After graduating from Parkersburg High School, where he received the nickname "king of scholastic football players", Barnum attended West Virginia University.
[3] During West Virginia's lone loss in 1925 to Pittsburgh, Barnum recorded 103 rushing yards and a touchdown,[4] with Hannum writing he "made himself a nuisance from the standpoint of the Panther supporters.
Described as the "outstanding back of the (Maryland football) league" by The Evening Sun, Barnum recorded an 80-yard touchdown in the 1928 season finale.
[15][16] On June 21, 1929, Barnum was working at Bethlehem's Sparrows Point plant when he stumbled and fell into a vat of molten metal, where he held onto a ledge inside until he could be extracted by his coworkers.
[14] Barnum was transported to Maryland General Hospital, where initial reports claimed he was "winning his fight for life" and doctors expressed optimism for his recovery.