The 13th annual Pacific Northwest Archery Association Tournament was held August 5-6, 1939 at the Jefferson Park ranges in Tacoma. Tacoma was well represented in the Junior Division with Dorothy Axtelle, left, and Sonny Johns, second from left, winning the Northwest Junior titles. Mr. and Mrs. Pat Chambers, right, of Portland won the men's and women's titles. The couple were the defending title holders. Mr. Chambers was also the current men's national champion. The quartet posed behind a bench with arrows and trophies on display. (TNT 8/7/1939, pg. 11; TT 8/7/1939, pg. 10)

Archery--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bows (Archery); Awards; Johns, Sonny; Axtelle, Dorothy; Chambers, Pat; Chambers, Pat--Family; Pacific Northwest Archery Association (Tacoma);

The 13th Annual Pacific Northwest Archery Association Tournament was held in Jefferson Park on Saturday and Sunday, August 5-6, 1939. This unidentified shooter is taking part in the flight shoot, an event where the objective is to achieve the furthest distance.

Archery--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bows (Archery); Pacific Northwest Archery Association (Tacoma);

Morley Barnard (left) and Bill Anderson (right) of the Griffin Fuel Company hockey team warm up for their game against the team fielded by Cammaranos. On Wednesday November 15, 1939 the Griffin Fuel hockey team set a new league record at the Lakewood Ice Arena when they defeated the Cammaranos 19 to 16. In 1938, the Oakes Pavilion at 7310 Steilacoom Blvd. was converted into the Lakewood Ice Arena. The Ice Arena was torn down after its roof collapsed in October 1982.

Ice hockey--Lakewood--1930-1940; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Ice hockey players--Lakewood;

Three of the winners in the 9th Annual Tacoma Winter Carnival races posed with Orville Stewart, the general chairman of the carnival, on January 28, 1940 at Paradise on Mt. Rainier. Shirley McDonald was the first "Tacoma girl" to win the Rhodes Brothers trophy for the women's slalom. From left to right are: Don French of Portland, winner of the junior downhill; Orville Stewart; Shirley McDonald; and Carl Neu of Seattle, winner of the men's slalom. Mr. Neu skied for the University of Washington. Approximately 3,500 fans watched the races. The field of competitors was one of the largest in the history of the races; 116 total skiers, with 76 of those entered in the men's slalom. (T. Times 1/29/1940, pg. 14- picture; 1/25/40, pg 14; 1/29/40, pg.1)

Skiers; Athletes; Paradise Inn (Wash.); French, Don; Stewart, Orville; McDonald, Shirley; Neu, Carl;

Second Army Air Corps Basketball Team. Ten players in uniform, coach in Air Corps Lieutenant's uniform. They were likely a Pierce County Inter-League team.

Sports - Ball Games - Basketball Military Personnel - Army Air Corps

Pictures taken at the Snoqualmie Ski Bowl of a ski meet. An ambitious unidentified skier soars over the stands holding the press members at the meet. All eyes were turned to the Northwest when Norwegian skier Torger Tokle broke his own ski jump record to set a new North American one of 288 feet. (T. Times 3/3/1941, pg. 10)

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

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);

Snoqualmie Ski Bowl meet. A ski jump landing strip appears to be pictured lined with spectators. This is the Class A hill at Cascadia Hyak, Snoqualmie Ski Bowl. The spectators were thrilled to view Norwegian skier Torger Tokle break the North American jump record on March 2, 1941.

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

Arms extended upright, an unidentified skier is caught by the camera in his attempt for maximum distance at the Snoqualmie Ski Bowl on March 2, 1941. He is soaring over the bunting-clad stand holding assorted press members although only a couple are actually watching him compete. One of the cameramen may have been Howie Clifford.

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

This is a publicity photograph for the 1941 Silver Skis Race held on Mt. Rainier. The Silver Skis competition began in 1934. The mens downhill couse was 3.6 miles. It began at Camp Muir and decended to Edith Creek basin. The shorter womens couse started at McClure Rock. The 1941 race attracted 39 men and 17 women. The weather on the day of the race was so bad, and the conditions so hazardous, that the officials moved the mens starting point down from Camp Muir at 10,000 ft. to Little Africa at 8,695. Even with this change, the winning skier, Bill Taylor of Tacoma, fell four times and took 4 minutes and 51.4 seconds to complete the couse. Shirley McDonald, also of Tacoma, won the womens race. (T. Times 04/06/1941)

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

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;

Army football game at Clover Park High School. Large crowd at Walter J. Thompson Field. (T. Times)

Sports - Ball Games - Football Facilities - Sports Facilities Military Personnel

This was the powerful Teamsters softball team photographed at Jefferson Park in July of 1942. The Teamsters were the City League champions and one of eight teams participating in the Pierce County Sectional State Playoffs. The winner would represent the County at the state playoffs later in the summer at Seattle. The Teamsters roster consisted of Robert Myles, Warren Parkhurst, Tom Cross, C. Edmunds, Bob McWilliams, Gus Harkey, Paul Scott, Harley Jensen, Frank Pavolka, Frank Morrone, Heine Hademan, Wally Brebner, Marvin Pease, Willard McWilliams, Marty Besaw and Robert Huegel, manager. The Teamsters were defeated by the Quartermaster All-Stars 1-0 in the playoffs. (T. Times 7/20/1942, p. 10-article; 7/18/1942, pg. 8-article)

Softball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Softball--Tacoma; Labor unions; International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Tacoma);

Hoyt, Pat at Ice Arena. Pat Hoyt was one of Tacoma's skating stars in 1944. Photo taken at the Lakewood Ice Arena, Tacoma's only ice skating rink.

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma; Hoyt, Pat;

Hoyt, Pat at Ice Arena. The talented Pat Hoyt was one of Tacoma's skating stars in 1944. Photo was taken at the Lakewood Ice Arena, Tacoma's only ice skating rink.TPL-7768

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma; Hoyt, Pat;

Metropolitan Park District announced that the playgrounds were officially opened for Summer. Many recreational and educational activities have been planned. View of playground leaders and supervisors for Tacoma Parks. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 6/19/46, p. 3).

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Physical education--Tacoma; Tacoma Metropolitan Park District (Tacoma);

Tommy Gibbons is back in the ring, only this time he is giving the boys at the Tacoma Boys Club boxing tips. Gibbons is now the Sheriff of Ramsey County, Minnesota and is very active in aiding to prevent juvenile delinquency. Tommy's stop in Tacoma was one of many throughout the West Coast, he was campaigning to get support for the 1951 National Bowling Congress (T. Times, 5/1/47, p. 18).

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Publicity photographs; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma; Gibbons, Tommy;

Tommy Gibbons, the former heavyweight title contender from St. Paul, Minnesota who went 15 rounds with Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1923, visited the Tacoma Boys Club in April of 1947. He spent some time with the boys giving them boxing tips and signing boxing gloves. Gibbons, the 13-year Sheriff of Ramsey County, Minnesota, had long been interested in boys club activity. He had stopped in Tacoma on his way home from touring the West Coast. He was trying to sway the 1951 American Bowling Congress to St. Paul, Minnesota. The boys in the photograph were not identified in the newspaper articles. (T.Times, 4-30-47, p. 13-article; T. Times, 5/1/47, p. 18-article on visit to Tacoma).

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Publicity photographs; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma; Gibbons, Tommy;

Tacoma Rockets were ready to begin another winning season. They beat Portland and West Minster and were now getting ready to play against the Vancouver Canucks. Team manager, Dave Downie, felt his team would continue their winning streak. The Tacoma Rockets had their home games at the Tacoma Ice Palace. View of hockey player trying to block the other player's aim.

Ice hockey--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Skaters; Skating rinks--Tacoma; Tacoma Rockets (Tacoma); Coast Ice Hockey League (Tacoma); Tacoma Ice Palace (Tacoma);

In this photograph from October, 1947, Rudy Filion of theTacoma Rocket hockey team practices at the Tacoma Ice Palace, 3801 So. Union Ave. The Rockets played their season opener on Tuesday night, Oct. 21st, against the Portland Eagles. The Rockets won 6 to 1 in one of the roughest stick swinging duels ever witnessed at the local rink. (T. Times, 10/20/47, p. 6).

Ice hockey--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Skaters; Skating rinks--Tacoma; Tacoma Rockets (Tacoma); Coast Ice Hockey League (Tacoma); Tacoma Ice Palace (Tacoma); Filion, Rudy

First Anniversary party for both papers, TAC, Bob Sanders. The Tacoma Athletic Commission held its Anniversary Party January 19, 1948. Plans for the evening included cocktails, buffet dinner, entertainment and dancing. This was the first anniversary of this popular club at its location at the Top of the Ocean. Howard R. Smith, president of the Tacoma Athletic Association at this time, and his wife, Ethyl A. Smith were among those receiving guests at the event. (T.Times, 1/19/1948, p.9, TNT, 1/21/1948, p.6)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Athletic clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smith, Howard R.; Smith, Ethyl A.;

University of Hawaii Basketball Team, TAC, Bob Sanders. The University of Hawaii's unbeaten basketball team visited Tacoma twice during February, 1948. They came to Tacoma as they began their five-game tour of the Pacific Northwest on February 19th. They left Tacoma that day and returned February 25th to play the Pacific Lutheran College's Lutes. The Lutes defeated the Hawaiians 65 - 54. The team, coached by Art Gallon, is shown here at the Tacoma Athletic Commission with TAC's president Howard R. Smith,second from the right in the back row. (T.Times, 2/19/1948, p.8)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Smith, Howard R.; University of Hawaii (Hawaii); Basketball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Basketball players--Hawaii; Group portraits; Students--Hawaii--1940-1950;

This group outside Callender's is part of the group that took the Tacoma Athletic Commission's "Fight Special" to Portland via Northern Pacific Railroad on April 7, 1948. Fight and train tickets were on sale at Callender's. The "Fight Special" was an official TAC civic promotion. Mayor Val Fawcett is standing at right, wearing an overcoat. Howard Smith, current president of the Tacoma Athletic Commission is standing at left, with his hand in his jacket pocket under his top-coat. Ordered by Howard Smith, TAC. (T.Times, 4/1/1948, p.20)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Callender's Restaurant (Tacoma); Smith, Howard R.; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boxing--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Gretchen Fraser points out her name in the decorations during a Tacoma Athletic Commission reception in honor of her victory at the 1948 Winter Olympics. Husband Don Fraser, a former Olympian, is to her right in this April 5, 1948, photo. Gretchen, the daughter of W.A. and Clara Kunigk, was also welcomed back home as she rode in the weekend's Daffodil Parade. She had won both gold and silver medals in Alpine during the Winter Olympics which were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland. ALBUM 9.

Athletes; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Fraser, Don, 1914-1994; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Flower arrangements;

Mayor C. Val Fawcett escorts Gretchen Kunigk Fraser under crossed ski poles held by a Honor Guard during the April 5, 1948, Tacoma Athletic Commission reception celebrating her victories at the 1948 Winter Olympics. Members of the Tacoma Ski Club smile as they cross poles. Tacoma residents, 600 strong, welcomed back their hometown girl at the T.A.C. reception held at the Top of the Ocean. Also in attendance was Mrs. Fraser's husband, Don, who was a member of the 1936 Winter Olympic team. ALBUM 9. (TNT 4-6-48, p. 1)

Athletes; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Tacoma Ski Club (Tacoma);

Olympic skier and medalist from Tacoma, Gretchen Kunigk Fraser, was honored with a reception sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission on April 5, 1948. She is shown seated at the daffodil-covered head table with Mayor C. Val Fawcett, T.A.C. ski committee chair Jerry Geehan, and Howard R. Smith, T.A.C. president. A gift of silver candelabras was presented to Mrs. Fraser by Mr. Smith and Mr. Geehan. Mrs. Fraser in the same busy weekend also rode in the 15th annual Daffodil Parade and attended the Tacoma Ski Club's first annual Daffodil races. ALBUM 9.

Athletes; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smith, Howard R.; Geehan, Jerry; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

Tacoma Athletic Commission reception in April, 1948, in honor of Gretchen Kunigk Fraser's victory in the 1948 Winter Olympics. Husband Don Fraser is to her left in photo, Mayor C. Val Fawcett is in background at far left. Olympic rings are hung over a winter backdrop. Mrs. Fraser captured the gold medal in women's slalom. Howard R. Smith, president of the T.A.C., and Jerry Geehan, chairman of the ski committee, present Mrs. Fraser with a pair of silver candelabras. The woman to the rear of the Frasers is believed to be Mrs. Fraser's mother, Clara (Mrs. W.A.) Kunigk. ALBUM 9. (TNT 4-6-48, p. 1)

Athletes; Skiers; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Fraser, Don, 1914-1994; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smith, Howard R.; Geehan, Jerry; Candelabras;

The Tacoma Athletic Commission celebrates the victory of Olympic Gold and Silver Medal winner Gretchen Kunigk Fraser by holding a dinner in her honor at the Top of The Ocean restaurant on April 5, 1948. Mayor Val Fawcett escorts Mrs. Fraser under a salute of crossed ski poles held by an Honor Guard representing the Tacoma Ski Team. Tacoma-raised Gretchen Fraser won in the Alpine skiing races at the 1948 Winter Olympics held in St. Moritz, placing first in the Slalom for a Gold Medal and second in the Alpine Combined race for a Silver Medal. TPL-5699, TPL-5049. ALBUM 9.

Athletes; Skiers; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Tacoma Ski Club (Tacoma);