Lakes High football: It all started in 1962

Lakes High School’s first ever varsity football game was a win over Yelm High School in 1962.


That was one game. This is a cursory review of Lakes entire eight game varsity football games during its first ever season, 1962. All wins. 


Lakes High opened in fall 1962 with Gerry Austin as its head football coach. He was also the school’s athletic director and taught math.


A former UW Rose Bowl quarterback, Austin moved to Lakes from Clover Park where he successfully guided Warriors football as head coach for 13 seasons, starting in 1949. His tenure as Lakes coach was seven seasons, 1961-1967 and 1971. 


His 1962 season Lakes assistant coaches were Kelly Micera, Chuck Forsland and Ron Storaasli.


In the 1962-1963 school year, Lakes' home practice football field did not yet exist. Football practices were held on grounds at Madigan Army Hospital. Home games were on Clover Park’s Thompson Field, the original iteration of today’s Harry Lang Stadium.


(And, in the 1962-1963 school year, the 1963 Lakes baseball team practiced and played its home game at Western State Hospital. Lakes baseball field had not been created.)


Lakes 1962-1963 did not have a senior class. The school had only sophomores and juniors. So, no Lakes teams had no seniors on its rosters during its initial school year.


In 1962-1963, Lakes competed in the Puget Sound League/PSL in all sports except football. The 1962 football schedule for the first Lakes varsity football team was against smaller high schools and larger high school “B”/reserve teams plus was one other opponent. That “other opponent” was Auburn High School’s varsity team. Despite the fact Lakes didn’t play in the PSL in football in 1962, it did play Auburn of the PSL. The game counted in Auburn’s league win-loss record.


Lakes had about 50 players as its initial football practice on Saturday, Sept. 8, 1962, according to the Suburban Time/SubTimes.


In the Lakes varsity football team’s opening game, Friday night, Sept. 14, 1962, at Thompson Field, Lakes’ starting lineup had six juniors and five sophomores, said the Tacoma News Tribune/TNT.


A TNT reporter covering that Friday night game, a 29-0 win over the Tornados of Yelm High School, wrote about Lakes’ “powerful and fast backfield, a surprise aerial attack featuring excellent tossing and catching, and an inexperienced line which outplayed the smaller Yelm eleven.” 


The first points ever scored in a Lakes football game were a two point safety for Lakes when a Yelm player, unable to punt on fourth down, downed the ball in the end zone. 


In the same game, the first touchdown Lakes ever scored was by end Tom Vorpahl on a 15-yard pass from left-handed quarterback Rick Austin, son of the coach.


Other scoring in the game by Lakes were TDs by Bill Saxton on a pass from Austin and runs by Don McPherson and Arnold Julich. (In conversion runs, McPherson scored two and Julich one.) The game story praised the pass catching of Wayne Parker. Austin and backup QB Steve Walker completed 13 of 20 passes for 142 yards. Lakes rushed for 208 yards in 45 carries. Lakes had 20 first downs to Yelm’s three. 


Prophetically, the TNT reporter wrote, “Lakes showed that it would be no pushover this season. Although the team lacked experience, (Coach) Austin’s crew showed poised and determination.”


Results of Lakes’ 1962 eight wins, no losses, no ties (8-0-0) season. All games Friday unless noted:

Sept. 14 – Lakes 27, Yelm Tornados 0

In Lakewood, Lakes led 15-0 at halftime.

-Yelm’s coach told the TNT, “Lakes passing attack hurt us. I’ve never seen such receptions … We didn’t know what they had and we didn’t know what to expect.”

-“As one (Lakes) player aptly described it kneeling on the sidelines during the game, ‘It was a great way to start.’ It was the first contest in the school’s two week old history.” SubTimes

-In absence of a nickname, the TNT and the Nisqually Valley News of Yelm called the team the "Lakers." And, the TNT identified Lakes as being located in Steilacoom.

Sept. 21 – Lakes 12, Vashon Pirates 7

On Vashon Island. Lakes led 12-0 at halftime.

-“… the nameless wonders defeated Vashon…” SubTimes

-“Following the kickoff, Vashon was unable to drive and punted to Lakes. The Lakers launched another scoring driving with Austin’s 45-yard strike to Tom Vorpahl …” TNT

Sept. 29 – Lakes 26, North Mason Bulldogs 7

In Belfair, game played on a Saturday. Lakes led 12-6 at halftime.

-“… All 30 boys making the North Mason trip saw action.” SubTimes

-“Lakes then marched 70 yards in the second quarter with Rick Cessna getting the touchdown from the 12.” TNT

-“The credit goes to the players, and to coach Austin who in two short weeks prior to the season molded a squad that has withstood several more experienced attempts at challenging goal lines.” SubTimes 

Oct. 6 – Lakes 27, R. A. Long (Longview) Lumberjacks “B” 0

At Lakewood, game played on a Saturday. Lakes led 20-0 at half.

-“It was Austin again in the second period, this time pitching to (Rick) Cessna for a 45-yard touchdown play. The pass covered 15 yards, Cessna the remaining 20.” SubTimes

Oct. 12 – Bye

Oct. 19 – Lakes Lancers 34, Castle Rock Rockets 13.

In Lakewood, Lakes led 21-0 at halftime.

-On Oct. 19, Lakes students voted “Lancers” as its teams’ nickname. This was the first game by a Lakes team called Lancers. SubTimes (The other names in the vote were "Lakers" and "Blue Devils.")

-“… Austin hurled a 61-yard (touchdown) pass to Bill Saxton.” TNT

-“Fog covered the field much of the contest, with occasional periods when play was obscured from one sideline, or another.” SubTimes

-The Saxton twins, Bill and Bob, were “exceptionally fast and shifty,” said Cowlitz County Advocate of Castle Rock.

Oct. 26 – Lakes Lancers 21, Auburn Trojans 13

In Auburn, Auburn led 13-7 at half.

-“Lakes survived a rocky first half and then turned on the power in the last two quarters at Auburn in a game which counted in the standings for Auburn …” TNT

Nov. 2 – Lakes Lancers 25, Mt. Si Wildcats 12.

In Snohomish, Lakes led 14-6 at half.

-“The Lancers upped their lead to 33-6 as Austin connected with Don McPherson for a 13-yard touchdown and McPherson sprinted 68 and 36 yards for two more (TDs) in the wild (third) period.” TNT

Nov. 9 – Lakes Lancers 13, Clover Park Warriors “B” 0

In Lakewood, Lakes led 13-0 at half.

-On rain soaked Thompson Field, dampness “did not appear to hold down a crowd of several hundred who gathered to watch…” SubTimes

-“The Lancers marched 60 yards with the opening kickoff for their first score, which came on Bob Saxton’s 20-yard run.” TNT

-A Lakes player in this game contended the CP team was “B” (reserve) in name only. He said it included some Warrior non-senior first string varsity players.

Newspaper game stories about the Lakes team during its 1962 season include mentions of passes from Rick Austin and Steve Walker to Wayne Parker, Tom Vorpahl, Bill and Bob Saxton and runs by the Saxtons, Don McPherson, Rick Cessna, Terry Schmacher, Arnold Julich, Greg Vine and Austin. 


Also mentioned during 1962 season newspaper coverage were Lakes players Bob Jett, Tom Johnson, Pete Richards, John Holmes, Dave West, Gary McConaghy, John Redl, Joe Orech, Dan Brock, Jim Hilyard and Barry Marks.


The 1963 Lakes Legend yearbook shows Cessna and Jett as winners of post-season Lakes team awards.


On the Lakes football team bus drive back to its school after beating Clover Park, Coach Gerry Austin addressed his Lancer players. “He told us of how many years he had been coaching. He never had an undefeated team until now,” recalled one of his players. “We really appreciated his comments because he was a legend in his own time and we all knew that.”


Postscript -- During Lakes first football season it received votes in the 1962 Associated Press high school Class A football poll. Source: Oct. 10, 1962, Seattle Times.

…

=“Lakes Tramples Yelm, 29-0; Travels to Vashon Friday,” Sept. 19, 1962, Suburban Times.

=“Lakes Eleven Notches 29-0 Win in Debut,” Sept. 15, 1962, TNT.

=LAKES’ PARKER – Wayne Parker, shown here snaring a Rick Austin aerial during a recent practice session, scored the first of two touchdowns Friday night as the new Clover Park School District school defeated Vashon, 12-7. Parker, a junior this year, played for Clover Park High School’s sophomore squad last year. Oct. 3, 1962, Suburban Times

=FOG-BOUND CONFERENCE – Coach Gerry Austin and assistant Kelly Micera discuss action during the Lakes-Castle Rock contest Friday with guard Dave West. Fog covered the field at times, even the coaches were unable to follow the action – except by messenger. Oct. 24, 1962, Suburban Times

National Association of Student Councils Convention held at Lakes High School, June 1966

PHOTO: Lakes High students (l-r) Rick Hahn, Greg Saxton and Ann Harris in June 1965 at Union (train) station, downtown Tacoma. They were respective Lakes High 1965-1966 student body president, student body vice president, and student senator. At the station, they were waiting to board a passenger train for trip to attend the National Association of Student Councils (NASC) convention, June 21-24, 1965, in Lexington, Kentucky. Key reason for their trip was to help them prepare for the 30th annual NASC convention at Lakes High School, June 26-30, 1966. During the Lexington convention, Hahn was elected NASC for 1965-1966.

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Conference at Lakes High Wins Praise From Across the Nation

Lakes High School was sponsor of the 30th annual National Association of Student Councils Conference held June 26-30, 1966.

By D. C. MOLNARFFY

The writer is a 1966 Lakes High School grad. This story appeared in the  Aug. 14, 1966, Sunday Tacoma News-Tribune’s ‘Teen-Age Tribune.’

DENVER Public Schools called it, “One of the best jobs ever done.” Dale Stein of the Illinois Association of Student Councils called it, “... the highlight of my high school career.” The North Carolina Student Council Congress called it,” a most interesting and successful conference.” And Susan Grunenfelder, Tumwater High School said, “As a resident of Washington I couldn’t help but be proud of the first NASC conference held in Washington.”

These and many other complimentary comments exemplify the common reaction held by administrators, teachers and students throughout the nation who attended the 30th Annual National Conference of the National Association of Student Councils June 26-30 at Lakes Senior High School.

In theory, the NASC conference brings together the youth leaders of America for the primary purpose of interchanging ideas and opinions; thus when delegates return to their respective high schools and communities a new enrichment in concepts has been gained and can be passed on.

Sponsor’s Role

The role of the sponsoring high school in such a conference is to apply the necessary theme, program, accomodationols, and recreation. Serving as the theme for the 1966 meeting was “Twenty-0four Hour Leadership” representing the necessity for complete dedication in the service of others.

The outstanding organization of the_ conference reflected three years of earnest planning by Lakes administrators.

Seven general sessions represented the bulk of activity, with discussion groups relating to business of the general sessions and other topics.

Adding inspiration to the conference were speeches by prominent Washingtonians and top high school administrators.

In the initial speech of the conclave Gov. Dan Evans welcomed all delegates to the Northwest — later Jim Whittaker, first American to conquer Mt. Everest, delivered a speech concerning mountain climbing and his personal philosophy relating not only to mountain climbing but to all other endeavors. Lakes ASB president and NASC president Rick delivered the keynote address, and the rest of the conference was filled with many worthwhile speeches.

Recreation, Too

On a lighter note delegates were provided with an assortment of recreational facilities and refreshments; the making of friends throughout the Lakewood community was the most pleasing pastime for the delegates.

General chairman, Arthur H. Stolz, Lakes senior dean and assistant principal, introduced the beauty of the Northwest to the delegates stating, ‘‘This vacationland extends from the Pacific Ocean to the top of snow-capped Mount Rainier—and beyond. Whether your interests lead you to undersea diving or to mountain climbing, you can find the best kind of recreation, challenging recreation, here.”

The spirit of the NASC Conference is best illustrated by the words of President Johnson to the delegates, ‘‘Few lessons in the educational process are more important than those you learn as student leaders. Few experiences are more gratify-ing than the familiarity you have gained with the spirit and method of democracy.’’

#

This was originally posted July 11, 2015. It was updated May 20, 2019, and May 11, 2022.

After Lakes' 1965-1966 school year, a national convention took place at Lakes High. Prior to it, Clover Park School District paid minimal attention to Lakes campus grounds. But, with visitors coming from 49 of 50 states (which state was missing?) for the convention, the district spiffed up the grounds.

It was the 30th annual National Association of Student Councils convention held June 26-30, 1966, at Lakes High School.

=Executive-Type Youth
Leads Student Council
And Plans for Future

Lawrence (Kansas) Journal-World - Nov 2, 1965

TACOMA, Wash. -- Rick Hahn is the executive type. And, students from all over the country recognized that when they chose him this year's president of the National Association of Student Councils.

This means that while he is engrossed in his senior year school work, and his post as president of the Lakes High School Student Council here, he'll also be preparing for the 1966 national convention of the Association, which will be held at his own school next summer.

Read entire story here (link below):

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19651102&id=Sk4xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FeYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5069,3426541&hl=en

.......

=Student at parley

Oneonta (New York) Star - June 30, 1966

SOUTH KORTRIGHT -- Gray Sturgess, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Sturgess, South Kortright, and president-elect of the South Kortright Central School Student Council, flew from New York City to Tacoma, Washington Sunday, June 26 to attend the 30th Annual National Conference of the National Association of Student Councils.

As one of three representatives from New York State, she represented District 8 of the New York State Association of Student Councils. While attending the Conference at Lakes High School, Tacoma, Gray was the guest of one of the students of this school.

Participants at the Conference heard Richard N. Hann, president, NASC, speak on "Twenty - Four Hour Leadership"; Donald I. Wood, Head of the Department of Education, Rice University, whose topic was "The Case of the Twilight Council"; and Gerald M. Van Pool, Director of Student Activities, National Association of Secondary School Principals, moderating a panel discussion on "What Student Council Has Meant to Me."

No link to story available.

.......

=NASC Conference Stresses "Twenty-Four Hour Leadership"

“The Reporter” of Illinois Assn. of Student Councils - Nov. 1, 1966

Story says "Delegates from all but one of the 50 states converged on Lakes High School, located in an outlying suburb of Tacoma, Washington, for the conference."

In his keynote address, National Association of Student Councils (NASC) president Richard Hahn set forth the qualities of a leader as 1-dependability, 2-initative, 3-personal integrity, 4-flexibility, 5-open mindedness and 6-the courage to respect the minority.

"In conclusion, he asserted we must lead not by words, but by deeds, all the time as twenty-four hour leaders."

Read entire story (link below) here from the Nov. 1 1966, “The Reporter” of the Illinois Association of Student Councils:
https://illinoisstuco.org/Content/Reporter/196611_vol21no2.pdf

Lakes boys' basketball historical stuff

Saturday Sept. the 11th, 1965, night football game on Thompson Field: Lakes 13, Clover Park 6? Or, did Lakes win, 13-7?

Photo: Thompson Field during 1972 Lakes vs Clover Park varsity football game

Rich Kim posted this and other photos 6:22 pm Dec 25 2017 at “You Know You’re from Lakewood, WA if ...” Facebook page. It’s of Lakes vs. Clover Park football game Nov 10, 1972 at Thompson Field. CP won, 28-6.


Links:

--Photo: 1972 Lakes vs. Clover Park varsity football game

http://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2018/01/photo-thompson-field-during-1972-lakes.html

--Lakewood football field has had three names; here’s history about the first

http://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2018/01/lakewood-football-field-has-had-three.html

https://thesubtimes.com/2016/10/04/lakewood-football-field-has-had-three-names-heres-history-about-the-first/

--Are CP, Lakes Varsity Football Games Played on Thompson Field?

http://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2018/01/are-cp-lakes-varsity-football-games.html


https://thesubtimes.com/2017/11/13/are-cp-lakes-varsity-football-games-played-on-thompson-field/

Lakewood football field has had three names; here’s history about the first

Thompson Field. Lakewood Stadium. Harry Lang Stadium.

Three names, one football venue in Lakewood at Clover Park High School.

The Clover Park School District was created in 1928. Ten years later, due to the rapid expansion of Fort Lewis, Clover Park High School was established with the cornerstone of the original school laid June 28, 1938.

PHOTO From left, Clover Park superintendent A.G. Hudtloff, Lakewood visionary Walter Thompson, Mrs. A.S. Black and Thompson’s son, Ray. Photo courtesy Images of America – Lakewood by Walter Neary and Steve Dunkelburger.

A photo (above) taken in 1939 on the Clover Park campus shows four people, including Walter J. Thompson and Arthur Hudtloff, district superintendent.

Thompson holds a copy of the notes he will use to deliver a speech on May 17, 1939, when the athletic field at Clover Park High School is dedicated in his name.

According to information with the photo, Thompson donated the initial $1,000 to get the field project started. The field was completed as a project of WPA, an acronym for the federal Works Progress Administration, a Depression era work-relief program.

One source says the field was a memorial to Thompson. In reality, it was dedicated in honor of Thompson, not in memory of him. He was still alive. However, just a bit more than 14 months after the dedication, on Aug. 3, 1940, he died at age 87 in Lakewood.

Who was Walter James Thompson?

PHOTO Record setting pole vault at Thompson Field as shown in the 1957 Clover Park High School Klahowya yearbook. Photo courtesy Lakewood Historical Society.

He was a social and civic leader, Lakewood visionary, Tacoma banker, financier, Gravelly Lake pioneer, philanthropists, and, according to Legendary Locals of Lakewood, an “audacious businessman.”

Born in Spring Prairie, Wisc., in 1853, he was a successful banker and attorney in Nebraska before coming to the Tacoma in 1884. He bought the Bank of New Tacoma and changed its name to Merchants National Bank. He also founded Tacoma Savings Bank.

He had a home in Tacoma and homes in Lakewood. One source says he eventually moved out of the Tacoma house to one on Gravelly Lake. He also was owner of the historic Boatman-Ainsworth, the oldest private structure in Lakewood.

According to the History of Tacoma, the Tacoma home of Thompson and his wife, Amaryllis Thompson (1850-1933), was frequented by intellectuals and progressives including Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and Susan B. Anthony, social reformer and women’s rights advocate.

The Thompsons were known for their personal library and collection of paintings.

Thompson owned the Boatman–Ainsworth house from 1889-1939. He donated a portion property on which the house was located to Clover Park. The portion is the location of Thompson Field, today’s Harry Lang Stadium.

A Lakewood historical marker – placed by the Lakewood Historical Society, the Lakewood Landmarks & Heritage Board and the City of Lakewood – is near the house which is near Harry Lang Stadium.

PHOTO An undated photo of Thompson Field. Photo courtesy of Lakewood Historical Society.

Thompson served a variety social and civic roles. He was a benefactor and key player in the newly established Tacoma Public Library and, in the 1880s, its president for several years.

In 1888, he was a delegate to the Republican national convention and went on to serve in Washington Territorial lower house and Senate, where he was an active promoter of progressive agenda items including women’s suffrage.

In 1912, he quit the Republican party and joined the Progressive party — nicknamed the “Bull Moose Party” — created by former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.

The Spokane Chronicle in 1916 said he was a “well-known bull moose” of Pierce County. In that year, he ran for the U.S. Senate as the Progressive candidate.

So, in 1939 Thompson Field was built and dedicated at Clover Park High School. It was the home venue of Clover Park varsity football games. When Lakes High School opened in 1962, it became the venue of Lakes varsity football home games, too.

PHOTO Known today as Harry Lang Stadium, the former Thompson Field was rebuilt in recent years by Landscape Architect RW Droll. Photo courtesy of Robert W. Droll, Landscape Architect of Lacey, Washington.

But, time marched on and eventually there was need for a modernized stadium. That resulted with upgrading in about 1984-1985 of Thompson Field and renaming it Lakewood Stadium.

On Aug. 21, 2001, Harry E. Lang died at age 83. He was a dedicated coach, teacher, principal, administrator and later a school-board member and board president in the Clover Park School District. He served the community for more than 50 years.

In September 2001, the Clover Park School Board approved a resolution to rename the facility to Harry E. Lang Stadium, said the TNT.

On Oct. 26, 2001, before a Clover Park vs. Lakes football game, Lakewood Stadium was renamed and dedicated in honor of Lang.

FOOTNOTES:

–Thompson’s business dealings included selling homes on Lake Steilacoom and Gravelly Lake.

–According to the Seattle Times, the change of the stadium name from Lakewood to Harry Lange “reduced confusion with the 2A school north of Everett named Lakewood.” In the late 1950s (early 1960s?), Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone changed Lakewood’s telephone prefix from LAkewood to JUniper. One of the reasons? Because there was sometimes confusion between Lakewood (Pierce Co.) and Lakewood (north of Everett in Snohomish Co.)

–Before Clover Park High School existed, students from Lakewood apparently attended Tacoma’s Stadium High School.

–This story focuses on football. But the field featured has been and is the home of track & field, too. Thompson Field (with real grass) had a five laps to a mile cinder track. Today’s Harry Lang Stadium has an artificial turf football field and a four laps to 400m synthetic all-weather track.

–During the author’s years (1963-1966) as a Lakes High student, initially when the Lancers played football on Clover Park’s Thompson Field, scoreboard signage proclaimed the field “Home of the Warriors.” Thanks to a sign maker grandfather of a Lakes student, a “Home of the Lancers” sign was made. It was displayed over the Warriors sign during Lakes home football games.

–Sources for this story include first and foremost the amazing Lakewood history books by Steve Dunkelberger and Walter Neary: “Images of America: Lakewood” (2005) and “Legendary Locals of Lakewood” (2014). Other sources include, but are not limited to, liquidsearch.com, Seattle Times, Seattle P-I, gridironbeez.proboards.com, Wikipedia, historylink.com, Longview Daily News, TNT/Tacoma News Tribune, Southsoundtalk.com and Spokane Daily Chronicle, Tacoma Public Library, the Lakewood Log , a National Register of Historic Places nomination form, “History of Tacoma” and politicalgraveyard.com

–Errors in story? If so, please send corrections to author at wildcatville@gmail.com

By Tim Marsh, Lakes High School Class of 1966

Oct. 4, 2016, Suburban Times

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Links:

--Photo: 1972 Lakes vs. Clover Park varsity football game

http://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2018/01/photo-thompson-field-during-1972-lakes.html

--Lakewood football field has had three names; here’s history about the first

http://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2018/01/lakewood-football-field-has-had-three.html

https://thesubtimes.com/2016/10/04/lakewood-football-field-has-had-three-names-heres-history-about-the-first/

--Are CP, Lakes Varsity Football Games Played on Thompson Field?

http://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2018/01/are-cp-lakes-varsity-football-games.html


https://thesubtimes.com/2017/11/13/are-cp-lakes-varsity-football-games-played-on-thompson-field/