Royal Oak High School - Oak Yearbook (Royal Oak, MI)

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The OAK STATE CHAMPS

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The OAK Plcture Courtesy of Daily Tribune Cross Country Though beset with numerous difficulties, the 1940 Royal Oak cross country team came through to win the State cross country meet under the guidance of Coach Bob Dunn. The first team consisted of Bill Thomas, Bob Robinson, Jim Gibbard, Jack McCready, Harold Carpen- ter, Clyde Johnson, and Bob Bassett with Bob Francis, Ralph Pierce, George Vorhees, and Alger Zaph acting as reserves. Sam Stout was elected captain, but illness prevented him from running. The boys elected Bob Robinson as captain and Sam Stout as honorary captain of the 1940 season. Several others were prevented from competing for various reasons. Harry Blair was ineligible. Clyde John- son worked at the beginning of the season but was out of the 2nd and 3rd meets and the regionals. Harold Carpenter was handicapped after he turned his ankle in the Monroe meet. The Royal Oak harriers won their first meet with Wyandotte 18-37 rlow score wins in cross countryl but lost to Flint Central, state champions in '39, in the second meet. Royal came back to win the 3rd match from Monroe 24-31. Royal Oak's old rival Flint Central took the regionals with the Acorns coming in second. The outlook for the State Championship certainly did not look promising. Enthusiasm, the will to win, good coaching, and perhaps the promise of a chicken dinner by Coach Dunn made the Royal Oak harriers state champions. One hundred five boys competed in the state meet. Bill Thomas placed 3rd, Clyde Johnson 4th, Bob Robin- son 6th, Jim Gibbard 9th, and Jack McCready 36th. When Coach Dunn was watching the Royal Oak boys come in at Ypsilanti where they were running for state championships, he saw them all in with the exception of Jack McCready. When Jack finally passed Mr. Dunn, he told him to try to pass the next men. Later Jack told Mr. Dunn, After you talked to me, I passed four men. If Jack hadn't passed those men, Royal Oak would have lose by one point. On the day of the annual Ferndale-Royal Oak foot- ball game Royal Oak was host to the Lincoln team. The Royal Oak Exchange Club donated a rotating cup to circulate between the two schools. The cup will remain with Royal Oak this year, the Acorn harriers having won 17-38. There are several prospects for next year who will help to keep Royal Oak on top. Bob Bassett, Jim Gib- bard, and Bill Thomas are among those who will return next year. Many others who are interested and show promise have not yet reached the eligible age of sixteen. Coach Dunn remarked that he expected a good turnout for next year's team. PAGE TWENTY FIVF

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The OAK Picture Courtesy of Daily Tribune Cross Country Boys in Action Reading left to right: 1-Harold Carpenter a boy with a future, who is al- ready State holder of the halfmile record. 2-Jack Mc- Cready, by his determined effort placed in the State Meet and clinched the title for Royal Oak. 3-Bob Bassett who is just a junior and is developing fast, should hit his peak early next season. 4-Bob Robinson has been the most consistent winner of the whole squad. 5-Clyde Johnson, holder of Cass Field mark for the mile went into training two weeks before State meet-placed 4th in State meet. 6-Bill Thomas, tennis captain, who developed into an excellent runner. 7-Jim Gibbard the little fellow of the squad. Surprised everyone with his brilliant flashes of speed and consistent stamina. V PAGE TWENTY-SEVEN