.
| No. 57 - Barton Cummings, Rockford | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Level | School | Accomplishments | Points |
| 1929 | High School | Rockford | First Team All-Conference | 2 |
| 1930 | High School | Rockford | First Team All-Conference | 2 |
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| Conference Champion | 1 | |||
| Honorable Metion All-State | 0.5 | |||
| 1932 | College | Illinois | Letter Winner for Power 5 Team | 4 |
| Starter | 1 | |||
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| Honorable Mention All-Conference | 0.5 | |||
| 1933 | College | Illinois | Letter Winner for Power 5 Team | 4 |
| Starter | 1 | |||
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| 1934 | College | Illinois | Letter Winner for Power 5 Team | 4 |
| Starter | 1 | |||
| Winning Team | 1 | |||
| Total | 25 | |||
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