On July 3, 1914, Jim Parsons and his mechanic W. Ogden won the Intercity 100 mile race at the Tacoma Speedway in their Frantz racer, repeating their victory of the previous year. The winning time was 1:21:29 with an average speed of 73.6 mph. The Intercity allowed only car entries from cities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. Parsons was from Seattle. A total of 12 cars were entered in the race. Parsons won the race, but the most publicity went to 2nd place finisher S.F. Brock. On July 2nd, Brock and his mechanic N.E. "Nervy" Green ran down and killed spectator R.C. Pollock who was attempting to cross the track. The Wright race car flipped, injuring the pair, and severely damaging the car. The pair worked into the night getting the car back into racing condition and received a standing ovation when they finished second. In addition to picking up the InterCity honors, Jim Parsons may have also gotten a little something extra from the City of Tacoma: a possible speeding ticket. He was caught traveling 60 mph on South Tacoma Blvd. on Friday, June 26th. According to the June 27th News Tribune, the case was postponed in police court until Monday, June 29th, but no further information was provided. (T. Tribune 7/3/1914, pg.1; 7/2/14, pg. 1)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Parsons, Jim; Ogden, W.; Automobile racing drivers;

ca. 1915. This is Grover E. Ruckstell, newly crowned "Speed King" of the 1915 Montamarathon race at the Tacoma Speedway. His winning time of 2:57 on July 4th barely beat out two-time champ Earl Cooper's 2:58:5 as he collected $2500 in cash and the possession of the Montamarathon trophy for one year. He again drove a big Mercer, this time painted red, and wore a jacket advertising Ventura Gasoline. Mr. Ruckstell kept the lead from the 105th lap to the finish as he ran the last three laps on bad tires without pitting to change them. The average winning speed was 84.4 mph, faster than in 1914 but much slower than expected on the new "lattice" track. Mr. Ruckstell, from California, came in second the year before, losing to defending champ Earl Cooper and his Stutz. Later Grover Ruckstell would head the famous Mercer racing team and develop the Ruckstell axle. (TDN 7-5-15, p. 1; TDL 7-5-15, p. 1-article)

Ruckstell, Grover; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Mercer automobile;

ca. 1915. Vincent E. "Ventura " McDermott, wearing a heavy sweater emblazoned with a "Ventura Gasoline" emblem, shakes hands with a race driver drinking from a glass bottle in this circa 1915 photograph taken at the Tacoma Speedway. Mr. McDermott had come to Tacoma for the big July auto classics, bypassing stops in Chicago and Omaha. The Ventura brand of gas was popular with racers as cars using it came in first, second and five other places in the June, 1915, Indianapolis 500, accummulating $39,700 in prizes. The two other racers in the photograph were not positively identified although the man in the middle is believed to be Joe Thomas, an eight-year racing veteran from Seattle. His Mercer car failed to start for the 100-mile InterCity Century race at the Tacoma Speedway that year. The man enjoying a drink is believed to be veteran driver Eddie Pullen, Mr. Thomas' Mercer teammate, who went on to win the 200-mile Golden Potlatch race on July 5th. (damaged negative) (TNT 6-27-15, p. 13-alt. photograph & article on Mr. McDermott) TPL-1636; G52.1-102

McDermott, Vincent E.; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Shaking hands--Lakewood;

In September of 1914, racing fever over miniature racers and their junior drivers took Tacoma by storm. The "cycle cars" were in town for Labor Day races scheduled at the Tacoma Speedway. Most of the cars and drivers were from California, although Tacoma boys Joe Rovegno, Clarence Healy, Phil "Babe" Sullivan and "Swift" were scheduled to race. All the boys were feted by Tacomans and felt that the city "sure did treat a fellow fine." Six of the cars and drivers are pictured on A Street. At the left rear is the Park Hotel, at 802 A St. The building at the front left may be the J.F. Hickey Motor Car Co., at 812-14 A St., and a Seattle-Tacoma interurban car provides the background. In the front row are: (l to r) veteran junior driver Mott Haynes in his Mercer and novice driver Walter Gossman in his Red Devil. In the center are Homer Loudenclos, in either the Peugeot or the Hudson he designed, and Al Bruce in his National. In the rear are an unidentified car and Shirley Williams in a Theim. The cars were designed and built, in most cases, by the drivers themselves. They were in some cases backed by the motor companies whose names they carried. It was common for companies to bankroll race cars as advertising.

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Haynes, Mott; Gossman, Walter; Loudenclos, Homer; Bruce, Al;

Publicity for Renton 7-Up Ball Club. Close-up portrait of unidentified baseball player taken outdoors on July 23, 1942.

Baseball players--Renton; Uniforms;

In August of 1942, the "Tillicum Chiefs" of Western State Hospital, who played in the Twilight League, had won 23 games and were in the playoffs for the circuit title. Much of the credit went to their pitcher Dick Smith who returned to Santa Clara University before the final playoff games. Pictured in the back row, left to right, Clink Jacobs (mgr.), Dick Smith, Fred Hebert, unidentified patient who served as mascot, Howard Johnson, Phil Jacobs and Garry Robinson (business mgr.) Front row, left to right, Bus Mitchell, Lorny Merkle, Johnny Ward, Dewey West and Bob Huegel. Chuck Rasmussen, Bud Clausen and Red Little were absent. (T. Times 9/4/1942, pg. 12)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western State Hospital (Lakewood)--baseball players;

Unidentified player with the Western State Hospital "Tillicum Chiefs."

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western State Hospital (Lakewood)--baseball players;

Lee Croft offered a little friendly advice on pins to his womens' bowling team and apparently it paid off. In January of 1943, his team was the first half title winning womens' team in the Eagle League and was on its way to a second half crown. Pictured, left to right, are Mr. Croft, Ellen McGowan, Zona Wild, Helen Dailey, Gladys Murdock and Norma Matineau. (T. Times 1/27/1943, pg. 12)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Coliseum Bowling Alley (Tacoma); Croft, Lee;

One of the publicity photographs shot advertising the Silver Skies race, held at Mount Rainier. The women are dressed in abbreviated spring or summer attire, in sharp contrast to the surrounding snow. (T. Times)

Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1940-1950; Paradise Inn (Wash.); Skiers; Winter sports;

When this photograph was taken on March 5, 1941, the calendar indicated that it was time for spring skiing, but it still looked a little nippy for the models' abbreviated attire. This frosty cheesecake was promoting the 1941 Silver Skis Race held on Mt. Rainier. The Silver Skis competition began in 1934, boosted by local skiing enthusiasts. The downhill course on Mount Rainier was dangerous and plagued with treacherous weather conditions. In 1941, the weather was very bad but the race was held with a few course adjustments. Bill Taylor and Shirley McDonald, both of Tacoma, won the men's and women's races. (T. Times 04/06/1941)

Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1940-1950; Paradise Inn (Wash.); Skiers; Winter sports;

Ski patrol during the 1941 Silver Skis race held on Mt. Rainier in early March. Six of the seven unidentified skiers carry American flags. TPL-1383

Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1940-1950; Paradise Inn (Wash.); Skiers; Winter sports; Flags--United States;

Members of the Sport Center team, all season champions of the Broadway Ladies Bowling League, pose with their bowling balls. The ladies scored 2347 in the playoff. Pictured, left to right, are Laurene Putbres, Evalyn Stein, Margaret Neary, Vera Kindervich and Jerry Bergman. (TNT 5/3/1942, PG. A-13)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Broadway Bowling Center (Tacoma); Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Putbres, Laurene; Stein, Evalyn; Neary, Margaret; Kindervich, Vera; Bergman, Jerry;

Action shot of the Clover Park football team. Photograph taken on November 19, 1940.

Football--Lakewood--1940-1950; Football players--Lakewood--1940-1950; Clover Park High School (Lakewood);

Bremerton High School basketball team, winner of State Tournament at the University of Washington in Seattle. Player and coaches receiving trophies in a photograph from March of 1941. (Bremerton Sun) [Also dated 04-05-1941]

Basketball--Bremerton; Awards; Coaches (Athletics);

Unidentified player on the Pacific Lutheran Football team.

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

Pacific Lutheran football team, players and coaches. Unidentified coach is believed to be football coach Baron Barofsky.

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

Ron Aubry (left) and Robert Collins were teammates on the Stadium High School football team in 1942. They were photographed at Stadium Bowl in September of 1942. Both boys were members of the Stadium Class of 1944. (Additional identification provided by a reader) TPL-10450

Football--Tacoma--1940-1950; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aubry, Ron; Collins, Robert; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Bellarmine High School 1942 Football Squad. Thirty-one players, manager and coach Gordon Toner on field, school building in background. The first grid game was against the newly confident Lincoln High School on September 25, 1942. The Belles were defeated by the Abes 14-0. Pictured are, front row, left to right: Al Buhr, Jerry Knelleken, Louis Renner, LaVerne Mantineau, Jerry Barry, Joe Ferry, Harvey Collins, Tom Comantos and Pete Stefonie. Middle row- Jack Kelly, Frank Taylor, Ray Sullivan, Al Gallwas, Phil Brown, Bud Barnes, Ken Ruffo, Jim Burkehouse, Jack Hermson and Larry Donohue. Back row- John Kelly, Dick Carbone, Ed Oswald, Gene Mack, Cliff Schiesz, Jim O'Brien, Dean Biggs, Claude Knecht, Larry Rask, Dick Simpson, Jim Farrell, Al Fairhurst, Gordon Toner (Coach.)

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma)--Sports;

Unidentified 1942 Bellarmine High School football player.

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma)--Sports;

Washington Hardware Juniors Baseball team. By the middle of July of 1940, the eleven teams of the Junior League were going into the second half of their playoffs with Washington Hardware near the top with 2 wins and no losses. (T.Times 7/16/40, pg. 11)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma);

National Guard Basketball team, Company E., 116th Medical Regiment. The team was competing in the military basketball playoffs at the Armory.

Basketball--1940-1950; Washington National Guard, Company E, 116th Medics (Tacoma);

An unidentified skier soars over stands draped with red, white and blue bunting during a ski jump competition at the Snoqualmie Ski Bowl on March 2, 1941. Norwegian skier Torger Tokle broke his own record, setting a new North American record of 288 feet. (T. Times 3/3/1941, pg. 10)

Skiers--1940-1950; Snoqualmie Ski Bowl (Snoqualmie);

Amundson's Gym, contact Will Maylon. Believed to be Johnny Lovett, a Fort Lewis lightweight. He is wearing boxing shorts and boxing gloves, posing in a fighting stance in boxing ring. Photographs of boxers and posters announcing matches line the walls behind him. Johnny Lovett trained at Amundson's Gym and Will Maylon was a local matchmaker who arranged boxing matches at the Midway arena. (T.Times, 10/24/1945, p.9)

Boxers (Sports); Lovett, Johnny; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Gymnasiums;

Bellarmine High School Basketball team. The Bellarmine High School sophomore basketball team are the champions of the Tacoma sophomore league. The just beat the Lincoln and Stadium teams. This win also makes them the Upper City Teenage League champions. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 3/16/46, p. 5).

Basketball players--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

Griffin Fuel Company bowling team. Ed Griffin is seen standing in the middle. The team members wear matching shirts. A patch with a star in the middle and the word "Police" centered over the star is on the upper left front of each shirt. TPL-2521.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955;

Nalley's Bowling team is gathered together at North End Alleys. Most Tacoma businesses had bowling leagues. They would compete against other leagues and eventually participate in a tournament, the winner would get a trophy.

Bowling alleys--Tacoma; Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling balls;

Champion mens' team, 1943, of the Ruston Bowling League. The Ruston league played on its own community lanes. Pictured left to right, some in personalized shirts, are Jeff Tallman, Art Erickson, Jacob Vandenberg, Captain, Glenn Voss and Owen Gallagher. (Times 4/20/1943, pg. 15)

Bowlers--Ruston--1940-1950;

Ten members of the Jefferson Playfield baseball team. They wear uniforms printed with "6th Ave. Old Timer" on them. According to Richards Studio notes, the team was sponsored by the 6th Ave merchants.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Old Timers (Baseball Team); Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Frank W. Patrick was named athletic director and head coach of the CPS Loggers football team at the College of Puget Sound in 1946. He was a former University of Pittsburgh and National Pro All-American football star. He played with the Chicago Cardinals of the National Professional League in 1938 and 1939. At the 1937 Rose Bowl game, playing for the Univ. of Pittsburg, he carried the ball for two touchdowns and helped defeat the Huskies 21-0. Coach Patrick turned in his resignation after CPS's 1948 losing season. (Tamanawas, 1946)

Football--Tacoma--1940-1950; Coaching (Athletics)--Tacoma; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Patrick, Frank W.

ca. 1943. Brookdale Golf Club. Unidentified family of three poses in front of clubhouse for an informal portrait circa 1943. The Tacoma City Directory advertised the golf course as "Tacoma's Most Picturesque 18-Hole Course"--eight miles south on Mountain Road and one mile east on Clovercreek Road." It was built in 1931.

Brookdale Golf Club (Parkland); Families--Parkland--1940-1950; Clubhouses--Parkland;