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;

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;

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;

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);

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;

Bob Weaver, #64 for the 1939 Bellarmine Bells, about to catch the football in mid-stride in this photograph dated September 12, 1939.

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

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. 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);

This group of young football players, posed at Jefferson Park, was one of many that the Cheney Lumber Co. had sponsored throughout the years. The sixteen boys, members of the Cheney Studs Pee-Wee team, stand proudly dressed in football gear along with their two coaches in late October, 1967. Ben Cheney's benevolence meant that thousands of youngsters in the Puget Sound region were able to participate in amateur sports. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Football players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Football--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Football players. July is none too early to prepare for the upcoming football season as these two young players can attest. Both Eastside boys are partially clad in football gear, including shoulder pads, helmet and football pants. Hooks and shelves behind the boys are filled with various football paraphernalia. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc.

Football players--Tacoma--1970-1980; Football--Tacoma--1970-1980; Footballs;

The Cheney Studs "Rookie" team spent part of a Sunday afternoon posing for their group picture in October, 1962, at Jefferson Field. All boys were properly dressed in uniforms and padding with helmets laid neatly in front of them. The Studs, one of the many youth sports teams sponsored by lumberman Ben Cheney, had the Studs logo of a horse on both their jerseys and helmets. The two non-uniformed individuals are probably the team's coaches. The "Rookie" League Studs would wallop the SEBC Cards that day 47-0. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Football players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Football--Tacoma--1960-1970; Uniforms; Helmets;

Professional quarterback Joe Willie Namath with two men soon after leading the New York Jets to victory over the Baltimore Colts in 1969's Super Bowl III. The young Pennsylvania native was one of the featured guests at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's annual Washington State Sports Hall of Fame show on February 17, 1969. Mr. Namath, who had recently re-grown his Fu Manchu mustache after being paid $10,000 to shave it off for a commercial, had journeyed to Stanley's Shoe store during his stay in Tacoma to try on shoes. The man in the center of this photograph has been identified as Joe Macaluso of Stanley Shoes. Man farthest to the right is possibly John Hadl, Pro Bowler, and longtime quarterback of the San Diego Chargers. ALBUM 9.

Namath, Joe; Football players--New York; Macaluso, Joe; Shoes;

Broadway Joe Namath of the New York Jets was in town in mid-February, 1969, as one of the featured guests of the 10th annual Washington State Sports Hall of Fame show sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. His football team had just won the 3rd Super Bowl played, as the confident University of Alabama product had predicted. Namath, 2nd from left, stands with hands in pockets, along with three other men. Man to the farthest right is believed to be San Diego Chargers quarterback John Hadl. A six-time Pro-Bowler, Mr. Hadl would spend 16 years in the NFL and be inducted in the College Hall of Fame. "Irish" Pat McMurtry, Tacoma boxing legend, has his arm around Mr. Hadl. Hank Semmern of the TAC is at the extreme left of the photograph. The Hall of Fame gala would be completely sold out, according to Clay Huntington, chairman of the event, but fans not able to attend the February 17, 1969, show would be able to watch the proceedings on a tape delayed basis on Channel 13, KTVW. All 500 seats reserved for children had been sold as well. Kaye Hall, 17-year-old Wilson student and Olympic gold medalist in swimming, would be named State Athlete of the Year the same evening. ALBUM 9. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Namath, Joe; Football players--New York; McMurtry, Pat; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Semmern, Hank; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Washington State Sports Hall of Fame (Tacoma);

PLC football players, Metcalf, Times. Jack Carbone played guard on the Pacific Lutheran College football team in 1947.

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

PLC football players, Metcalf, Times. Gene Strandress and Lowell Knutson jump to throw a long pass. Coach Marv (Thommy) Tommervik observes while the team practices at Pacific Lutheran College on September 10, 1947. They are preparing for their opening game in Tacoma Stadium September 20, 1947, against St. Olaf of Northfield, Minnesota, champions of their league in 1946. (T.Times, 9/16/1947, p.11)

Strandress, Gene; Knutson, Lowell; Tommervik, Marv; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1940-1950; Football--Parkland--1940-1950; Football players--Parkland; Coaches (Athletics)--Parkland--1940-1950;

Bellarmine High School football team is celebrating a victory after playing on a wet and muddy field. Their victory brings them closer to the state title and championship. In spite of the heavy downpour the game was fairly well attended and Bellarmine did not let down their fans. View of muddy football players leaving the field after winning the game.

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma; Mud--Tacoma; Victory celebrations--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

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.

Awarding sweaters to high school allstar football team on November 29, 1950. Football players and families listening to speaker. Presentation at Pontiac automobile dealership.

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

Preparing for a run, Jim E. Jones cradles the football with both hands as he poses for a November 1, 1955, photograph. Jones was on the varsity squad at Lincoln High School. Lincoln suffered only one loss in the 1955 season which was to the co-titlist Olympia High School Bears. Jim E. Jones also served as the manager of the varsity track team. (1956 Lincolnian yearbook, p. 51, 69)

Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Jones, Jim E.;

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;

College of Puget Sound. The Loggers are ready to travel to San Jose, California, to play the San Jose Spartans October 1, 1948. L-R, Co-Captain Dick Hermsen, Yell Queen Cynthia Harris, Yell Duke Ed Hager, Coach John Heinrick, and Co-Captain Dick Brown are standing on the platform at Union Depot along with other people waiting for the train. The entire team would make the trip to get plenty of practice before the start of the Evergreen Conference season starting the next week. (T.Times, 10/1/1948, p.10)

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heinrick, John; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

The Lincoln Reserve football team is coached by Norm Mayer, varsity mentor, and Dan Lazare. This team is trained and coached with the varsity players, next year the reserve players hope to advance to the varsity team. Lincoln High School was getting ready for the big game on Thanksgiving Day, against Stadium High School. View of Lincoln Reserve football team at Lincoln Bowl, names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 11/23/48, p. 13).

Football--Tacoma; Football players--Tacoma; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Lincoln Bowl (Tacoma);

Members of one of the Pee Wee football teams at Green Lake field, Seattle.

Football players--Seattle;

Captain Everett Gust led his Stadium Tigers football team to victory in the 9th annual Grid-Go-Round sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. The football game on September 14, 1951, featured four Tacoma area football teams: Stadium, Clover Park, Lincoln and Bellarmine. Gust, a fullback, recovered a Lincoln fumble in the title match, which eventually led to the final score of 6-0. Coach Bob Levinson's Tigers were able to defend their Grid-Go-Round title and hoped to also defend their city league championship. Photograph ordered by Hugh Fotheringill, Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 9-9-51, C-12, TNT 9-15-51, p. 8)

Gust, Everett; Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grid-Go-Round (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma);

Stadium Tigers football team in formation at Stadium Bowl on November 20, 1924. This was the school's second-team who would have a season of victory with their 2-1 record over crosstown rival, Lincoln. Howard M. Carr was the team's coach. TPL-9715; G46.1-035 (1925 Tahoma yearbook, p. 90)

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);