Curtis Gerald "Cap" Redden (February 8, 1881 – January 16, 1919) was an American college football player and coach.

"[6] The Chicago Daily News also designated Redden as the captain of its 1903 All-Western team and explained its choice as follows Redden's cool head in a game, his speed and strong playing mark him as the most legitimate selection for captain among all the other captains ... Redden's speed up the field on punts, his ability to stiff arm every interferer without slackening up that speed, and his open-field tackling mark him as the best end for the pure type of end work the west has seen in years.

"[8][9][10] An all-around athlete, Redden was selected as the captain of Michigan's football and baseball teams in his senior year.

Undoubtedly, the close, hard game given the purple bv Redden's pupils, helped pull Northwestern down to the weakened condition in which Stagg's men found McCormick's players.

[16][17] In October 1908, Redden agreed to take time out from his law practice to join Coach Yost's staff to whip the Michigan football team into shape.

[20][21] For several years, Redden had continued his law practice in Illinois but had "been able to spare a few weeks to return to Ann Arbor and help out" as Yost's assistant.

[24] In April 1918, newspapers published a letter from Redden to a friend back home describing the Illinois artillery unit's "baptism of fire.

[26][27] Redden survived the many battles in which his unit fought only to come down with pneumonia after the army of occupation began its march into Germany.

[24] Newspapers described his funeral as follows With an escort of more than 600 enlisted men besides the officers of the 149th and 67th artillery brigade, of which the regiment was a part, the cortege passed through Coblenz with Redden's horse, 'Sergeant,' taking the place of honor immediately behind the gun carriage bearing the flag-draped casket.

The funds to purchase the column were donated by friends of Redden from his days at Michigan and by the men who served with him in the 149th Field Artillery.

The Michigan Alumnus magazine in November 1921 reported: "This column will stand for all time to perpetuate the memory of Colonel Redden and as a bond of union between the two great universities.