Middletown High School - Optimist Yearbook (Middletown, OH)

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X . .M Merle Wendt Although only a junior, Merle was this year a seasoned veteran, and surpassed his fine record of last year. Becoming the Iron Man of his team, he played through out nearly every game. His slashes off tackle made many a needed yard, and nearly always a first down when it was needed most. As a forward pass receiver, he doted on those short heaves over the line, especially in the Roosevelt game when he tallied three touchdowns. Merle covered his zone in fine fashion, and played a good consistent game. Stanley Armitage Forced out of the game by injuries in the Washington Court House skirmish, Stan was on the bench for several weeks., Shrimp's loss was a hard blow to the Middies, as he was one of our most efficient backs. Stan was a sure tackler, a consistent blocker, and a good ball carrier. What he lacked in size, he more than made up in punch and aggressiveness. The opposing backfield men, to their sorrow, always knew when mighty Shrimp made the tackle. Gerald Horn The pivot position on any football team is a difficult spot to handle, but Jerry took care of it in line fashion. His was no easy task, roving behind the line, responsible as a full back for backing up the line and downing passes. Horn's accurate passes from center did much toward making the season a success. When the pigskin was deep in Middle territory, Jerry could be depended on to catch a loose pass, make smashing tackles, and create a general disturbance for the enemy backs. Harlen Romans All hail! Here's our brilliant speedster, Biscuit , who thrilled us in nearly every game. Once he got around an opposing team's end, it was a sure touchdown, as Steele learned from experience. Despite his lack of weight, Harlen was a dangerous man, and was always in the thick of the battle. He was a constant threat when carrying the ball, and a good defensive back. He also developed ability as a pass receiver, and joined the ranks of those who caught the pigskin heaved from McMann's accurate arm. f109:I

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Paul Lawson, Captain Captain Lawson's migration from guard to end this season only added to his importance in the Middie attack. Early in the season, Ruben mastered the art of snagging passes out of the ozone, and many touchdowns were scored by him via the air. But his work was not limited to catching passes, for he was also well versed in blocking and tackling, and many an opposing tack1er's weary condition was due to Lawson's sock 'em and rock 'em tactics. Men like Lawson are hard to find, and Coach will have a hard time replacing him. Earl Kinney Although this was Earl's first year as a regular, he played like a veteran. Kinney had an innate propensity for getting in the road of those enemy short line jabs, and he made a general nuisance of himself by being here, there, and everywhere. The bottom of the pile was usually Earl's favorite position, and he was also an efficient blocker and tackler. In the Portsmouth game, Kinney played his best, and got many tackles by kniting through the Trojan's forward wall. Paul Diver A guard does a lot of work on a football team and gets little of the glory, and Paul Diver is an excellent example of this. His second year on the squad. but his first as a regular, proved Diver to be a real linesman. Pulling out of the line for interference, and going down under punts were his specialties, but his hard tackling on the line gained him the name of Morphine . His performance at Portsmouth was excellent. Diver had more than his share of guts and very seldom complained of his injuries. John Carmody Irish , following in the steps of his brother, held down an end position this year in a Hrst class manner. Although John was our lightest linesman. his end was hard to skirt, and was very seldom passed. He always played a good game and his foes rarely got the best of him. No matter how hard the game, it seemed as if Irish never tired, for he was usually the first man back after a touchdown. Carmody played especially well against Steele's big veteran tackle. fiosi

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Harry Pierce Harry, better known as Big Train , was one of that trio of giant tackles who put the power in the Middie forward wall. Though hampered by injuries at various times during the season, Pierce played real football when he had the chance. His specialty on the defense was sliding through the opposing line to nail the runners for losses. Like many Middie linesmen, he showed up best in defeat, turning in his best performance of the season at Portsmouth's Universal Stadium. Sellurn Alexander Big Sebe , the Middies' gigantic left tackle, was handicapped in the latter part of the season with a bad knee, but nevertheless he has given many an enemy end some bad dreams, looming up above them as he did. His work against Steele was only one example of his stellar defensive ability and when a play was called through his position, Alexander usually mowed down a hole large enough to drive a horse and wagon through. Mighty Sebe will be a big loss to M. H. S. next- year. Trumon Gray Trumon is that lanky, husky tackle, who planted himself in the right side of the line to stay. There were very few ends who could move him. He is one of the seven reasons for the small number of iirst downs made against M. H. S. Interference meant little to Trumon. If he couldn't move the opposing end, he would just stretch out those long arms of his and gather the end, ball carrier, and any other enemy that happened to be near him into his grasp. Art Strong Dude was the big triple threat back of the Lingrel combination, and he will be remembered especially for his hard, clean playing, both on the offense and defense. Strong's specialty was a hard smashing drive through the line, and on many an occasion, yardage gained from his line bucks secured a needed extra yard. Most of the punting was done by Art, and at making kickolfs, he was seldom surpassed. He was particularly outstanding in the Portsmouth game. 51101