Wes Hudson, co-captain of the 1939 Stadium High School varsity football team, in action. Wes was beginning his third year as a regular on the Tiger team at the time of this September, 1939, photograph. He played quarterback and handled the punting. According to the Tacoma Times, prior to the start of his senior year, he had never played on a losing team and he had never carried the ball. He was strictly a blocker, clearing the way for the other back field men, and highly regarded as such by coach John Heinrick. His undefeated record would change in the 1939 season as the team lost the Cross-State League trophy to Everett, coached by former College of Puget Sound coach Roy Sandberg, but defended their city crown for the sixth consecutive year. He also carried the ball successfully in the latter part of the season. Wes Hudson was also a standout in varsity basketball and track. He was inducted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame in 1971. (T. Times 9/16/1939 pg. 7; 1939 & 1940 Stadium yearbook, the "Tahoma") TPL-8707

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--Sports; Football players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hudson, Wes;

Unidentified player #62 of the Stadium High School varsity football team. During the season, #62 was worn by player Dick Hiltbrunn.

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Football players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

No, it's not the Rockettes, it's Coach John Heinrick and his 1939 Stadium High School football team during a practice session. Coach Heinrick, in his fourth year of coaching, was riding the crest of two undefeated seasons with the Tigers. 1939 was not a record year however, as the Blue and Gold suffered its first defeat in 23 games. Having put the pressure of continuing the undefeated tradition behind them, they fought back to win the city crown for the 6th consecutive year. The Tacoma Times lauded their courage and stamina in the face of defeat and voted the entire team onto their high school football honor roll. Team members, left to right, are Vern Miller, Rod Giske, Roy Murphy, Jack Wilson, Austin Fengler, Wes Hudson, Marion Klarich, Dick Beckman, Chuck Horjes, Bill Gustafson and Fred Angus. (T. Times 10/30/1939, pg. 11) TPL-9195

Heinrick, John; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Football players--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Unidentified player #70 of the Stadium High School varsity football team. During the season, the #70 jersey was worn by left tackle Bill Gustafson. The Tigers, undefeated the previous two years, would suffer some setbacks but still manage to retain their city title.

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Football players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

Unidentified player #66 of the Stadium High School varsity football team. During the season, #66 was worn by Stadium's crack ball toter Marion (Johnny) Klarich. Playing left tackle, Klarich was one of the stars of the team. At the end of the season, he was also placed on the first-string All Cross-State eleven.

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Football players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Pacific Lutheran College football coach Clifford O. Olson. After the completion of the football season, Tacoma honored Olson by unanimously voting him Sportsman of the Year. The 1939 team finished with admirable record of 7 victories and 1 loss. They were co-champions of the new Washington Intercollegiate Conference and the Associated Press poll named them the Northwest's outstanding small college team. (1940 PLC yearbook "Saga")

Olson, Clifford; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1930-1940; Football--Parkland--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Five Poulsbo High School players catch five footballs thrown simultaneously in practice in 1939. Goal post and buildings in the distance. The Poulsbo Vikings were the North Kitsap District Class B Champions and had been undefeated since early in 1937. However, they lost the 1939 state Championship to the smaller and quicker Fife Trojans, 7-0. Photograph ordered by Harold Shaw.

Poulsbo Hight School (Poulsbo); Football players--Poulsbo;

ca. 1939. Football banquet given Stadium athletes by Active Club circa 1939. Large group of men and teens around tables looking to the right while possibly watching a film. Two large arched windows and potted tree in background. (T. Times, Sports)

Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Athletes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Active Club (Tacoma);

Group portrait of Puyallup High School Vikings and coach Al Dahlberg in Viking Field in November of 1939. For the 3rd time in 5 years, the 1939 Vikings won the Puget Sound Conference Title. The strength of the team rested mainly in the line, where four players, nicknamed the "Four Mules," wreaked havoc on the other teams. Coach Dahlberg appears to be pointing out to the rest of the regulars how the four mules operate. Pictured are, front row, left to right: Ralph Calligan, Ray Elliott, Ray Adams, Jack Kelley, Jack Durga, Fred Strankmann and Chet Rees. Back row, left to right: Lind Simonsen, Francis Marcoe, Ned Jordan, Walt Parks, Buck Buchanan, Eddie Myers (team captain and quarterback), Coach Dahlberg, Wayne Snider, Gail Bruce, Bob Cochran and Walter Burr. The team finished the season with 8 wins, 1 tie and 1 loss. Coach Dahlberg and his two brothers, Jiggs and Harry, were all high school coaches. (T. Times 11/21/1939, pg. 13)

Puyallup High School (Puyallup); Football players--Puyallup; Dahlberg, Al;

ca. 1939. Football Jamboree. Group of eight football players draw numbers from hats held by man standing behind a microphone in this night time scene. Ordered by Harold Shaw.

Football players--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Gig Harbor High School 1939 football team. Front row, left to right, George Gilreath, John Swenson, John Peterson, Donald Ribbe, Coach Husby, Elmer Skahan, Roland Spadoni, Melvin Johnson, Jack Finnigan and Donald Reed. Second row, l to r, Christian Wally (manager), Bill Wight, Marvin McCartney, Bert Perry, bill Parrish, Robert Ryan, Donald Sehmel, James Russo, Jack Wagner, Bill Hayes, Douglas Stremme, Glen Perkins and Edgar Best. Third row, l to r, Frank Foutch, Francis Hahn, Ray Edwards, John Bowman, Warren Watson, Harry Reed, Charles Parkman, Preston Challender, Howard Reed, Roland Adolphson and Richard Brown. The team, coached by Einar Husby, had a respectable season, finishing with 3 wins, 2 ties and 1 loss to the stronger Vashon Pirates. (T. Times 11/2/1939, pg. 26)

Football players--Gig Harbor; Gig Harbor High School (Gig Harbor);

ca. 1939. College of Puget Sound head football coach in 1939, Leo Frank. The Loggers had a disappointing season in 1939, finishing with 1 win and 3 losses. (1940 CPS yearbook "Tamanawas.")

Frank, Leo; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Football--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Coach and three Orting High School football players standing near brick school building.

Orting High School (Orting); Football players--Orting;

Coach Al Dahlberg and young boy with three Puyallup High School football players. The 1939 Puyallup Vikings were the Puget Sound League Champions.

Puyallup High School (Puyallup); Football players--Puyallup; Dahlberg, Al;

ca. 1939. College of Puget Sound assistant football coach, Lou Grant. Grant also served as the head coach of the varsity basketball squad. The 1939 CPS football team finished near the bottom of the barrel of their division, but the basketball team finished at the top. (1940 CPS yearbook "The Tamanawas.")

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Grant, Lou; Coaches (Athletics)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Group portrait of Fife High School football team, the Trojans. Coach Bill Vinson at far right rear. Player number 10 is Frank Spear, cited by the Tacoma Times as a player of the week. Half of the team is made up of Japanese-American players. Fife was having a very successful year, winning 9 straight games on their way to becoming the Pierce County B League Champions. They continued on to defeat the favored Poulsbo Vikings 7-0 to become the State Champions. Although the Trojan linemen were much outweighed, in one case by over 40 pounds; they were faster and more agile than their opponents. (T. Times 11/16/1939, pg. 19; 11/18/1939, pg. 13)

Fife High School (Fife); Vinson, Bill; Spear, Frank; Football players--Fife;

ca. 1939. Group portrait of Fife High School football team, the Trojans. Coach Bill Vinson at far right rear. Player number 10 identified as Frank Spear. Approximately half of the team is made up of Japanese Americans. The 1939 Trojans were the State Class B Football Champions. They were also the state's highest scoring team; finishing the season with 328 points and a ten game unbeaten streak. (T.Times 11/16/39, pg. 19; 11/18/39, pg. 13)

Fife High School (Fife); Vinson, Bill; Spear, Frank; Football players--Fife;

Bellarmine High School Midget Football Team. Bellarmine, coached by Leo Eckstein, won the city championship in 1938, 14 to 7 against Lincoln High School. Midget class players were 132 pounds and under. The last city midget championship was played in 1940. Back row, tossing footballs left to right, Bud Peluso, Jim Fitzpatrick, John O'Brien and Roccy Spadafore. Front row, left to right, Dick Hutt, Joe Dargan, John Grasy, Pete Pagni, Joe Devlin, Caesar DeVita and Jack Pickard. (T. Times, 11/22/1938, p. 11).

Football players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Private schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma)--Sports;

Joe Paglia, St. Martins College grid coach, explains how to hold a football in the art of kicking to three unidentified teenage boys in October of 1938. Noting the lack of powerful kickers in college football, Coach Paglia is seeking to bring back the "foot" in football. A series of football kicking classes, sponsored by the Tacoma Times and Washington Hardware, were given by Coach Paglia at Jefferson playfield over five Saturdays. Mr. Paglia, a great kicker at Santa Clara University, was known as "Coffin Corner Joe" for his extremely accurate placement of the football at the corners of the football field between the end zone and the five-yard line at each end of the field. (T. Times 10-20-38, p. 14-article; T.Times 10-21-38, p. 14-photograph of Mr. Paglia)

Paglia, Joe; Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Coaches (Athletics); Coaching (Athletics);

Bellarmine Midget Football players, 1938 city wide champions. Twenty-five boys and coach Leo Eckstein pictured on the field. The Bells beat the Lincoln High School Railsplitters 14 to 7 in the Championship. Midget football was for boys classified as 132 pounds and under. The last city wide midget championship was played in 1940. (T. Times 11/22/1938, pg. 11) (filed with Argentum)

Football players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Private schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma)--Sports;

On Thanksgiving Day 1937 before a crowd estimated at 12,000 fans, the Stadium High School Tigers beat the Lincoln High School Abes 34 to 0, clinching both the city championship and the Cross-State League title. The final score was the largest registered to that date in the annual competition between the two schools. Carl Opolsky, Stadium's halfback, picked up two touchdowns and two conversions securing first place as individual scoring leader in his league. (TNT 11/26/1937 p.12).

Football--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Stadium vs. Lincoln Thanksgiving Day football game in Stadium Bowl, November 25, 1937. Stadium High School marching band and drill team form what appears to be the letters "IN" on the football field. The goal post, Commencement Bay, and Browns Point are visible in the background. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg. 1)

Football--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Marching bands;

Members of Lincoln High School's pep band and choir form the word "LINCOLN" on the field in Stadium Bowl, facing the bleachers below the Ferry Museum building, at the annual Stadium vs. Lincoln 1937 Thanksgiving Day football game. A holiday crowd of 12,000 viewed the annual contest which saw Stadium crush Lincoln 34-0. Stadium took both the city and cross-state titles that year. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg. 1-article).

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Athletic fields--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Marching bands;

1937 Stadium vs. Lincoln Thanksgiving Day football game in Stadium Bowl. Team members line the field. The stadium's concrete bleachers are filled with with the record turnout of 12,000 spectators. The game pitted the undefeated Stadium Tigers against the almost equally flawless Lincoln Abes. Stadium triumphed in a 34-0 shutout, the largest point spread since the Turkey Day Classic was inaugurated in 1923. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg. 1- story only)

Football--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Stadium vs. Lincoln Thanksgiving Day football game in Stadium Bowl, November 25, 1937. Stadium High School marching band and drill team perform. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg. 1).

Football--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Marching bands;

On March 25, 1937, over 12,000 fans turned out at the Stadium Bowl to watch the annual Stadium vs. Lincoln Thanksgiving Day football game. This was a view of the south side of the Big Bowl as the teams prepared to put the ball into play. Spectators filled the concrete bleachers. The undefeated Stadium Tigers won 34-0, clinching the City Title for them for the 4th straight year, and making them champions of the newly formed Cross-State League. Structures adjacent to the stadium and high school are visible in the background. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg.1).

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Stadium vs. Lincoln Thanksgiving Day football game in Stadium Bowl, November 25, 1937. Stadium High School band led by drum majors performs in front of the field goal at the crest of the stadium. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg. 1).

Football--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Marching bands;

Stadium vs. Lincoln annual Thanksgiving Day football game, held on November 25, 1937 in the Stadium Bowl. The Lincoln High School marching band stands in "smoker's pipe" formation on the field; in the "bowl of the pipe" are the glee club and a capella choir blowing bubbles. Automobiles line the stadium and an old wooden building is visible in the background. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg.1).

Football--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Marching bands;

Stadium vs. Lincoln annual Thanksgiving Day football game in Stadium Bowl, November 25, 1937. The Stadium High School marching band and "Tigeranna" drill team stand in formation on the field. Their formation appears to represent letters. (T. Times 11/26/1937, pg. 1).

Football--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Marching bands;

Pacific Lutheran College Football Team. Large group of players wearing practice uniforms in four rows on field. (filed with Argentum)

Football players--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1930-1940; Universities & colleges--Parkland--1930-1940; Football--Parkland--1930-1940;