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

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A Tale of Two Cities, They Fight for a Jug IT was a battered old iug, of the pre-thermos days, the kind a farmer would use to carry water out to his field hands. No, it didn't have much monetary value . . . so why did Royal Oak High School football players throw themselves against the equally desperate Birmingham High team? Why to win the famous Little Brown Jug , which we proudly display in our trophy case today. The idea was first conceived by Miss Eva Moore, advisor for The Acorn back in 1924. John Sheperd, a Birmingham end, painted the iug red, white, and blue. This tale of two cities began in l898, but it wasn't until l9l3 the rivalry became intense. The scores are inscribed from 1913 to 1956. Since Dondero won the last game we now have possession of the iug. Dondero has obtained the maiority of triumphs, losing only 13 and tying 7. It was iust a rivalry between schools. Both towns got into the act. It became tradition that this eventful game should take place on Thanksgiving Day. The Annual Alumni Dance came to be held on the evening before the game. The festivities started on the night before the game, when there was a huge bonfire and a snake dance through town. About ll o'clock the next morning the game began. Climaxing the holiday was the much-awaited- for Thanksgiving Dance, for all former and current students at Royal Oak High School. Some years the weather was great, brisk and clear, others overcast and rainy, and in l94O, due to an unexpected snowfall, the students had to get up extra early to shovel off the field. Many a freezing girl has bravely stayed at her seat, seeing her man on the field through to the bitter end. When Kimball was built, this spirited rivalry was transferred to them. The painted press box, oak tree planted in the field, pep assembly, shouted cheer, half-time show, food you're too nervous to eat, many directions yelled from the stands, that infernal goal line, and the ever-illusive pigskin ...while this remains the same, it can never make up for the community effort put out for The Little Brown Jug .

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f L. S' Upper left, the team springs to offensive action against Highland Park. Randy Miles, Paul Most, Rod Rider, and Al Shepler scored touchdowns as the team rolled over their opposition in a 26-0 rout. Lower left, Randy Miles turns the corner as Harry Nowak blocks out the Seaholm defenders in the annual Homecoming football game. Oaks Thrill Fans With Rambling to a 6-3 record this year, the Dondero Varsity football team completed their most successful season since 1962, to the delight of many enthusiastic fans who crowded Cass Field. The team featured deception for their weapon, utilizing the speed of Junior half- backs Al Shepler, Rod Rider and Dale Wagman. Fullback, Randy Miles, provided the vital short yardage up the middle while Senior quarterback, Bob DeJulius, guided the club, being very ably replaced by Junior, Paul Most, after an injury suf- fered in the Grosse Pointe game. The passing combinations of DeJulius to Bob Sherwin and Rich Blake, were potent scoring threats. Rusty Hancock, Bill Orosz, and 'John Rehbine were standouts Coach lvy Loftin commented that this was the best game played by the Oaks the entire season. The fans also agreed, for the final score was Dondero - 33, Sea- holm - 14. Above, Rich Blake successfully takes a High- land Park player out of the-play as Al Shepler turns on the speed around the end. Fine Season on the line. Dondero was in the BCL Championship Race, at one time during the season sport- ing a 4-O record, but they were over- powered by a fine Wyandotte team in the decisive game. Football fever reached its peak on No- vember 'l2, the day of the annual cross- town rivalry game with Kimball. The Pep Assembly was filled with students anxious to pin the first defeat on Kimball in three years. The game, played on a soggy, dreary field, and the gloom of the night made the defeat seem more dismal. John Gabler led the Kimball Knights to a 33-0 victory. With many fine Juniors returning next year, there is an optimistic feeling that the defeat will be avenged.