From News Article
written by Bob Hooker, Piqua Daily Call, Piqua, Ohio, prior to
1956-57 Bradford
High School Football Campaign:
“By the end of the season Nov. 2,
Bradford High may feel its football team should have been called “The
Ironmen” rather than the school’s official moniker, “Railroaders.
"Fourteen boys, including 10
lettermen, apparently hold the key to Bradford’s grid fortunes this
fall. It’s not an anticipated building year with Coach Rex Warner’s
club, but injuries could play havoc with the Orange and Black.
“Barring injuries, we have a chance
with 14 good ball players. But we need much conditioning so as not to
run out of gas.” Coach Rex Warner states. “It’s a small club with only
28 out for football.”
“…..Bradford is in good shape with
only four boys gone who played big roles on the ’55 team which broke
even at 4 – 4. End Darrell Francis, defensive guard Linden Stonerock,
quarterback Jack Stoler and halfback Bob Reck comprise the quartet which
has departed…..”
“….Here is the breakdown, as the 10
returning regulars at Bradford:
Ends – Jerry Idle, senior,
5-11, 160; and Jerry Weider, sophomore, 6-3, 170.
Tackles – Ron Petty,
senior, 6-0, 205; and Paul Bunnell, junior, 6-0, 220.
Guards – Roger Canaan,
junior, 6-0, 155; and Gene Rhoades, junior, 5-10, 155.
Center – Jim Atkins,
senior, 5-10, 170.
Halfbacks – Jerry
Beesecker, senior, 5-11, 170, and Charley Bunnell, senior, 5-8, 155.
Fullbacks – Marvin Reck,
junior, 5-7, 165.”
Editors Note: Also joining and/or
returning to the team to make up the 1956 football champs:
Terry Canan,
senior; Dennis Lemon, senior; Bill Mills, senior; Don Kniesly, junior;
Carl Warner,
junior; Terry Miller, sophomore; Larry Kissinger, sophomore; Butch
Magee,
sophomore; Jerry Canan, sophomore; Paul Smith, freshman; Art Goings,
freshman; John
McBride, freshman; Charles Wysong, freshman; Verlin Thomp-
son, freshman;
Gene Smith, freshman; Ron Richards, freshman."
Headlines:
“Cavaliers Lose by 12-0
to Bradford”
Tri County
League Preview, Minister
– Piqua Catholic vs. Bradford –
September 7
“Bradford Victor But
Bucs, Versailles Bow”
Bradford,
Dixie 12 vs. Bradford 26 – September 14
“Bradford Rips ‘Cats,
21-0, in TCL Feature”
Minister,
Bradford 21 vs. Minister 0 – September 21*
“Railroaders Ransack
Ansonia Club, 39-0”
Bradford,
Ansonia 0 vs. Bradford 39 – September 28*
Editor’s Note: Ansonia left field
shortly after 3rd qtr. began, thus forfeiting the game
“Bradford High Belts
Rugged Brookville 11”
Brookville, Bradford 27 vs.
Brookville 7 – October 5
“Bradford Records 5th
Straight Win”
Bradford,
Marion Twy. (Maria Stein) 0 vs. Bradford 12 – October 12*
“Bradford Is Winner
Over Versailles”
Versailles,
Bradford 27 vs. Versailles 6 – October 19*
“Railroaders Defeat
Bucs In Thriller
Bradford,
Covington 0 vs. Bradford 7 – October 25
“Bradford Nips
Catholic, 6-0”
Piqua,
Bradford 6 vs. Piqua Catholic 0 – November 3*
*Tri County League game.
“Honor Champ Bradford
Team With Banquet”
“Bradford
High School’s undefeated football team will be honored
Saturday night at an
athletic banquet. …..”
“Bradford’s Tri-County
Champs Honored During Annual Fete”
“The Railroaders, under the
director of Rex Warner, rolled over eight
opponents
this year enroute to a Tri-County League Championship.”
“…The
Railroaders were celebrating the close of a very successful
football season in which they
romped to a brilliant 8-0 record including
five league victories.
“This team was the first undefeated
eleven at Bradford in 30 years.”
“…..the
1956 squad and team of 30 years ago are the only two railroad
grid
aggregations to complete a season undefeated.
"Present at
the 1956 banquet from the undefeated and unscored on
1926 eleven were Raymond Locher,
Donald Locher, Harold Locher,
Harry Bangs, Dr. Dean Armour,
Donald (Dutch) Shively, Clarence Glick,
James Shafer, Glennard Witmer and
Dale Brazil.”
Editor’s Note:
Coach of the 1926 team, Joe Morrisey, could not be located.
There were
22-members of the 1926 football team.
“…..Lauded during
Saturday’s banquet were the two triumphant Railroader
football mentors
of 1956, Warner and basketball coach Norman Ashworth, who
doubles as
football assistant.”
“….Football
letters were presented the individual players during the
program….
Also, presented
during the affair was a floating trophy which is given annually
to the winner of
the Bradford-Covington football contest.”
“…..Of noteworthy
importance was the fact that only six points was scored
against the
Bradford aggregation during/league play and only 25 points during
the entire
season.
During this time,
in eight contests, the Railroaders piled up 177 points.”
Special
Highlight of 1926 Team
“State Class ‘B’ Champs”
“Play Nine Games and
Win Every One of ‘em,
Bradford Scores 276 Points to Opponents’ Zero”
“BRADFORD,
December 4, 1926-Bradford High School recently closed the
football
season with the state’s record, the most successful season ever enjoyed
at Bradford.”
Bradford
20, Versailles 0
Bradford
18, Greenville 0
Bradford
38, Celina 0
Bradford
13, Tipp City 0
Bradford
27, Fairmont 0
Bradford
13, Sidney 0
Bradford
20, Arcanum 0
Bradford
68, W. Milton 0
Bradford
59, Versailles 0
Total–Bradford
276, opponent–0.
“….Team Members were Huber, Weaver, Carter, Dively, Bigler, Boyle,
Shaffer, Bangs, Keeler, Armour, Manager Locher, Lyons, Fifer, D. Locher,
Hughes, H. Locher, Stichter, Capt. Shively, Deeter, Glick, Witwer, and
Gibboney.”
NOTE: All materials
in relation to the Bradford Football Team which appeared in the Piqua
Daily Call in 1956 were destroyed in a fire.
