Champion 1940 Fife High School Trojan basketball team with Coach Bill Vinson on far right. In 1940, the team won its second successive Pierce County League hoop title. They had won 22 consecutive games since January 13, 1939, 11 of them in 1940. In 1939, the Fife basketball team had its first title win since 1931. The team won 13 of 14 league games to win the title. This also made Bill Vinson the most winning coach in the league, bringing home the titles in football, basketball, baseball and track in 1939. Pictured are, front row left to right, Morden Robbins, Frank Evancich, Mascot Richard Spear, Minoru Uchida and Jimmy Kubo. Back row, left to right, Pete Mello, Frank Spear, Mel Rowe, Fred Bisig, Wendell Keyes and Coach Vinson. Mello was the league's highest scorer. (T. Times 2/15/1940, pg. 14-picture, T. Times 12/29/1939; 1/2/1940, pg. 11)

Fife High School (Fife); Vinson, Bill; Basketball players--Fife--1930-1940;

Lincoln High School. View looking south in February of 1940 with Lincoln statue in foreground. Heath and Gove, Architects, 1912. (T. Times)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sculpture--Tacoma--1940-1950;

General view of Lincoln High School. Heath and Gove, Architects, 1912. (filed with Argentum)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Lincoln High School. Lincoln Park High School opened August 31, 1914, built from a design by Heath and Gove, Architects. It was built of local Wilkeson stone and precision brick. In 1917, the school became Lincoln High School. (T. Times)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--1940-1950;

In March of 1940, Stadium High School presented their 28th annual opera "Desert Song." The 200 students in the cast rehearsed three months to perform the light opera March 28-30. The lead was played by Donna Mae Jaden, who later achieved fame as musical and film star Janis Paige. Pictured, left to right, are Michael Gaidosh, Margaret Repetto, David Glenn, Mel Novikoff, Donna Mae Jaden, Fred Gilbertson and Bob Mulligan. (T. Times 3/29/1940, pg. 13)

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actresses; Paige, Janis; Jaden, Donna Mae; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gaidosh, Michael; Repetto, Margaret; Glenn, David; Novikoff, Mel; Gilbertson, Fred; Mulligan, Bob;

All City Orchestra on stage at Jason Lee School. The All City Junior High School Orchestra represented six junior high schools as they prepared for the upcoming All City Music Festival to occur on May 3, 1940 at Jason Lee. The orchestra would be one of the major attractions of the festival which also included the All City Elementary School Orchestra and various glee and choral groups. Names of the young musicians in the Junior High Orchestra were listed in the Tacoma Times 5-3-1940 edition. (T.Times 5-3-1940, p. 11- alt. photo)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Stringed instruments; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950; Orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; All City Orchestra (Tacoma);

Band in uniform in front of entrance to Puyallup High School from photograph dated May 7, 1940. This is believed to be the Puyallup High School band directed by Verne Jennings. The band had recently received a superior rating, highest possible, at district while competing with fourteen other bands. A photograph with band members seated, and names listed, appeared in the May 10, 1940 News Tribune. (filed with Argentum) (TNT 5-10-1940, p. 11)

Puyallup High School (Puyallup); Bands--Puyallup--1940-1950; Youth bands--Puyallup--1940-1950; Band uniforms--Puyallup; Students--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Stadium High School Class of 1940 graduation at the Armory. 649 students (318 boys and 331 girls) received their diplomas on June 6, 1940 as the third largest Stadium High School graduating class. It was the school's 57th graduation exercises. Graduates marched in to the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance" while proud family members and friends cheered and applauded. Shirley Nyman was the school's valedictorian and Mills College scholarship winner and four students shared the honor of being salutatorians: Dorothy Selden, David Glenn, Jr., Ruthi Crain and Patricia Russell. (TNT 6-7-1940, p. 1, p. 15-article & photographs of winners)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Fern Hill School. Softball team. In 1940 the Fern Hill School softball team were the winners of the city elementary school title. They beat both the top seed Rogers and Sherman Elementary. As identified by the Tacoma Times newspaper, the champs are: (first row, left to right) Harold Wilcher, Robert Moody, pitcher David Strandley, George Stephenson and Donald Lnag (possibly a typo by newspaper). Middle row: manager Joe Parkison, Donald Hornby, Robert Franklin, Donald Gannon, Captain Wesley Frye and principal John Arnold. Back row: Weldon Heblich, Graydon Smith, David Ewing and catcher Glenn Christilaw. (T.Times 6-7-1940, p. 17)

Fern Hill School (Tacoma); Softball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Softball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Arnold, John A.; Frye, Wesley; Christilaw, Glenn; Strandley, David;

Lincoln High School Class of 1940 graduation at armory.

Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

Principal Arnold of Fern Hill School. John A. Arnold would serve as principal of the elementary school from 1930-31 through 1941-42.

Fern Hill School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; School principals--Tacoma; Arnold, John A.;

Fern Hill School faculty in front of school building in October of 1940. Principal John A. Arnold is at the extreme right, back row. The elementary school would be celebrating its 60th anniversary on October 26th. From left to right, first row: Mary Trunkey, Mrs. Goldie Lahey, Mrs. Marie Moatz, Mrs. Ida Blood, Mrs. Helen Haapla. Standing, left to right are: custodian Nels Bjarke, Eva McDonald, Mildred Hedberg, Inez Hall, Jennie Robertson and Elsie Sparre. (T.Times 10-24-40, p. 3)

Fern Hill School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teachers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Arnold, John A.; School principals--Tacoma;

Jason Lee Intermediate School, Boys' Glee Club. Overhead view in October of 1940 of 42 uniformed boys in three columns of 14. The Glee Club is made of boys currently in vocal music classes and performs under the direction of Kathryn Bruner. They would be performing at the first fall concert for the St. Cecelia Club at the Hotel Winthrop. (T. Times 11/8/1940, pg. 13 boys' names in caption)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Choirs (Music); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Cast of one-act plays given by Clover Park High School in November of 1940. The drama club would be performing three one-act plays at the school gym on Friday, November 29, 1940. Group of four boys and two girls includes (left to right) Medine Molinek, Harry Johnson, Jr., Bill Grondahl, Rodman Robson, Marcella Herr and Bob Tollefson. (T.Times 11-29-40, p. 20)

Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Students--Lakewood--1940-1950; Actors--Lakewood--1940-1950; Actresses--1940-1950; Molinek, Medine; Johnson, Harry; Grondahl, Bill; Robson, Rodman; Herr, Marcella; Tollefson, Bob;

These Clover Park High School drama club students were doing a bit of research in the school library for the 3 one-act plays they would be performing in November of 1940. Bill Grondahl is at the far left sharing a book with Medine Molinek while Rodman Robson selects a book from the library shelves. Marcella Herr is seated examining a book with Bob Tollefson while Harry Johnson, Jr., is pictured peering over their shoulders. (T.Times 11-29-40, p. 20-alt. photograph)

Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Students--Lakewood--1940-1950; Actors--Lakewood--1940-1950; Actresses--1940-1950; Grondahl, Bill; Herr, Marcella; Molinek, Medine; Johnson, Harry; Robson, Rodman; Tollefson, Bob;

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);

The last city midget football championship game was played at the end of November in 1940. Stadium H.S.'s Bengal lightweights defeated the Lincoln Railsplitters 19-0 at the Lincoln Bowl. This photograph was taken in front of the scoreboard at Stadium H. S., not at Lincoln after the game. This team was the last Midget (132 pounds and under) team that Stadium had. Citywide Midget football was terminated in 1940. Players are: first row, left to right, Dick Uhlman, Gerald Bell, Bryce Curtis, Don Hicks, Dwight Howell, Gordon Bell, Louie Hagberg, V.G. Lowman- Coach. Second row: Bart Wood, Stan Stowe, Bob Foster, Bert Kade, John Brudie, Paul Barber, Wally Anderson, Charles Longstreth, Allan Briggs- manager. Third row: Naoto Okada, Jim Kade, Isamu Kawashima, Wiley Mellish, Pete Petersen, Roy Francis, Steve Manos, Lloyd Albice, George Thamos, Tom Eagling. Fourth row: Dick Crabtree, Gordon Gustafson, Bill Gazecki, Dave Richardson, Bob Dalton, Clifford Johnson, Milton Sneddon, Gene Webster, Fielding Wilson. (T. Times 11/30/1940, pg. 6)

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

ca. 1941. This was part of the Clover Park High School football team with coach Ralph Lackey in front of a grandstand, circa 1941. Clover Park had five returning lettermen and came in third in their league with a record of five wins, two losses and one tie. Two of the wins, against Eatonville and Bellarmine, were non-league. The players were identified in the 1941 Klahowya yearbook as front row: Cliff Dawdy, Bud Schwab, Marvin Kasemeier, Don Tinkcom. Second row: DeVere Bailey, Steve Tish, Wes Saxton, Wally Hager (captain), Maxwell James, Bob Carbone. Third row: Bill Grondahl, Jim Spangler, Jim Allphin, Coach Lackey, Doug Godfrey, Jack Carbone and Bob Brock. (1941 Klahowya, p. 42-43)

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

Stadium High School players line up as #20 attempts a free throw during practice time in 1941. Coach V.G. Lowman watches carefully as his player, with knees bent, prepares to take aim at the basket. D10709, image A, shows the result: instead of a traditional free throw, #20 jokingly made an underhand toss straight for the basket.

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--Sports; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Basketball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lowman, V.G.;

The 1941 Stadium High School basketball team, under the watchful eye of Coach V. G. Lowman in the dark shirt, starts out the season with a little hoop practice. For several years, Coach Lowman had produced a champion prep team and 1941 promised to be no different.

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--Sports; Basketball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Basketball-- Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lowman, V.G.;

Fife High School's hoopmen defeated Clover Park, 44 to 31, in an exciting game at Lakewood that packed the gymnasium. Racking up Fife's 11 to 1 winning season were: Spear, Rowe, Dreyer, Evancich and Vinson, along with substitutes Sakahar, Hamamishi, Herting, Wilcox and Shagami. (T. Times, 2/20/1941, p. 15).

Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Fife High School (Fife); Basketball;

High school basketball action, Fife at Clover Park. Fife High School was victorious, 44-31. From 1941 "Klahowya", Clover Park High School Yearbook.

Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Fife High School (Fife); Basketball;

High school basketball action, Fife at Clover Park. Referee taking ball from Mike Lemmon, son of C.P. Coach Burton Lemmon. Fife was victorious, 44-31. From 1941 "Klahowya", Clover Park High School Yearbook. (1941 Klahowya, pg. 52)

Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Fife High School (Fife); Basketball; Lemmon, Mike;

Beauties participating in the "Poise, Posture and Personality" contest sponsored by the Lincoln High School Music and Physical Education Departments on February 21, 1941 were also trying out for the 10 model roles in the upcoming original musical comedy "Of Men and Models." L to R: Garnet Thompson, Martha Farrell, Betty Snyder, Janet Wolters, Harriet Somervell, Doris Davey, Matilda Drennen, and Lois Dahl. Participating contestants had be to 5'4" or over and wear bathing suits and high heel shoes. The world premier theatrical piece was written by Lincoln students and posed the musical question "What happens when a football team inherits a Fifth Avenue Couture House?" (T. Times, 2/21/1941; picture: 5/8/1941, pg.1)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Theatrical Productions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Thirteen Lincoln High School girls, wearing bathing suits and high heels, clustered around an unidentified male student in February of 1941. The girls, who were participating in the "Poise, Posture and Personality" contest at the school, were also hoping to be cast in the school Music Department production of "Of Men and Models". The student written and scored musical comedy, to be directed by student LeRoy "Lee" Hale, told the story of a football hero who inherited a 5th Avenue dress shop. Standing in the back are: (l to r) Betty Snyder, Florence Anderson, Carol Lind, Lois Dahl, Matilda Drennen, Mary Sandford, Doris Davey and Mary Anne Wilkins. The other five girls are: (l to r) Janet Wolters, Martha Farrell, Garnet Thompson, Lawauna Dickes and Harriet Sommervell. Contestants had to be at least 5'4" tall. Lee Hale went on to be music director for "The Dean Martin Show". (T.Times 2/19/1941 p.13)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Theatrical Productions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bathing suits--1940-1950;

Fifty-four girls tryout for parts in the Lincoln High School opera "Of Men and Models," an original musical comedy directed by student LeRoy (Lee) Hale. The top ten contestants in the pictured "Poise, Posture and Personality" contest on February 21, 1941 will be chosen to play models in the production. Lincoln students wrote the music and lyrics for 21 original songs. The show premiered in Tacoma on May 8, 9 and 10. Hale became music director for "The Dean Martin Show" during its television run from 1965-74. (Lincolnian, 1941, pp. 25, 83).

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Musical revues & comedies; Teenagers; Girls; Bathing suits; Hale, LeRoy (Lee); Music education;

Thirteen girls show a little leg during a competition in the Lincoln High School gymnasium on February 21 1941. They are competing in the "Poise, Posture and Personality" contest. The top ten contestants will also be awarded "model" roles in the school's upcoming original musical comedy "Of Men and Models," to be presented in May at the school. Contestants were required to be 5'4" or taller and willing to model a swimsuit and high heel shoes. (T. times 2/14/1941, pg. 13)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Fife High Basketball Team, 1941 League Champions. Back, L to R: ?, Frank Spear, Yahachi Sagami, Willard Ogden, Bill Haminshi, Frank Evancich, ?. Front: Mel Rowe, Frank Dreyer, Bob Vinson, Roy Herting, Dave Wilcox, Coach Bill Vinson.

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

Coach Bill Vinson led the Fife High School basketball team to an 11 and 1 record in 1941. That was good enough for the League Championship. The team included: (back, l to r) Willard Ogden, Bill Haminshi, Frank Spear, Mel Rowe, Frank Evancich. (front) Yahachi Sagami, Bob Vinson, Roy Herting, Frank Dreyer, Dave Wilcox, Coach Bill Vinson. (T. Times 3/3/1941, pg. 11)

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

Fife High Basketball Team, 1941 League Champion. L to R. Back: Yahachi Sagami, Bill Haminshi, Frank Spear, Mel Rowe, Frank Evancich. Front: Willard Ogden, Bob Vinson, Roy Herting, Frank Dreyer, Dave Wilcox, and Coach Bill Vinson, marking game strategy on the floor. (T.Times, 3/3/1941, p. 11)

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