Elmer Barbour
Wesley Elmer Barbour II (February 2, 1919 – February 10, 1993) was an American football player who blocked and played linebacker for the New York Giants in 1945.
Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Barbour went to Durham High School and then Wake Forest College. He captained Wake Forest in 1943 (co-captain) and 1944, earning All-Southern Conference honors in both years. As a senior he won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the best blocking back in the conference. Wake Forest inducted him into its Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
In the 1945 NFL draft, Barbour was selected by the Giants in the first round, 10th overall — the first Wake Forest player ever chosen in the opening round. He played three games for the Giants that season, starting all of them and recording one fumble recovery.
The Giants did not keep him for 1946 after an offensive formation change by coach Steve Owen. He later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers but didn’t play in any games for them. After his playing career, Barbour became a head coach at Durham High School, then served as an assistant at Wake Forest from 1956 to 1960 and later at the University of South Carolina.
Barbour stood 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 200 pounds. He passed away in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1993 at the age of 74.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:28 (CET).