Fulton High School - Static Yearbook (Fulton, IL)

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Football ROW I -H. Harvey, D. Ryder, G. Hill, M. Letcher, D. Snyder, B. Venema, R. Wilkens. ROW II -Mr. Swanson, G, Walter, G. Drennen, D. De Gunther, J. Wessels, C. Johnson, D. Woods. Mr. De Wild. ROXV III-B. Blean, C. Crandall. C. Flikkema. J E. Blink, V. Sikkema. The Fulton High School football team had a very successful season and would like to present it's grid stars at this time. Left End - Rush Wilkens fJr.j and Gene Blink CSr.J shared this position with Blink doing the defensive Work and Wilkens the offensive. Both boys had limited experience from last year. Left Tackle - Bob Venema CSr.J better known as Little Benjie , kept his position under control with about 225 pounds. Art Schuler backed him up as a reserve and saw limited action. Left Guard - Don Snyder CSoph.J did the work here and was the only Sophomore or Freshmen to earn a varsity football letter this year. Center - Melv Letcher CSr.J, the de- fensive sparkplug, added another 200 pounds to the Fulton lineup. Melv made all con- ference team and all state honorable mention and had played the previous year for the Steamers. Right Guard -- George Hill fSr.D, was selected to the all-conference lst team and was backed by Joe Naftzger, who also saw much action. Right Tackle - Don QTimJ Ryder CSr.j Page 58 . Naftzger, J. Blodizett, D. Fagan, F. Smith, D. Leahy. was another 200 pound pillar in the Fulton defensive and offensive wall. Don was play- ing his third year on the Steamers football squad. He was injured several times but always went back for more. Right End - Cliff Crandall CJr.J one of the most improved players of the year. He will be of vital importance as a defensive man to the Steamers of 1950. Cliff is also fast as an offensive end. Quarter Back - Jim QGeneralJ Wessels fJr.J did the signal calling. Jim was playing his second year as varsity quarterback, and will be back next year to call them again. Right Half -- Dick fMopeJ DeGunther fSr.J played his second regular year as a back. He played well his sophomore year and was in quite often last year. Fullback - Gene Drennen, another of the Albany boys, should be a main factor next year along with Jim Wessels. Gene was a good line plunger and contributed many val- uable years to the Steamers' cause. Left Half - Cliff Johnson fSr.j last, but by far from least, is a senior who will be missed very much next year. Cliff has won four varsity football letters and was all-con- ference selection the past three years in a row.

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Lettermen Position Yr. Cliff Crandall End ' 3 Rush Wilkens End 3 Gene Blink End 4 Harper Harvey End 4 Bob Venema Tackle 4 Don Ryder Tackle 4 George Hill Guard 4 Don Snyder Guard 2 Dick Fagan Guard 4 Joe Naftzger Guard 3 Melv Letcher Center 4 Jim Wessels Back 3 Dick DeGunther Back 4 Gene Drennen Back 3 Cliff Johnson Back 4 George Walter Back 4 Fulton 14 - Lanark 26 Ctherel The Steamers started their season by dropping their first game to the powerful Lanark eleven. This was a non-conference game, and it gave them a chance to improve before their first conference game. Fulton 6 - Lyons 25 ttherej Although they werebeaten they were one of two teams to score a touchdown against Lyons. The Steamers fought hard all the Way and made Lyons work for what they got. tLyons became the conference winner laterl. Fulton 14 - DeWitt 0 therej This time they hit their stride for their first conference win. DeWitt, last year's conference champs, could not hold their ground and the Steamers handed them one of their many defeats. Fulton 13 -- Morrison 13 ftherej This being Morrison's homecoming they were trying to upset the Steamers, as the Steamers did to them last year at the Fulton homecoming. They were highly surprised, and as the game ended, both teams only equaled each other in score. Steamers Ramble On Fulton 13 - Polo 15 Qherel Despite mud, rain and the final score the Steamers led through most of the game. This was the homecoming, and even though it rained, the Steamers played a good ball game. This was a non-conference game. Fulton O - Sterling Community 7 ftherej This game was played on the Sterling field and the Steamers couldn't seem to make things work well enough to get a much need- ed seven points which the Comets had got- ten early in the game. It was a conference game and the only one in which Fulton was held scoreless. Fulton 6 -- St. Mary's 6 ftherej Once again the Steamers battled to a draw, this time the Saint Mary's of Clinton. Both teams could only go so far before the other would stop them and take over theball. In this case their home field seemed no more of an advantage to the Steamers than it did to St. Mary's. Fulton 6 - Savanna 19 Qherej This was the last game for the Seniors on the Fulton team and they all fought hard, but injuries held them back considerably. The game was played at Fulton and ended the 1949 Illowa Conference Football season with Lyons becoming champs with no de- feats. Won 1 Tied 2 - Lost 5. '1'Fulton 14 Lanark 26 Fulton 6 Lyons 25 Fulton 14 DeWitt 0 Fulton 13 Morrison 13 'tFulton 0 Polo 15 f Fulton 0 Sterling Community 7 Fulton 6 St. Mary's 6 Fulton 6 Savanna 19 iiNon-Conference Games. Page 59