Thursday, June 19, 2014

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for June 19, 2014

54 YEARS AGO
JUNE 19, 1960

“Edsel Johnson, Southern Bell Telephone Company’s area installer, makes the final connection for the new dial system recently installed at Southern Coach & Body Co. Johnson now lives in Brewton, but is a former resident of Evergreen and was a star athlete at the local high school. He is married to the former Jean Snowden of Evergreen.”

“Summer Recreation Program: The 1960 summer recreational activities have already begun under the direction of the Recreational Department of the City of Evergreen at the Conecuh County Training School play ground.
“Parents are encouraged to let their children take advantage of the activities this summer. So far, 122 girls and boys from ages 6-20 have been registered.
“The activities for the summer’s program include the following: play activities for small children (indoors and out of doors), peewee ball teams, girls and boys 6-9; little league baseball teams, Cubs and Reds, boys, 9-13; pony league, Jets and Bears, 13-16; Baby Ruth league, consists of working teenage boys who play on Saturdays; softball for both boys and girls; table tennis, horseshoe, basketball, tennis, badminton and checkers.
“New suits have been ordered for the Peewee team. Parents are being asked to share in the purchase of the suits.
“There will be a game with Camden here in Evergreen on Wednesday afternoon. There will also be a game with Castleberry at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Evergreen.”

69 YEARS AGO
JUNE 21, 1945

“William Faulk Jr., age 17, son of William Faulk and John Quates, age 15, son of B.J. Quates, lost their lives in the pond at the Evergreen Golf Course Friday afternoon shortly after one o’clock. The youths were in swimming when the tragedy occurred, and it is believed that the Faulk boy was stricken with cramps. Other boys who were present state that the Quates boy went to his friend’s rescue and in the struggle both went down.
“One of the boy’s body was recovered in a short time and an attempt to resuscitate him with artificial respiration failed. The other body was not recovered until several hours later. Both boys lived nearby the golf course.”

84 YEARS AGO
JUNE 8, 1939

“Evergreen Boy Wins Many College Honors: Birmingham, Ala., June 18 – Jack Finklea of Evergreen, recent graduate of Howard College, has returned to his native soil with a full load of student honors conferred as recognition of his activities at that institution.
“Chosen manager of the Freshman Class baseball team in 1926, Finklea served with brilliance and success, often pulling his charges through to victory over the varsity opponents and always to victory over the Birmingham-Southern contingent. In successive years, he served as varsity baseball manager, assistant football manager and directing varsity football manager. He was also a member of the Y.M.Ca A. Cabinet and of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, national social order.”

“Scouts To Go Before Court of Honor: Arrangements have been perfected for a number of local Boy Scouts to go before the Court of Honor of this Scout District at a meeting to be held at the Baptist Church Friday night, June 20, at eight o’clock. Members of this Court of Honor are prominent business and professional men of Brewton, and it is said that the entire troop of Boy Scouts from Brewton are expected to be present. Members of the local troop will also be there 100 percent, and it is hoped that the parents of the boys and all others who feel an interest in this fine work will attend the meeting.”

“On a hunting trip in Glasgow, Alfred Weston killed 97 birds with 97 shots.”

That week’s edition of The Courant also contained a complete reprinting of Douglas Malloch’s classic sports poem, “Play Ball!” –

“ACCEPT, if you like, the cheers,
The shouting before the game,
Or hate, if you do, the jeers,
And take, if you must, the blame,
But when there’s a whistle blow,
Or when there’s an umpire’s call,
There’s only one thing to know –
Play ball!”

“Oh, love, if you like, a maid,
Or hate, if you must, a man,
Or think of some game you played
Or think of some race you ran,
But when there’s a game that’s new
They never matter at all,
There’s only one thing to do –
Play ball!”

“And far from the crowded stands,
Whatever the task may be,
Yes, far from the clapping hands,
With only yourself to see,
Whatever the day may bring,
And whether it’s great or small,
Then this is the only thing –
Play ball!”

99 YEARS AGO
JUNE 16, 1915

“There will be a picnic at the Varner bridge on Sepulga river July 3rd. Baseball in afternoon. Refreshments will be served. Everybody cordially invited to come and bring a well filled basket.”

“HARMONY SUPERIOR SCHOOL: The Harmony Superior School at China, the second school of the kind in the state, has issued its annual announcement and The Courant reproduces the following facts concerning this school from the catalogue, which will be of interest to many readers:
“Location: Our school is located on the Evergreen and Pine Orchard ‘hard road’ seven miles northwest of Evergreen, and in one of the most pleasant and progressive rural districts in South Alabama. The Missionary Baptist church is ‘just across the street’ from our school building, where we have a live Sunday School which meets every Sunday and preaching at least once a month.
“Clubs: Our school maintains a Boy’s Corn Club, Girl’s Canning Club, Pig Club, Girl’s Athletic Club, Boy’s Baseball Club, Home Beautiful Club and a literary society which is known as the Uncle Remus Literary Society, all of which furnish social intercourse and amusement of an uplifting nature for our pupils.”

114 YEARS AGO
JUNE 20, 1900

“Don’t fail to see our line of fishing tackle. It is complete. – Wild Brothers.”

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