Senior captain Gordon Smith prepares to lead his Bellarmine Lions football team into battle in the 9th annual Tacoma Athletic Commission sponsored Grid-Go-Round on September 14, 1951. Four Tacoma area teams-- Bellarmine, Clover Park, Lincoln and Stadium are scheduled to compete at Lincoln Bowl. Smith, at 180 pounds, plays at both the fullback and end positions. Photograph ordered by Hugh Fotheringill, Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 9-9-51, p. C-12)

Smith, Gordon; Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grid-Go-Round (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

Tacoma Baseball Club. The Tacoma Tigers opened their 1950 Western International title bid April 19, 1950, against the Salem Legislators. Catcher Bill Sheets, joining when the team came home to Tacoma, would be the number one catcher with Redwood Fischer as his understudy. The outfield was expected to be better than all right with George Nichols in center, Dick Wenner in left, with Dick Greco in right. (TNT, 4/19/1950, p.20) TPL-4744

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma Baseball Club. The Tacoma Tigers opened their exhibition season in Bakersfield, California, in early April 1950. The Tigers opened in Tacoma April 26, 1950. Dave Nadeau served as auditor for the team that year with James Benson Brillheart as manager of the club. Frank Gillihan was the business manager. (TNT, 4/26/1950, p.18) TPL-4746

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exposure of amateur boxing brothers Pat and Mike McMurtry and their family for the Tacoma Athletic Commission boxing awards at the Top of the Ocean. A "no host" dinner was given March 16, 1951 to honor local amateur boxing stars Pat and Mike McMurtry. It was sponsored by TAC which had placed Pat's name on its Hall of Fame plaque in the Club's lounge. Pat won the Northwest Golden Gloves Golden Boy 1951 award as well as the light heavyweight title of that classic in Seattle. He was the winner of the 1951 Tacoma Golden Gloves crown for that division, as well as the Western Canada Diamond Belt Championship in Vancouver, B.C. Mike, the younger brother of Pat, won the Oregon state heavyweight title and the Western Canada Diamond Belt crown. Between them, the brothers scored five title victories during the last Northwest amateur season- a Tacoma record. Burt McMurtrie, newscaster and long time booster of the brothers, was the master of ceremonies. (TNT 3/16/1951, pg. 26)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); McMurtry, Pat; Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960; McMurtry, Mike;

In August of 1950 a very agile man performs acrobatic stunts during the Tacoma Athletic Commission's 4th annual water carnival held on Ruston Way. The water events were performed on Commencement Bay directly bayward of the TAC headquarters at 2217 Ruston Way in the Top of the Ocean cafe. The performers were provided by Ski-Quatic Follies from Seattle. The man on the trapeze could be Giff Owen. (TNT 8-25-50, p. 20)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two water-skiers were just one of the acts that entertained the large crowd that gathered on Commencement Bay at the Tacoma Athletic Club's Water Carnival on August 26, 1950. Spectators watched the activities from both decks of the Top of the Ocean, 2217 Ruston Way. The Ski-Quatic Follies, Seattle, provided the entertainment which included diving, clown jumps, wake jumping and slalom skiing. (TNT 8-25-50, p. 20)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Celebrations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Water skiing--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Lee Croft, left, and Harold Bird, right, strap on the boxing gloves as Honorary Referees for the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Golden Gloves Tournament, Feb. 8-9, at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. The two long time buddies remained friends despite Bird's defeat of Croft in the 1950 Sheriff election. They had much in common, having both been professional boxers in their younger days. Croft, a promising young heavyweight in the early 1900's, was persuaded by his aristocratic family to trade in boxing for a grand tour of Europe, including English ancestral lands. His last professional bout was in 1910, although he maintained an interest in boxing and served as an official Board Member for the Tacoma Boys Club. He and Bird became friends in 1917, during WW I, when Bird was stationed here and boxed professionally as a light and welterweight. Bird eventually married a Tacoma girl and settled here. Croft became the proprietor of a local hotel and Bird became owner of Lumber Retail, a lumber and building supplies business, at 2301 South Tacoma Way before they branched off into civic duties. (TNT 1-28-1951, pg. B-10)

Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Croft, Lee; Bird, Harold;

Peeking through the woven bamboo setting are Tacoma Athletic Commission members (kneeling) Salem Nourse and L.B. MacDonald. Standing are Margaret (Mrs. Salem) Nourse and Myra and E.R. Fetterolf. They were part of a large gathering that attended the T.A.C. Hawaiian dinner-dance held at the Top of the Ocean on October 2, 1950. Alfred Apaka, celebrated Hawaiian orchestra leader, and his band entertained. (TNT 10-15-50, p. D-4)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1950-1960; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Nourse, Salem; MacDonald, L.B.; Nourse, Margaret; Fetterolf, Myra J.; Fetterolf, E.R.;

A woman acrobat provided part of the evenings entertainment at the Halloween party sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission on October 30, 1950. In this photograph she is balancing on the platform at the top of a small step-platform with her toes pointed straight up at the ceiling. The acrobate is probably Patsy Jean Smith, who studied acrobatics at the Barclay School in Seattle. Mr. Barclay also taught at the Lewis Harter Studios, 945 1/2 Broadway in Tacoma. The Athletic Commission Halloween party was held at the Top of the Ocean. (T. Times 10-06-1948 p.5) Ordered by Will Maylon.

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Dinner parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life; Stunt performers--Tacoma; Entertainers--Tacoma;

Harold L. Stamey was the owner and president of Stamey Insurance, Inc. with offices at 918 Commerce. In 1957 he and his company sponsored a junior baseball team. They posed for a group picture on June 24, 1957 at Jefferson Park. All the boys are dressed in team uniforms with Stamey Insurance Inc. on the front. Mr. Stamey is in the front row, exteme left. The smaller boy in the front row is listed as Curtis Stamey; he had been the bat boy in previous years. Back row from L to R: Walter Schall, Jerry Mode, Mike Thompson, Terry Bartlett, Owen Brown, Don Drake, and Ed Johnson. Front row (players): Kurt Judd, Larry Jerdahl, Lon Varnadore, Bud Fawcett,Terry Dahl, Ron Mann. Frank Thompson is the man to the far right in the first row. Photograph ordered by Stamey Insurance, Inc.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stamey Insurance, Inc. (Tacoma); Stamey, Harold;

Thanks to local lumberman and philanthropist Ben Cheney, hundreds of young boys and girls were able to participate in a variety of sports. Mr. Cheney especially loved baseball and sponsored the Cheney Studs, a group of high school and college stars who played competitively in the Pacific Northwest and also in national tournaments. View of member of the Cheney Studs; the young man is wearing a pinstriped uniform with the Studs logo on the chest as well as on the cap. The Wilson glove looks small on his large hand. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior- bowling alley. The Villa Bowl, located in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center, welcomed area bowlers to their modern new facility in September, 1957. Semi-circular bench seating was provided for bowlers on the checkered flooring and comfortable chairs with arm rests awaited onlookers. Villa Bowl had 24 lanes and automatic Brunswick pin setters. There would be a league room for lessons by both a male and female instructor and a leathercraft shop where bowlers could learn to make custom made covers. A snack bar and banquet room would also be available. Owners Russell and Jo Trauger would also provide a nursery with trained supervisors to watch the children of bowlers. The bowling alley would be open 24 hours a day. For exterior of building, see A108778-5. Photograph ordered by Villa Bowl. (TNT 8-7-57, B-20, TNT 9-19-57, p. 14, 15))

Bowling alleys--Lakewood; Villa Bowl (Lakewood);

The Villa Bowl was one of the newest bowling alleys to open in Pierce County in 1957; it was located in the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center. The building's exterior is typically concrete-block construction with some brick facing. Large letters near the roofline advertise the business' name; there is also a cutout of two bowlers on a separate panel nearby. The bowling alley was scheduled to open about September 1. It would have 24 lanes and automatic Brunswick pin setters. Bowling lessons would be provided by both a male and female instructor. Photograph ordered by Villa Bowl. (TNT 8-7-57, B-20)

Bowling alleys--Lakewood; Villa Bowl (Lakewood); Signs (Notices);

Dixie, "Thelma" and fellow bowlers look prepared to take lessons on the art of bowling in a January, 1958, photograph. They all have their bowling balls at waist high, fingers inserted, as they gaze upon the smiling male instructor. He is probably Ted Tadich, who is carrying two balls in the palms of his hands. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW television.

Bowlers; Bowling alleys; Bowling balls;

These four figure skaters were all smiles in March of 1958 when photographed on the ice of the Lakewood Ice Arena at 7310 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W. They were all bound for the National Figure Skating Championships to be held in Minneapolis on March 26-29, 1958. From left to right are: Linda Galbraith (Novice Ladies), Kathleen Seabeck (Junior Ladies), and Judy and Jerry Fotheringill (Junior Pairs). The skaters had earned their tickets to the national championships by placing among the top three at the Pacific Coast competitions held in Seattle in February. All four were members of the Lakewood Winter Club; the Winter Club had established residency at the Lakewood Ice Arena in 1938. One year later, in 1959, Judianne and Jerry Fotheringill won the national junior pairs crown at the figure skating championships when they were held in Rochester. Photograph ordered by the Lakewood Winter Club. (TNT 3-18-58, p. 20)

Ice skating--Tacoma--1950-1960; Skaters; Seabeck, Kathleen; Galbraith, Linda; Fotheringill, Judy; Fotheringill, Jerry;

Bright fluorescent lights reflect off the shining wooden alleys of the Sky Lane Bowling center on October 22, 1955. The new bowling alley had recently opened for business in Seattle. Bowling was a very popular sport in the 1950's with many alleys in Seattle and Tacoma to cater to the multiple bowling leagues and also the occasional bowler. Photograph ordered by Skylane Bowl.

Bowling alleys--Seattle; Sky Lane Bowling (Seattle);

The golf course at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. The sky seems striped with clouds as several golfers try out their skills on the green. In 1894, golf was introduced to Tacoma by a small group of displaced Scotsmen who negotiated to lease 280 acres of prairie land in Edison (now South Tacoma.) By 1904, the club made plans to relocate and the R.B. Lehman farm on the eastern shore of American Lake was purchased. This purchase, along with some adjacent property, gave the club 237 acres to stretch out on. This became the first permanent home of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club, the oldest continuing country club west of the Mississippi. ("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Golf--Tacoma--1950-1960; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Swimming area at American Lake, part of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. The club purchased this property on the eastern shore of American Lake in 1904. Originally, members were issued deeds to 25 foot lots along the lake front where they could set up tents and escape the city's summer heat. As time passed, the tents gave way to homes, greens and the clubhouse. The lake still remained a favorite "Ole Swimmin' Hole" for a quick refreshing dip. A dock reaches out into the lake, topped with a life guard stand. Boats are also tied up to the right of the dock. ("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1) TPL-8640

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Water holes--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This photograph shows the clubhouse of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club on American Lake as it looked from the lake side of the building in September of 1956. It was built in 1910 from plans by the architects Russell and Babcock to replace the original clubhouse which was destroyed by fire. By 1956, it was known as "The Grand Old Lady". Its most prominent feature was a spiral staircase in the entry hall, which appears in many wedding and party pictures of the time. A fire gutted the structure in 1961. TPL-5740 ("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--Buildings; Clubhouses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

At the annual Cheney Lumber Company football banquet in December of 1956 the boys who played on one of the Cheney Studs football teams that year gathered around a large group photo, trying to find themselves in the picture. In 1956 the Cheney Lumber Co. fielded rookie, bantam, peewee and midget teams in the local leagues. The rookie league was new in 1956 and consisted of boys 11 years old and less than 90 pounds. The Cheney Lumber Co., headed by philanthropist Ben Cheney, poured money into sports for children, enabling many Tacoma area youngsters to experience the fun of sports. Ben Cheney had been instrumental in the founding of the kids football program; by 1956, the program had 30 competing teams.

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Football--Tacoma--1950-1960; Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960;

One of the Cheney Studs junior league football teams pose in front of the sign for Cheney Field. To the right in the Studs jacket is Ben Cheney, Tacoma lumberman and sports philanthropist, and in front and to his left is his daughter Sandra, in Studs jacket and hat. Ben Cheney donated thousands of dollars for uniforms and equipment to sports teams, enabling youngsters to experience the thrill of sports. He had helped the kids football program get started 6 years prior and had continued to aid the program. By 1956, it had 30 competing teams. The boys wear the familiar "Cheney stud" logo on their uniform shirts; they also wear helmets and pads.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney, Sandra; Cheney Field (Tacoma); Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Football--Tacoma--1950-1960; Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Publicity picture for Golden Gloves. The Tacoma Athletic Commission was once again sponsoring the amateur boxing tournament, the Golden Gloves, during January, 1957. This event continued to attract entrants from across the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Welterweight Paul Olive of Tacoma poses for a studio portrait in the traditional boxing stance. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 1-18-57, C-13)

Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Olive, Paul; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

A young baseball player with the 1955 Washington Cheney Studs team. The Cheney Studs were an amateur team made up of the most talented high school and college talent in the Seattle-Tacoma area. This is possibly Fred Emerson, outfielder, for the Studs and student at the University of Washington. Emerson was 18 years of age, 5'11", 180 pounds and originally from Kent, Wa. The Studs finished second in 1955 at the nationals of the American Baseball Congress. They were scouted heavily by the professional teams. Those scouts felt that the team was the best behaved, quietest and had the most major league prospects of any team in the playoffs. Ben Cheney emphasized that the young men on his team finish college before turning professional to better prepare them for life.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);

Ron Dodge; baseball player with the 1955 Washington Cheney Studs team. The Cheney Studs were an amateur team made up of the most talented high school and college players in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Ron Dodge was one of the catchers for the 1955 team. He was 19 years of age, 6 feet tall and 170 pounds. During the school year he attended the University of Oregon. He was a native of Olympia, Washington. The 1955 Studs team placed second in the nation at the 1955 nationals of the American Baseball Congress from an initial field of 2,500 teams.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma); Dodge, Ron;

Young baseball player with the 1955 Washington Cheney Studs team, possibly Dick Minice. The Cheney Studs were an amateur team made up of the most talented high school and college talent in the Seattle-Tacoma area. The average age of the team in 1955 was 19 years of age. The Studs finished second nationally in the American Baseball Congress from an original field of 2,500 teams across the country. They qualified for the nationals by winning the Cascade League flag with 16 wins and no losses, the state tournament in 4 straight wins and a 5 game sweep at the Northwest series. They lost at nationals to Houston, Texas, who won for the second year in a row.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Cheney Studs were the proud recipients of the Coca-Cola Bottler Award as the 1955 American Baseball Congress National Runner-up. Here sponsor Ben Cheney (R) stands with Studs coach, Joe Budnick; they are jointly gripping the large and heavy trophy. Cheney owned and operated Cheney Lumber but was also well known for his love of sports and generosity in sponsoring teams in a variety of activities. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Budnick, Joe; Awards;

Bob Keister appears to be preparing to punt as the Lincoln High School sophomore practices with his varsity teammates on November 1, 1955. Besides lettering in football, Keister also was on the successful Sophomore Blacks basketball team and on the Reserve baseball roster. By the time his career concluded at Lincoln, Keister also lettered in varsity baseball as a pitcher and served as Hi-Y president. (1956 Lincolnian yearbook, p.52, p.63, p. 66; 1958 Lincolnian yearbook, p. 23)

Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Keister, Robert;

ca. 1958. Additional work had been done on C116559, image 1, to improve appearance of players manually added to the team's roster. This was the South End Boys Club baseball team sponsored by Stamey Insurance in 1958. They played in the Junior League of Metro Park's baseball program. Three boys apparently were not present at the time of the original photograph; the Richards Studio then cut and pasted their images into the group shot. Photograph ordered by Ben Cheney.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Stamey Insurance, Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1928. A copy of this photograph was ordered in October of 1958 by the Cheney Lumber Co. In the photograph, the members of the "Decimo Club" posed in their basketball uniforms. It appears to date from around 1928; the "Decimo" Club participated in the City League basketball league that year. The player holding the basketball in the front row is believed to be Ben Cheney. In 1924, Mr. Cheney arrived in Tacoma from South Bend at the age of 19. He loved sports and participated in several, including basketball. He drew a cartoon for his 1920 South Bend High School yearbook of himself dreaming of basketball glory, but at 5'8" tall he did not play varsity basketball. His true skill was in business. In 1936, he bought his first lumber mill and began building the empire that became the internationally known Cheney Lumber Co. He donated generously to allow local children to have the opportunity to participate in sports. Ben Cheney died in 1971. (The Ben Cheney Story by Med Nicholson, The Sou'wester, Fall 2000)

Basketball players--Tacoma;

Ben Cheney's generosity allowed hundreds of Tacoma area youth to participate on basketball, football and baseball teams. Each year his Cheney Lumber Co. sponsored a Sports Award banquet to honor these young people. Several boys in this November 30, 1958, photograph are wearing jackets with the Cheney Studs logo. This year the Studs Midget football team were co-champions along with Lakewood of the Metro Park District league; one boy happily holds onto his individual trophy while others in the group share smiles. Photograph ordered by Gene Anderson, Cheney Lumber Co.

Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Awards;