Dunbar High School - Bulldog Yearbook (Dunbar, WV)

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Summary of Football Games The 1944 edition of the gridiron Bulldogs of Dunbar High School emerged with only one victory for the record books, but several triumphs the scores didn't reveal. One was the 6 to 6 tie with Huntington's Pony Express which was expected to ride roughshod over Coach George Miller's football warriors. Another was the development of some sopho- more stars who should give next year's BULLDOG a chance to bark. We got off to a fine start, beating Ceredo-Kenova 27 to 0 on September 16th when the hyphenated Wayne Countians outweighed but could not outplay our team, sparked by Good, Red Rader, St. Clair, and Grammer. Rader made the first touchdown of the season and St. Clair the last-in the Stonewall Jackson game. The Bulldogs got their first setback from Beckley's Flying Eagles coming out on the zero end of a 20 to 0 score September 23rd. Beckley had an exceptional team and was doped to win, but on the next Saturday, with the situation reversed and with us as pre-game favorites, Du Pont High's Panthers upset our hopes by intercepting a pass in a tight game and winning by 6 to 0. Next we faced the St. Albans Dragons, which in Howard Hughes had an irresistible back who was the terror of the conference. Unfortunately for us, the army didn't grab him until after that October 7th game on their grounds when Hughes and his mates walloped us 48 to 6. That lone touchdown by Harpold on a last minute play climaxing a 50-yard drive was almost a victory in itself. October the 14th, the Bulldogs went to East Bank to meet a team they neither could match in weight or play and took a 29 to 0 defeat. Post game analysis showed all the breaks against us, but there was no doubt the Cabin Creekers had a better team that night. On October 21st, Barboursville-who never was expected to beat us-came over and whipped us in our own Kennel by 19 to 6, after a scoreless first quarter. Lee's 60-yard gallop got us our sole touchdown. Barboursville got twice as many first downs and was just too good for us that day. It was the next Saturday that the Huntington Central team, flushed from a victory over mighty Parkersburg's Big Reds the week before, came down to a bitter disappoint- ment, muffing two big scoring opportunities with the ball on our 5-yard line. Nichols made our touchdown and if the Pony Express hadn't intercepted a pass, catching the marvelous defense we had that day off balance, we could have had a victory that would have overshadowed all the losses. November 4th we battled Charleston Catholic-another hardluck team-to a score- less tie at Laidley field. The Irish, who didn't win a game all season, gained more yard- age than the Bulldogs. We threatened twice but couldn't crack their goal line. Penalties, fumbles, and intercepted passes made this a game about which the less said-the better. In the Stonewall Jackson game, we staged a last half comeback that threatened to catch the West Charleston lads but time ran out. This game proved to rival coaches that some fast .sophomores on our side, should give some bitter moments next year. Dunbar was upset by a 19-13 defeat. The annual game for the Lions Club trophy completed our had luck. South Charles- ton's Black Eagles, who had come from a slow start to become the conference menace, made good the home-field jinx of this classic and defeated us 20 to 0. In none of the games did the Bulldogs ever quit until the last whistle, and through- out the season won commendations everywhere for their-clean 'style of play. In all re- spects, except scoring, they were a team of which 'to be proud. It just wasn't their year, but they laid the foundation which should not be 'forgotten when next year's tale of triumph is written.

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.. Q I! Q Q L -K Pigskin Parade.. Although D. H. S. student, downtown supporters, and coaches, looked forward to the 1944 season with no little anticipation, the season was somewhat upset by injuries to valuable players during practice and games. This consequently broke up a winning machine and wrecked the co-operation and teamwork that had been gained only through weeks of practice. Going into the engagement rated as the underdogs, the Dunbar eleven put up a good fight that almost carried them to victory in several games, until fate stepped in. These fighting Bull- dogs deserve all our praise, though, because they stuck to the job and didn't give up. Bill Fife was captain of the squad and received the most valuable player award. First row, left to right: Summers, Henson, Thaxton, Brick, Elkins, Lee, Ramsey. James, Johnson and Hill. Second row. left to right: Russell, St. Clair, Harpold, Grammer, Songer, Rader. Payne, Jividen, McCarty, Fife, Foster, Lee. and Hill. Third Row, left to right: Tallarico, Jolly, Good, Guthrie, Finney, Hill, Hintz, Polcyn Gillespie, Claudell, Wilson, Withrow, Nicholas, Hamilton, Cunningham, and Miller Fourth Row: left to right: Devers, Garrett, Pierce, Gabbert, McCormick, Hannamin Casto, and Townson.

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NDN Club Seated on floor, left to right: Lindy Jividen, and Tom McCarty. Seated, left to right: Buddy Nichols, Bill Harpold, Harold Ramsey, Sterling Russell, Bob Johnson, Gorman Kiser, Paul Jame.s, Darrell Hill, Bill Rader, Wilbur Grammer, Kellis Gil- espie, and Jack Wilson. Standing. left to right: Robert Hamilton, Ralph Thaxton. Charles Withrow, Jim Summers, Keith Brick, Floyd Elkins, Darrell Good, Dewey St. Clair, and Jack Cunningham. A new club has arrived in our school this year. It really isn't new, the boys just de- cided to organize. Lettermen, who have received letters in basketball, football, or both make up the membership. These are the boys who deserve praise because most of them have helped to win a name for our school. Although suffering many losses, these ath- letes have marked our sports history by their bravery. We are proud of them! Officers: Dewey St. Clair, presidentg Tom McCarty, vice president, Kellis Gillespie, secretary-treasurer. Seated. left to right: Carroll Melton, manager: Gene Wallace, Richard Casto, Buddy Townsend, Robert Rader, Donald Garrett, Jack Hannaman, and Kenneth Smith. Standing, left to right: John McCormick, George Smithson, Johnny Gabbert, and Eblen St. Clair. JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL SCORES 26 Dunbar Junior . .. ... 7 Lincoln Junior . ....,...... .. VVHSOH JLlI1lOI' .................. . . 7 Dunbar Junior , . . . , , U Roosevelt Junior ............ .... 2 4 Dunbar Junior 7 South Charleston Junior ... .. 6 Dunbar Junior ... ... 6 South Charleston Junior .. .. 0 Dunbar Junior . .. . . . 6 Totals .. .... 63 Totals ... ,... Junior High Football Team