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<em>Edwin Gunsolus Shrader</em>, son of William Edward Shrader and Mary Gunsolus Shrader, was born in Iowa City, Iowa, 6 April 1895. He attended the public schools of Iowa City, graduating from Iowa City High School. Shrader was listed as one of the top students in his class, 1911. His athletic achievements were equally outstanding. He was captain of the track team in 1911, winning letters in the pole vault, high jump and hurdles. In addition he was a member of the successful relay team. Upon graduation from high school he stayed on in Iowa City and attended the University of Iowa where he continued to attain high academic and athletic standings, Shrader entered the Military Academy 15 June 1916 with the Class of 1920. The academic standing he achieved speaks for his ability. His cadet days saw him on West Point's playing fields carrying on in the same manner that marked his school and college days in his homeland, Iowa City. Ed, in his plebe year, though performing with such talented athletes as Oliphant and Vidal, to name but two, stood out as a dependable man of merit.</div>
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Shrader was graduated on 1 November 1918. His first assignment was The Engineer School at Camp Humphreys, Virginia. On 2 August 1919 he was promoted to the grade of first lieutenant, Corps of Engineers.</div>
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In 1920 there was a break in the Engineer School program and Shrader spent five month’s service with the 4th Engineers at Fort Lewis, Washington. Following his completion of The Engineer School Course in July of that year, Shrader, at his own request, was detailed in the Air Force effective 28 July 1921. He completed flight training and then followed advanced training at Post Field, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His first unit assignment, 1 July 1922, was to the 44th Observation Squadron at Post Field. He was transferred to the Air Corps, 23 September 1922, remaining assigned to the 44th Observation Squadron.</div>
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Outstanding athletes invariably make good aviators. Shrader would have served our country well in World War II but that was not to be.</div>
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Early in the fall of 1922 he was selected for an “All Army" football team to play a similar Navy team in an inter-service contest on the East Coast, the proceeds to he turned over to the respective services for relief benefits for enlisted service families. Shrader elected to make the trip East by air, flying solo cross-country. En route he picked up a classmate, Francis A. “Andy” March, who had also been selected for the Army Team. On the last leg of the flight, the plane crashed on the landing approach and Ed did not survive. Andy walked away with a broken nose.</div>
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Shrader served four years as a commissioned officer, nine months with troops, the balance in school and flight training. His remains were returned to Iowa City where, thanks to civic and academic cooperation, he was buried with full military honors. The University of Iowa Reserve Officers Training Corps Brigade turned out in full strength.</div>
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Edwin Gunsolus Shrader, a highly regarded native of Iowa, was interred in his native surroundings, honored by his native city. Shortly thereafter, when the City of Iowa completed its new and formidable high school athletic field, the field was given his name: The Edwin Gunsolus Shrader Athletic Field.</div>
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Ed Shrader did not marry. His sole surviving relative is his younger sister, Helen Shrader Tanner, who with her husband resides in Santa Rosa, California.</div>
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<em>—F.B. Butter</em></div>