In October of 1947, Tacoma welterweight Charley Johnston, alias the Blond Tiger, prepared in Amundsen's Gym to take on his opponent "Irish Bob" Kelly of Seattle for the third time. The regional welterweight title bout was scheduled for October 16th at the Tacoma Ice Palace. The first time the happy-go-lucky, debonair Kelly and the stoic, serious Johnston had fought was a six round near draw, awarded to Johnston on points. The second bout was stopped in round 2 by the State Examining Physician when Johnston opened up a gash over Kelly's left eye. The third bout was the decider; when before a crowd of 2,100 fans, Johnston knocked out Kelly in the 4th round. Charley Johnston went on to have a respectable 25 match career with 17 wins (11 by knock out,) 6 losses and 2 draws. Johnston was managed by Jack Connor. (T. Times, 10/15/47, p. 6; www.boxrec.com). TPL-10444

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Johnston, Charley;

Close up of several football players for Grid-Go-Round, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Ed Honeywell. Wayne Hanby played guard on the Clover Park team in the 1947 Grid-Go-Round. Wayne was also president of the Clover Park student body. The Clover Park Warriors made their season debut in the eighth annual Puget Sound conference jamboree. (TNT, 9/9/1947, p.10)

Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grid-Go-Round (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Hanby, Wayne;

These five women, dressed in matching polka dot dresses, bowled in the Women's A League for the 1306 Tavern in 1946. Owned by Inigo Lucchesi, the tavern was at 1306 Pacific Avenue. Inigo's wife Ann (second from right) was a very good bowler. On November 21, 1946 she had the top three game score for women bowling that night in Tacoma with a combined score of 540.The women on the team have been identified, from the names on their dresses as: (l to r) Dorothy Pollen, Mildred Fleming, Evelyn Stein, Ann Lucchesi, and Josephine Halko. TPL-9491

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Stadium High School marching band and the Tigerannas, the girls marching club, perform during half-time at the annual football game between Stadium and Lincoln High Schools. They have formed into the shape of a clock.

Football--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stadiums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Marching bands; Marching percussion--Tacoma--1940-1950; Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Over 16,000 rabid football fans left their turkey dinners on November 28, 1946 to attend the 25th Annual Stadium-Lincoln Thanksgiving Day game. The Stadium Tigers won 21 - 6, giving the Tigers an undefeated season, and winning for them both the Cross-State and City League Championships. (T.Times, 11/29/46, p.1; 11/30/1946, p.2)

Football; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sports spectators--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stadiums--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Joey Maxim is in Tacoma ready to go against Roy Hawkins in a 10 round bout at the Tacoma Ice Palace. This fight is one of the most important events in the heavy weight titles. Left to right, Al Del Monte, long time friend of Maxim and trainer, Elliot Metcalf, Manager of Tacoma Athletic Commission, and Joey Maxim, Cleveland heavy weight, club sign in background (T. Times, 5/24/48, p. 11).

Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Maxim, Joey;

Women's Day at Country Club, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The summer golf season officially opened with the women's division gathering at the Fircrest Golf Club. More than a score of beginners were welcomed into the club by president Mrs. Percy J. Quam. Three women are completing their final put. A golf bag on wheels is seen in the background. (T.Times, 5/3/1948, p.6) TPL-8636

Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Clover Park High School's Sherrill Stevens posed for a photograph with helmet in hand on August 29, 1951. Stevens, a 180 pound halfback, was preparing to play in the 9th annual Grid-Go-Round sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission on September 14. The captain led his Puget Sound Conference Warriors to a third place win as he scored his team's only touchdown in a 6-0 victory against the Bellarmine Lions. The Grid-Go-Round championship was won by the Stadium Tigers 6-0 over the Lincoln "Railsplitters". Photograph commissioned by Hugh Fotheringill, Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 9-9-51, C-12, TNT 9-15-51, p. 8)

Stevens, Sherrill; Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grid-Go-Round (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Clover Park High School (Lakewood);

The Tacoma Athletic Commission dance committee sips tea and discusses upcoming plans for the 5th annual TAC Birthday Celebration to be held 2/19/1951. The committee is meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard R. Smith, co-chairmen. Pictured (left to right) are Mrs. Edwin Johnson, Jeanette B. (Mrs. William I.) Shaw, Ruth M. (Mrs. J. Robert) Brooke, Edith V. (Mrs. Harold) Tollefson, and Ethyl (Mrs. Howard R.) Smith. The party was planned to start with 6:30 p.m. cocktail service in the TAC lounge on the upper deck of the Top of the Ocean, followed by a buffet dinner at 7:30 p.m., and a vaudeville show and dancing to top off the evening from 9 p.m. to midnight. Also included was the presentation of the "Sportsman of the Year" award to Jim McCarthy, Clover Park High School student and National Junior Medal Play Golf Champion the previous summer. (TNT 2/11/1951, pg. D-6)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Committees--Tacoma--1950-1960; Johnson, Edwin--Family; Shaw, Jeanette; Brooke, Ruth; Tollefson, Edith; Smith, Ethyl A.; Smith, Howard R.--Homes & haunts;

The Market Bowlers won the "Champions of Champions" tournament at the Elks alleys. Eighty-six teams who had won either first or second half titles competed in the Third Annual Tacoma Bowling Association Tournament. Seen holding the tournament trophy are, L-R, Paul Flani, Nat Flani, Don Bryant, F.M. Durst, Martin Ward, Fred Wilvers and Carl Hoit. Five smaller trophies stand on a table in front of them. (TNT, 4/29/1951, p.C-17)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Awards; Group portraits;Flani, Paul; Flani, Nat; Bryant, Don; Burst, F.M.; Ward, Martin; Wilvers, Fred; Hoit, Carl;

Aspiring hockey stars Jack Stewart, Mike Johnson and Mike Shork all manage to fit in the goal as they prepare for an Under 12 peewee league game in November, 1951. The boys would be on the ice between the first and second periods of the Tacoma Rockets-New Westminster Royals match sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. Dave Tuell, T.A.C. president and Joey Johns, commissioner of the junior league, flank the young players. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 11-11-51, p. B-14) TPL-7194

Ice hockey--Tacoma; Ice hockey players--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Stewart, Jack; Johnson, Mike; Shork, Mike; Tuell, Dave; Johns, Joey;

Three men hold ukeleles with heads stuck on top of the necks while they sing in front of a microphone at the Halloween party sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission at the Top of the Ocean. A man in the background is playing a white piano while the crowd looks on. Ordered by Will Maylon.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Dinner parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life; Entertainers--Tacoma; Pianos; Ukeleles;

Awarding sweaters to high school allstar football team. Portrait of allstar football players standing in front of PonTiac sign in automobile dealership.

Awards; Football--1950-1960; Football players--1950-1960; Automobile dealerships--1950-1960;

Awarding sweaters for High School All-Star Football Team. The young man in the middle with the light-colored sweater is wearing one of the All-Star Team sweaters. Ordered by Llewellyn Advertising Agency, Mr. Van Meter. TPL-9114

Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Diane Dapper invited her friends for a skating party at Lakewood for her 10th birthday party. Diane is 9th from the left in a white skating outfit. She was the daughter of Mathias J. and Adah H. Dapper. Fourteen girls, all friends at Annie Wright Seminary, pose by the barrier at the Lakewood Ice Arena wearing various skating outfits. A snowy mountain scene made of plywood is seen above them. (TNT, 12/11/1950, p.4)

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Lakewood; Winter sports--Tacoma; Skaters; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Dapper, Diane; Birthday parties--Lakewood--1950-1960;

In April of 1943 Dave Davies (far left) was the only member of this North End Industrial League bowling team not named Murphy. His teammates were (l to r) Earl, John, Howard (Pat) and Roy Murphy. Before WWII broke out there were two more Murphys on the team: Roy Murphy, Jr. and Bill Murphy, Howard's son. When the two younger Murphys joined the Navy, Dave Davies took their place. (T. Times 4/22/1943, pg. 14)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph bowling team. Three bowling balls are shown in the foreground, a trophy sits in front of the men. War posters, a calendar and advertisements are hung on the wall above the players.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1940-1950; War posters;

The Cammaranos sponsored by the Cammarano Brothers bottling company took on the All-American Air Tecs from Wright Field, Ohio in January of 1945 at Lincoln H.S. in a benefit game to raise money for the dependents of air force casualties. The Air Tecs were hand picked by their coach from the best players in the Air Technical Service Command and included Dwight Eddlemann who had played on the Big Ten championship team of 1943 and 6 ft. 8 inch Cpl. John Mahnken from Georgetown University. The Air Tecs made easy work of the Tacoma team, beating the local boys 63 to 39. William and Philip Cammarano founded the Cammarano Brothers bottling company in 1934. They bottled and distributed a wide selection of soft drinks including Twang Root Beer, Double Cola, Mission Orange, Squirt, and Paradise Club Soda. (T. Times, 1/17/45, p. 11). TPL-8846

Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Basketball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma);

Ster Harshman, quarterback for the 1942 Pacific Lutheran football team. Ster Harshman was the younger brother of Washington coaching legend Marv Harshman. (T. Times 10/16/1942, pg. 14)

Football players--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1940-1950; Football--Parkland--1940-1950; Harshman, Ster;

In September of 1942, five members of the Lincoln Abes varsity eleven pose in the the unfinished Lincoln Bowl prior to their opening prep grid game against Stadium High School. After the game on September 18th, the team was all smiles. They battled the Tigers to a scoreless tie, their first non loss in the annual game since 1931. Pictured are, standing left to right, Ed Bemis, LeRoy Turnbull and an unidentified player. Kneeling, Ingwald Thompson and Gordon Brunswick. The team finished the season by winning the City Championship for the first time in nine years. (T. Times 9/21/1942, pg. 11-article)

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Turnbull, LeRoy; Bemis, Ed; Thompson, Ingwald; Brunswick, Gordon;

Stadium High School football coach Johnny Heinrick had 60 boys turn out to fill 11 varsity positions in September of 1942. Coach Heinrick was optimistic, despite having lost all but 4 of his 1941 letterman to graduation and enlistment. His players in general would be a year younger and 7-8 pounds lighter than the previous year.The team would face their arch rival, the Lincoln Abes, in the September 18, 1942 "King's X" game, held this year at 3:30p.m. in the afternoon due to mandatory dim outs. (T. Times 9/16/1942, pg. 14)

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heinrick, John;

Although they appear older then their apparent years, the girls in this photograph were identified in the May 18, 1945 Tacoma Times as the Midland Junior High School softball team. The Midland girlsl team had a perfect year in 1945. They went undefeated in interscholastic play, and were declared champions of the Pierce County Junior High School leagues. L-R, back row, Lela Ames, coach, Mary Jane Hamilton, Barbara Taylor, Ruth Elmquist, Grace Keys and Norma Johnson. Front Row, Norma Dunham, Patsy Hankinson, Pat Buffum, Louise Baskett and Jean Starkweather. (T.Times, 5/18/1945, p.13) TPL-7998

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950; Midland Junior High School (Tacoma);

College of Puget Sound associated students. The College of Puget Sound Loggers were having a winning basketball season in 1945. Ten freshmen basketball players and their coach get their picture taken.

Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Uniforms; Gymnasiums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Basketball--Tacoma--1940-1950; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

St. Leo's basketball team won the coveted prize, the Knights of Columbus trophy, for their win in the Parochial Grade School League Championship in 1945. They defeated Visitation 30-20 in a play-off game. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 3/8/45, p. 11).

Basketball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Religious education--Tacoma; St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma);

Homer Amundsen and boxer in gym. Amundsen's Gymnasium was a modern gym with its own training ring and modern equipment. Homer Amundsen stands outside of boxing ring, while giving his student boxing tips.

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Gymnasiums--Tacoma; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Amundsen, Homer;

Boys Club team pictures.This year marks the 38th anniversary for the Boys Clubs of America. Boys Clubs of America Chairman, Herbert Hoover will be proclaiming April 10-16, 1944 Boy's Club Week. Acting Mayor Val C. Fawcett of Tacoma is preparing to do the same. Basketball team wearing Cammarano Bros. uniforms and coach.

Basketball--Tacoma; Boys--Societies & Clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma);

New bowling alley at White Center, Jack Vasso. A view straight down the ten bowling lanes to the pins, set for the games to begin. The players seating and scoring stations are in the foreground.

White Center Bowl (Seattle); Bowling alleys--Seattle--1940-1950; Barrel ceilings--Seattle; Lighting--Seattle; Bowling balls;

Tacoma Baseball Club. Arnold (Red) Fischer was the number one catcher during the initial fortnight of spring drills at the Tacoma Tigers camp in Bakersfield, California. With the return of Bill Sheets, Fisher was probably crowded out as the first-string receiver, but Manager Jim Brillheart hoped to utilize the youngster's power at the plate and develop him into a third baseman. (TNT, 4/13/1950, p.C-8)

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma Baseball Club. Manager Jim Brillheart had put together the 1950 Tigers team with returning reinforcements: "Wimpy" Quinn as the number one first baseman, Dick Wenner as outfielder, catcher Bill Sheets and right-hander, Don Carter. The Tigers won the first inning of their home season and went on to defeat Spokane, 5 to 2, before 3,133 welcoming fans at Tiger Field. (TNT, 4/27/1950, p. 26) TPL-4745

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Allenmore Golf Open party. Following the first day of play Oscar Eliason and Ken Tucker were tied for first place in the 17th Allenmore Open Golf Tournament. Tied for third place were Chuck Congdon and Bob McKendrick. Al Buhre was in fifth. Several of the players are seen with some of the prizes given. Ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, Mr. Metcalf. (TNT, 5/17/1950, p.36)

Golf--Tacoma--1950-1960; Allenmore Golf Club (Tacoma); Awards; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960;