Doc Fenton was born on April 30, 1887 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Robert Emmett Fenton and Catherine Farr. He was known as “Doc” because his father traveled as a singer with an old time Indian medicine show. Fenton was of French, Irish, and Welsh ancestry.
College
After leaving Scranton High School, Fenton began his college football career at St. Michael's College, in Canada, in 1904. At St. Michael's, he played rugby. Fenton later talked about his time at St. Michael's by stating “I got all the fundamentals playing rugby in Toronto. I learned how to kick on the run, and I learned how to operate in an open field.” Fenton earned the reputation of doing everything well with a football.
Mansfield
He later played football at Mansfield State Normal School in Pennsylvania from 1904 to 1906. He started out as an end at Mansfield, but later became a star receiver in 1906, which was the first year of the legal forward pass. Mike Lally was his teammate at both Mansfield and LSU. One account reads "In Lally and Fenton the University has a pair that can hardly be equaled. In the game Fenton showed that he has lost none of his ability to dodge, his swiftness as a runner, his power as a punter and kicker, and his cool hard work.... The two work splendidly together."
LSU
Fenton was heavily recruited by LSU and Mississippi A&M. Fenton ultimately ended up signing with LSU for the 1907 season. Fenton was selected for LSU's All-Time football team in 1935. He was nominated though not selected for an Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1869–1919 era team. One of Fenton's favorite plays was the "tackle over tackle" play. In this play, Fenton faked a handoff to a back, then gave the ball to a tackle and led the blocking behind the other tackle. “Doc was the hub,” recalled tackle Marshall “Cap” Gandy, “and we were the spokes.” Fenton was referred to as "the Blond Terror" by sportswriters of the time.
1907
Fenton played at end during the 1907 season in which LSU played in the Bacardi Bowl.
1908
He was shifted to quarterback early during the 1908 season. The team went 10–0 and was selected as national champion by the National Championship Foundation. Fenton's 125 points led the nation in scoring. He had a school record 36 extra points and 6 field goals. The National Football Foundation selected Fenton as a retroactive Heisman Trophy winner of 1908. Fenton was selected All-Southern by Nash Buckingham in the Memphis Commercial Appeal. In the 10-2 win over Auburn, Auburn scored a safety when Fenton was knocked unconscious by a spectator's cane as he tried to get out of the endzone. He returned a kick 95 yards for at touchdown the following week against Mississippi A&M.
1909
Fenton again started at quarterback on the 1909 team which finished second in the SIAA behind Sewanee. He was selected All-Southern by John Heisman.
Later life
George Ellwood "Doc" Fenton was married to the former Gertrude Bauer. The couple had two children, Gertrude Elwood Fenton Renfroe and Dr. Thomas Terry Fenton All are interred at Roselawn Memorial Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1940, Doc Fenton was a tax collector with the Department of State.
