The Story Behind the Ticket

By Pam LaFountain

Recently, I have come to discover that even the smallest of items can hold a story that opens our eyes to more Newport history. This story is about just such an item.

She thought it might be something the Newport Historical Society would want, as it was a ticket for an alumni football game. And anyone who knows Newport, NH knows the town has a long and treasured football history.

So, I decided to do a little research to see what I could find out about this Towle Alumni Football Game. Using the digital archives provided online by the Richards Free Library in Newport, it was not hard to find a couple of articles about the game.

According to the Argus Champion (November 3, 1950), the event was sponsored by the local Lions Club. Money raised was to be split 50/50 between the Lions Club and Towle High School, who were trying to raise money for new gymnastics equipment. The two teams playing would be the current 1950 Towle Tigers vs. the “Former Towlesters.” This game was the first of its kind in town for several years. The 1950 team wore their school uniforms and the “Formers” donned blue and white. Admission was “all you can afford to pay for an afternoon of fun and a good cause.” Regular state officials from the NH Football Association worked the game.

The same article also noted that “Alumni [are] holding secret practice at Claremont’s Monadnock Park ‘under a blackout to insure no signal stealing by Towle’s ’50 scouts.’” This was pretty serious stuff! Some players were even former Richards High School players. Local newspapers predicted this would “probably be the toughest game in the Towle schedule” for 1950.

Festivities began on Friday evening with a rally. The Alumni Team gathered on Main Street, accompanied by the Alumni Band, and together they did a “snake dance” around the Common.

On Saturday at 2:15, the game began at the Newport Playground on Meadow Road (across from the new Recreation Center). Three bands performed before the game: the Newport Alumni Band, Towle High Band, and the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps.

Alumni Players (as listed in local newspapers along with nicknames):

Quarterbacks:  Edward “PeeWee” Thibodeau (on varsity at Catholic Univ.), James “Three Beer” Brady, Jack “Slippery” Daimont, Bob “Popcorn” Gagenback	Ends:  Nick “Glue Fingers” Coidakis, Reginald “Chief Collectum” Brown, Louis “Fox Trot” Willett, Don “Pretty Boy” Martin	Guards:  James “Peanut” Maley, Roger “Crusher” Smith, George “Crooner” Hamilton
Halfbacks:  Pat “Spare Tire” Jackson, Roy “Express” Pariseau, Bob “Sleepy” Darling, Wally “Hichup” Dodge, Pat “Bronco” Emery	Tackles:  Henry “Flat Foot” Allen, Bob “Bull” Onnela, Norman “Blackjack” LaCross	Centers:  Bert “Grumpy” Wheeler, Pete “Water Pipe” Perry, Nate “Speed” Silverman, Tony “Fizzle” Pradad
Fullback:  Cleon “Tuffy” Bartlett Kicker:  Art Leavitt Manager:  Roy Hoyt (also parade organizer and Chairman of the Organization Committee)	Other players. No Position Given: “Hutch” Hutchinson, Omier Bugbee, Gerry Martin, Alec Miller, Gardner Stetson, Nat Daimont, Ken Wheeler, Ken Weed, John Coronis, and Leo Heneault.

The day of the game, the crowd was entertained by a very competitive contest. The Alumni team scored first, and all of the scoring was done in the first half. Alumni quarterback Jim Brady connected with Pat Jackson on a long pass, reminiscent of their playing days, and Jackson was described as running “with the speed of a frightened deer.” Kicker Art Leavitt highlighted his talent with a 50-yard spiral that backed the Tigers deep into Alumni territory. Nick Cokaikis was credited with a “circus catch,” while Henry Allen, Tony Praded, and Bob Onella were praised as an “inspired line.” However, turnovers hindered the Alumni team from scoring more, with one fumble, one interception, and a costly “sack” during a critical part of the game.

Tiger standouts included Ed Reney and John Waldo. Al Hague scored the first touchdown on a 4th-down pass from Reney. Captain Joe Galotta, an All-State player, and Coach Jack Berry also did their part in spurring the Tigers to victory. The final score was Towle Tigers 13, Newport Alumni 6.

Although a great time was had by all, one unfortunate feature of the game was that town workers, eager to put away the portable bleachers before the first snow, had stacked them along the sidelines. As a result, 400 spectators were forced to trot up and down the edges of the field. The town manager later apologized in a November 20th Argus Champion front-page article, admitting he had forgotten about the bleachers “despite having a ticket to the game in his pocket.”

In the end, game profits totaled $185.24. The Lions Club donated $15 of that to the Tiger Band for their support. In 1951, the Lions attempted to hold another alumni game, though there is no indication it took place. By 1952, interest had faded.

That little “ticket” now symbolizes an event that simply couldn’t be duplicated!

Sources:
Richards Free Library Digital Archives – Argus Champion (Oct 6, Nov 3, Nov 17, Nov 21, Dec 8, 1950); Newport Guardian & Kearsarge Sunapee Sun (Nov 16, Nov 30, 1950)

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Written by Pam LaFountain, with special thanks to Nancy Smith and Joanne Truell, who gave me the ticket!