September 25, 2019 at 5:03 p.m.
Rivals will meet to swap old stories
Back in the Saddle
Chick Whitesell had been looking for me.
He stopped by the newspaper office in Portland, but I had gone to the post office.
He checked in at the post office, but I had already moved on. Someone there suggested he try the Community Resource Center, and he caught up with me there.
“I’m looking for some Portland Panthers,” he said when we finally connected.
Chick, who retired years ago as service manager for Fuqua Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, has been the organizer/instigator of an unofficial, informal gathering of Dunkirk High School alumni for lunch at Pete’s in Albany.
The past two years I’ve been invited to attend. For me, it’s a chance to get some good pictures and see a few dozen good friends.
But now Chick had something else up his sleeve.
It seems that there’s been another unofficial, informal gathering taking place, one that not only involves Speedcats but representatives of the many other long gone area high schools from pre-consolidation days.
As I understand it, most of those in attendance were athletes. And since many of the schools were too small to field a football team, it’s safe to say that basketball was involved.
Chick handed me a handwritten list.
On it were not only Speedcats but Roll Red Rollers, Hartford City Airedales, Redkey Wolves, Albany Wildcats, Selma Blue Birds, Pennville Bulldogs, Frankton Eagles, Winchester Falcons and Ridgeville Cossacks.
There were a few other teams omitted in addition to the Portland Panthers. A more complete list would have been sure to include the Bryant Owls, Poling Yellowjackets, Gov. I.P. Gray Redbirds and Madison Tomcats.
Chick would welcome them all. He views it as a chance for swapping stories, renewing friendships and reliving some glory days.
I looked at the list an immediately saw some old rivalries as well, hard-fought games back in the day.
“What’s planned after lunch,” I asked him, “a rumble? Or are people going to get in their cars and drive around their opponents’ schools, honking their horns?”
(It was a tradition — back in the day — that students from the high school that won the basketball sectional would skip school and go on a honking and taunting road trip. Whether it was an excused absence or not, I don’t recall. But I do recall hearing the horns of the victors’ cars while sitting in study hall on a Monday afternoon after a sectional loss.)
Chick assured me that no rumble was planned, though he couldn’t guarantee there would be no horseplay.
So — Panthers, Bulldogs, Owls, Tomcats, Redbirds, Wolves, Yellowjackets and Speedcats from that bygone era in Jay County — the luncheon is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at The Pickle Lounge at Northside Lanes, 1776 Independence Parkway, Hartford City.
Mark your calendar.
And one more thing: Chick stopped by the office later the same morning with a message: “It’s guys only.”
It seems one aging athlete took his wife to the lunch and she was bored to tears.
Imagine that.
He stopped by the newspaper office in Portland, but I had gone to the post office.
He checked in at the post office, but I had already moved on. Someone there suggested he try the Community Resource Center, and he caught up with me there.
“I’m looking for some Portland Panthers,” he said when we finally connected.
Chick, who retired years ago as service manager for Fuqua Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, has been the organizer/instigator of an unofficial, informal gathering of Dunkirk High School alumni for lunch at Pete’s in Albany.
The past two years I’ve been invited to attend. For me, it’s a chance to get some good pictures and see a few dozen good friends.
But now Chick had something else up his sleeve.
It seems that there’s been another unofficial, informal gathering taking place, one that not only involves Speedcats but representatives of the many other long gone area high schools from pre-consolidation days.
As I understand it, most of those in attendance were athletes. And since many of the schools were too small to field a football team, it’s safe to say that basketball was involved.
Chick handed me a handwritten list.
On it were not only Speedcats but Roll Red Rollers, Hartford City Airedales, Redkey Wolves, Albany Wildcats, Selma Blue Birds, Pennville Bulldogs, Frankton Eagles, Winchester Falcons and Ridgeville Cossacks.
There were a few other teams omitted in addition to the Portland Panthers. A more complete list would have been sure to include the Bryant Owls, Poling Yellowjackets, Gov. I.P. Gray Redbirds and Madison Tomcats.
Chick would welcome them all. He views it as a chance for swapping stories, renewing friendships and reliving some glory days.
I looked at the list an immediately saw some old rivalries as well, hard-fought games back in the day.
“What’s planned after lunch,” I asked him, “a rumble? Or are people going to get in their cars and drive around their opponents’ schools, honking their horns?”
(It was a tradition — back in the day — that students from the high school that won the basketball sectional would skip school and go on a honking and taunting road trip. Whether it was an excused absence or not, I don’t recall. But I do recall hearing the horns of the victors’ cars while sitting in study hall on a Monday afternoon after a sectional loss.)
Chick assured me that no rumble was planned, though he couldn’t guarantee there would be no horseplay.
So — Panthers, Bulldogs, Owls, Tomcats, Redbirds, Wolves, Yellowjackets and Speedcats from that bygone era in Jay County — the luncheon is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at The Pickle Lounge at Northside Lanes, 1776 Independence Parkway, Hartford City.
Mark your calendar.
And one more thing: Chick stopped by the office later the same morning with a message: “It’s guys only.”
It seems one aging athlete took his wife to the lunch and she was bored to tears.
Imagine that.
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