Within sight of this marker John W. Heisman spent his boyhood and learned to play football.  Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1869.  His family moved to Titusville where his father produced barrels for the oil industry.  He was graduated from Titusville High School, the class of 1887. John W. Heisman is considered the greatest pioneer college football coach and is known as the Father of the forward pass, center snap, interference on end runs, hidden ball play, double pass, dividing games into quarters, statistical score board and the quarterback "hike" to initiate plays in his honor.  The Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to the outstanding college football player in America.  John W. Heisman died in 1936 and is buried in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.  Plaque and field were dedicated August 31, 1984.