I don’t know too much about my dad’s high school
years, but he did save the year books from his sophomore and junior years,
1931 and 1932. Here's his picture from 1932:
Don’s older brother Boyd was a senior in 1931, and he was outstanding and popular. He was vice-president of the senior
class, and a cheerleader. He was in the glee club. He played the trumpet like
his father, and was among half a dozen chosen from Enid High School to go to the
All-state Band. Boyd also starred in the senior class operetta, and was on the
debate team. He was beginning to work toward his goal of
becoming a lawyer. Here's his picture as escort for one of the May queen candidates:
Boyd Gunning, age 18
Don, I’ve always appreciated your attitude toward
everything. You have some wonderful qualities, and I’m so glad I have had you
in class. Always, Ruth Scott.
Don joined the math club his junior year and here's
what his math teacher wrote:
Don, You get better and better. Since you’ve been
through the real drudgery of math, now you should go on and take the fourth
year where you can see the real fun in math. Sincerely, Grace Smith.
In the 1931 book, Don isn’t pictured with either the
football or the basketball teams, but there are a lot of notes consoling him on
his tough luck in football. I didn’t figure out why until I read a note
from a girl in his English class:
Don, Don’t forget the time you had a broken arm and
you came out to our house and practiced for the Longfellow program. Remember me
as a friend, Annabel Morrow.
He didn’t make the football team because he broke
his arm!
Here’s the note written by Enid High’s football
coach, Leon R. Vance:
Don, I have always said sophs were my favorites. I
still do. A manly sophomore has such tremendous possibilities, and you are
manly. Let’s work together and accomplish some real things. Leon Vance
Lloyd Zuck was in Don’s class his sophomore year but
not his junior year. I don’t know if he moved, or had to drop out of school.
Here’s his note:
Don, Remember me as a friend of yours. Remember the
good old times we have had. If you try you will make the football team in 1932.
You are a fine kid and a good sport. Always remember me as you gaze upon this
handsome picture of me. L. Z.
Lloyd Zuck Kelly, 1931
(See blog post of Feb. 13, 2013)
Here’s a note from someone Don must have gone to
grade school with:
Dear Don, Remember the times when we used to go
swimming in sewer creek, and also when we boxed in your back yard, and the good
old days at Longfellow Jr. High School. An old friend, Jim Helton.
And another:
Don, I believe I’ve known you longer than anyone
going to school now and we’ve sure had some keen times. Remember the keen times
we used to have over on Maple with the ponies and how you used to whip Boyd’s
bun? A friend. George Miles
Don’s older brother Boyd was his best friend and
mentor, but as a young boy Don was always trying to test himself against other
boys, so I guess that included Boyd.
Don didn’t make the football team again his junior
year, but he made the basketball team. Here’s a comment by the captain of the
football team:
Don, You sure have had plenty of bad breaks in
football. I know you would have made the team this year. But after all I think
more of a fellow that can take it on the chin like you did and then come back and
letter in basketball. You sure have got the right stuff. And don’t forget bad
breaks won’t follow you all your life. I know you will win out in the long run.
Lots of luck, Dick.
Dick Gerren, 1932
The football team didn’t do so well that year but
the basketball team won fourteen out of sixteen games and came close to winning
the state title, finally falling to Cherokee, whom they had beaten during the
regular season 28 to 13. The basketball coach, Perry McCoy wrote:
Perry McCoy, 1932
Well Don we had a great season this year. I’m
looking forward to a good season for you next year. I’ve certainly enjoyed
working with you, and knowing you. Next year we’ll beat Cherokee. Best wishes. Your
coach and friend, Perry McCoy.
Enid Plainsmen, 1932
(Don is in the middle row, 2nd to the left of coach McCoy)
I don’t have Don’s annual from 1933, his senior
year. I know that he sang a lead in the school operetta like his brother Boyd, because he kept a copy of the program. Also he told me he finally made the football team as well as the basketball team, and was on the first string of both. He was actually a bigger star on the football team even though it was in basketball that he excelled in college.
In one game Don caught a pass and scored the winning touchdown. He told me that when he caught the ball he was on the 5 yard line, and even though he was tackled he struggled on across the goal line, dragging his tackler with him. Here's how football games looked back then:
In one game Don caught a pass and scored the winning touchdown. He told me that when he caught the ball he was on the 5 yard line, and even though he was tackled he struggled on across the goal line, dragging his tackler with him. Here's how football games looked back then:
Enid High vs. Oklahoma City Central, 1931
(It's hard to see clearly, but the uniforms had no leg pads, very thin shoulder pads, and the helmets were just thick leather with no cushion)
Football must have been very important at Enid High.
That would explain the many condolences Don received the previous two years
when he didn’t make the team, and also the following remarkable event, which occurred during Don's final semester. The school principal and Mr. Vance, the football coach,
the same man who had complemented Don for being “manly,” approached Don’s father with a proposition. They suggested that they
arrange to have Don’s teachers flunk him so that he would have to repeat his senior
year and still be eligible to play football!
Grandfather was actually considering accepting the deal.
He was always a big sports fan. I remember visiting him in a nursing home in
his 90’s, and he had a radio by his bedside so that he could keep up with his favorite
teams.
Anyway, in spite of the pressure, Don turned the
offer down flat. He proved that he was more "manly" than his coach. He knew that it was more important to get an education than to be a football star, and he had decided to join his brother Boyd at O.U.