Staff Writer Crandall journeyed to City Bank Stadium for a game that matched rivals, PIRATES and JACKRABBITS, on another 100+ degrees Texas day with a sprinkling of rain and more record-breaking heat expected, according to Pete Delkus. By 6:15 p. m. many cars were already looking for good spots. Somebody left a good one for me–thanks!
I had been looking forward to this game, because my wife was one of the Highsteppers Legends being honored before and during the game and because when I graduated from college in ‘73, I felt sure I would move to and become a social studies teacher in Crandall, one of my favorite neighboring towns as a boy in Forney, Texas, with under 1,500 population and 3 main restaurants when I graduated– Dairy Queen, City Café, Truck Stop–and still Forney High School in the old W. P. A. brick building, Forney Grammar School in the Lewis High School “BIG BUILDING,” The Forney Messenger (owner/ editor Helen McCain) in a building on Bois d’Arc Street, adjacent to Western Auto and Anderson-Clayton Funeral Home (Clint Chapman).
I found a quarter on the ground–“TAILS.” One of my high school coaches always walked the football field areas we visited until he found a coin–tails up–Good Luck, or so he believed!
Pam Buntin waved me through the metal detector with my “pass,” and I was greeted by the familiar faces/ words of Coaches Bart Holloway, James Schmidt, Jason Farrow, and Admin. Rick Geer. Kaufman County Officer Jacob Keierleber strode over to “check my credentials” (kidding), and Teacher Wendy Wehmeyer (Event Staff) (already at FHS before I retired) came over to greet me warmly, as did Tammy English (former English whiz) with a son, ready to reach the “break-through” line. Oh, yeah, City Bank’s Philip came over to say my “millions” were being guarded closely! CRANDALL: Sparsely settled since mid-1880s, the town was named for Reverend C. F. Crandall, when the railroad, known as the Texas Trunk Line (Texas and New Orleans Railway), came eastward from Dallas.
FORNEY: Named in honor of Colonel John Forney, Capitalist/Editor of the Philadelphia Chronicle. Post office established in 1873. Settlement was first called Brooklyn for a little “brook” that ran through the town. Earliest white settlers in Forney’s area date back to 1845.
Forney’s FIGHT SONG brought chills of excitement when I heard it, and the coin toss (Crandall won and deferred.) heightened expectations of a hard-fought game to come. Forney’s Jr. R. O. T. C. presented the Nation’s Colors; the FHS Chamber Choir sang the National Anthem beautifully. I was ready for action if I could find wife, Vivian, who had been honored on the field.
Mark Duckworth came hurrying by to move to a cooler spot upstairs; Misty (Costlow) Holler came up from the field, as did my wife, after the Rabbits came charging through what we once called the “break-thru.” Weston and Katie came past Mr. Geer, found Viv and Don, and we four hurried to seats near, but not in, the Student Section, which was “standing” the whole night, loud and raucous, but neither rude nor unruly. I was proud of them!
1st Quarter: Jackrabbits received the kick from the Pirates; the game was “ON.”.....Rabbits recovered a fumble.....a few nifty plays….a T. D. pass and a “good” P. A. T. kick.....Forney–7 vs. Crandall– 0.
Crandall is situated 26 miles east of Dallas, ten miles west of Kaufman, about 2 ½ miles from Kaufman County’s western line. When C. F. Crandall donated land and lots to the railroad, he kept every other lot for himself and owned the land upon which the town is/was built. Many lots were sold, but for some reason, town growth “languished” and continued to be slow until at least 1900, when the Southern Pacific System bought the Trunk Line, the 1900 crop was “bumper,” and new men bought property and built handsome new businesses and pretty cottage- style homes. TWO NATIONAL BANKS with ample capital were established!!!
GAME continues: Crandall takes Forney’s kick, cannot move, but Forney can with a pass and some nice runs, enabled by tough blocking. The T. D. run and high/straight PAT kick make it Forney 14 and Crandall still no score!
The Forney Cotton Oil and Ginning Company was organized in 1909, the most important spoke in Forney’s industrial wheel during the 1909–1935 period. Forney folks took special pride in this industry due to the fact that every share of stock was owned by Forney citizens. This company was considered “one of the most perfect” in Texas…..located in the Eastern part of the “city” and conveniently adjacent to the T & P tracks, this plant covered a considerable area of ground. Various buildings and respective capacities were the following: Mill proper, with Crushing Capacity of 80 tons of seeds; Seed House Storage Capacity of 5,000 tons; Hull House Capacity of 2,000 tons. In addition, there was a modern, well-equipped office building. PRODUCTS made were cotton oil, cotton seed meal, hulls, and “linters,” which were used in gun powder and mattresses! (what a duo!)
1st Quarter still continues: After souvenir items were thrown into the stands, someone asked, “Where are Tascha and Gina?” Crandall makes a decent “passes and runs” drive to the 50-yard-line and then close to the goal–1st down, 2nd down, 3rd down, 4th down–and the Pirates score a nice-looking field goal, inching closer to the Rabbits at Forney 14–Crandall 3 with 7:31 remaining in the half.
The “pooch kick” by Crandall looks good, but the Rabbits have the ball on their own 31-yard-line and soon move to Pirate territory on a couple of nice passes and a great run to the 4-yard-line by #26, who has been outstanding! A few running plays later, a touchdown and PAT kick make the score 21–3 for the Rabbits.
Rabbits kick off, smother Crandall’s running game, and make them punt. Two short dives and then a fancy screen pass left with wonderful blocking, followed by a T. D. and soaring PAT kick–Score now glows at Forney 28 and Crandall 3, where it stays as Crandall runs out of time to try to find a score before the “horn.”
( Forney) Besides the oil mill and auxiliary buildings, the company owned and operated 8 cotton gins in Forney territory–2 in Forney, 1 in Crandall, Lone Elm, Heath, Colquitt, Lawrence, and Brushy. For 5 months per year, approximately 100 people were employed in these enterprises! Large stockholders included W. A Brooks and brothers and sister, J. M. Davis, Sr. and Jr., Yancy McKellar, A. F. Duke, O. J. Ledbetter, Sr. and about 30 or so other locals with lesser holdings.
Halftime: Crandall’s and Forney’s Drill Teams and Bands put on quite a halftime show; those around us (all Forney, I think) applauded both groups heartily but seemed in agreement that our “locals” were closer to mid-season form. Talked to Jared and Amy Lemons and son, Israel, during a break, picked out Drum Major Avery Hayman, leading the music from her high stand, tried to wave at Trey Runnels and Dana Walker as they stood to see better. Marching was precise, and songs sounded GOOD! We were really impressed that not one “rifle twirler” dropped a fake weapon. Wondered what AKR on the “run-through” meant!?
2nd Half: Forney kicked off to Crandall; saw a pass interception, nice punt, fake punt, good pass coverage, Rabbits mounting a long drive, Crandall intercepting a long pass (turned out it would have been better to knock it down), Crandall punting from the end zone, and finally Forney starting on the 26 yard line and faking, keeping, and running a few plays into the end zone and then kicking the PAT to make the tally 35 to 3 in favor of the home team, RABBITS, with 4:24 to play in the 3rd quarter!
Crandall..... Lots were bought and donated for church purposes; a good school was organized and maintained; an “independent school district” was supported with a new tax, which brought about a handsome school and able faculty members. By 1905 a number of business houses and firms existed and prospered– “Secret and Fraternal” societies and organizations grew: I. O. O. F–K. of P.---A. O. U. W.– K. L. of H–W. O. W. Circle. There were 22 good brick business houses, a $9,000 good brick school building with fine fixtures, 3 church buildings (Methodist, Christian, Baptist), and the town’s two splendidly equipped gins with improvements!
Still 3rd Quarter: 35–3 becomes Forney 42, Crandall 3 after two stunning passes (one screen.....Crandall receives the kick-off, has “rough sledding” as Rabbit Defense seems to be getting even stronger. 4th and 7 for the Pirates sees little gain. Jackrabbits take over, hand off right, make a sneaky “zag” to get loose; score is 48, no, 49–3, Forney! *Time out in the stands for a small altercation that is well-handled by Security’s quick and firm response.
After more Crandall futility, the Rabbits scamper over the turf again. The score is 55–3; add a 2-point conversion to make it 57–3.
We take photos of two cute young girls in black and gold and nice grins, and by the time we finish visiting, the Rabbits have scored again and added the kick PAT for a new score of 64–3.
To finish the night, Forney squib kicks; Pirates make a long run to the 1-yard line, then cross the goal; PAT kick is good; final score is JACKRABBITS 64, PIRATES 10.
(More history) The village of Brooklyn was located in the vicinity where Lewis High School stood on Kaufman Street..... Toot-Toot, the RAILROAD came through in 1873; the Post Office moved to the Shands Mercantile Store on the corner of Elm and Pacific Streets–the name of the Post Office was changed to FORNEY. Before all this, the Forney “community” had a small post office known as WHEATLAND. The End??? No, just the Beginning!
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