The Front Row (l-r): George Magdich, Bob Kemerer, Ivan Cottrell, Max Putman, Richard Carr, Max Daub, and Cleston Chester. Middle Row (l-r): Don Enderle, Roland Fisher, Dick Crosby, Jack Yager, Budd Swann, Raymond Ewing, Bob Culler, Paul Deemer, and Warren Bissell. Back Row (l-r): Coach Bill Horney, Denzil Webber, Don Edens, Billy Cottrell, Stan Jordan, Eddie McCreery, Bill Caine, Leon Miller, Bob Taylor, Dale Ewing, and Coach Bell.
By: Stan Jordan
The above picture is of the Antwerp High School Football team in the fall of 1938. We were undefeated, untied and un-scored upon – the only team in the state of Ohio with a record like that, for that year. I remember after we were un-scored upon in the third game, Coach William Horney said maybe we could go all season that way. Defense was the name of the game.
There were 11 seniors on the team, and everyone played both offense and defense. Payne was the closest to scoring on us. I think that Stabler tried to dropkick a field goal from the 20, and it went off to the left. The ground wasn’t very flat, more like a pasture field.
We were given a dinner by the Chamber of Commerce in the basement of the Presbyterian Church. As near as I know, I am the only fellow in this picture that is still alive. I was a freshman at that time – the player in the white sweatshirt in the back row.
The Lobo Tank Busters
By: Stan Jordan
On our mission today, we only had three planes. Lt. Barne’s plane was going to have a major over-haul, as his plane has ran out of flight hours. We were to go back to the Ruhr area again, that is a very busy German armament section. A lot of that area is underground, so we must look for underground railroads and highway convoys.
We knew that would be a well-protected area, so we had to keep a sharp lookout. We hadn’t even gotten to the area yet and we spotted six German planes. We were still up about 7,000 feet in altitude and they were a little bit below us. They broke off into individual target, and we did also. It was everybody for himself. I got on the tail of one ME-109 and was closing in fast on him. I gave him one ring on my gun sight. I gave him a two second burst, and it looked like tracers were tracing right up his fuselage right up to the cockpit. Another burst of 50 cal. and he just seemed to explode and come apart.
I didn’t have time to watch him go down. I made a big loop and ended up in the fray again. I was up beside another ME-109, but we were going in opposite directions. I pulled up to gain some altitude and he did also. We ended up coming straight at each other. No time to aim, so I did a little roll to the right to escape his fire. I pushed the throttle all the way forward and made a tight, left-hand turn and went back upstairs. This guy is a good pilot, because when I got level again, there he was in front of me. I could see the smoke coming from his cannon, but he missed me, I guess. We went past each other and I made a barrel roll and went down a little, and made a left turn, and I ended up under him and closing fast!
I started firing a little early, but he flew right into my tracers. He fell off to the right and his plane was headed for the earth. He was probably already dead. I looked around and I was all alone. The dog fight had taken us away from the other planes. I was almost out of ammo, but I still had my rockets, but I headed for home anyhow. I had downed two German fighters and I had had enough of everything for one day.
See ya!
Hicksville Lodge Fish Fry
By: Stan Jordan
On Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, some members of the Hicksville Lodge were treated to a fish fry at the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Altman. It was a very fine evening with the temperature around 81 degrees. The weatherman outdone himself!
The bluegills were captured and cleaned by Walt Schilb and his sons Steve and Scott. The boys doing the cooking were Grover Blalock, Ron Farnsworth, Dick Savage, Dick Altman and his son, Michael.
Our newest candidate, Nathan Cross was the guest for the evening. He was accompanied by his father, Robert Cross, his grandfather, Ray Gross, and his great-uncle, Stan Jordan. I would like to use this vehicle to express our thanks for the Hicksville Lodge for the very enjoyable evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Altman and his son Mike.
See ya!
P.S. If I left out any of the cooks; names, I am very sorry. But, Walt Schilb was to see me this morning and give me all the names to the cooks. But instead, he went fishing to fill the larder for next year’s fish fry!
