Staff Writer *Note: Names of folks in this article’s photos are listed in order in some paragraph texts below–I HOPE! (Themer) I was in 7th Grade, and Jimmy Johnson–High School Assistant Football Coach–was also the coach of our Jr. High Teams. We were in the “Big Building” (Forney Grammar School), and life was dandy!
We were old enough to have much fun, but young enough for our parents to still have control over us and pay for most of our activities! Friday nights that fall were mostly viewed as FOOTBALL GAME NIGHTS, and the men of town still “walked the perimeter of the football field to get better views, to cheer, and to help the coaches with their decisions concerning whom to play at what positions and what plays to call!–Ha! Ha!–and that also allowed “us guys” to be able to go off on our own pursuits around the stadium during breaks in the action!
We liked to stare at the Cheerleaders and the Majorettes, and every once-ina- while, one would give us a big smile and a wave and, upon rare occasions, give one of us a brief hug on the way into or out of the stadium! We liked to run through the streamers, decorating the goal posts. We liked to race to the Coca-Cola scoreboard at the “South End” of the playing field. We liked to try to catch the footballs that every-once-in-awhile would sail into the end zone if some team “kicked” for the extra points!
The concession stand still had “pop” in big metal containers of ice and still sold those great “Frito Pies” in the Fritos wrappers, complete with chili that tasted like “real” chili did in those days and complemented by gooey cheese! Oh, that was the life! BUT ON TO THE FOOTBALL in 1963!
According to the Jackrabbit Annual, the team had lost 13 good Senior players from the year before, and it seems the “town” thought this would be a “rebuilding” season, with not many realizing how important the Freshmen players would be!
This season was to be a time that the squad would fight against unforeseen handicaps and hardships but still always show their determination and prove that the playing of the games should be, and was actually, more important than the victories or losses!
The season began September 6, 1963, at Home against an “ever-mighty” Frisco Team, and when the final whistle had blown, the Rabbits were on the low end of a 6–8 game, but they had (as the popular saying goes) “left it all out on the field,” and even the fans were exhausted from yelling, cheering, and “walking the lines.”
One of the greatest games “ever” occurred after the middle of the season on October 18, when the score remained 0–0 until one and one-half minutes were left on the clock…..One of the Midlothian “stars” by the name of Jerry Massey snagged a pass and raced for the goal line–and won the race to make the score 6–0, which then became 8–0 after the “run for extra points”–Forney did not have enough time to mount a successful scoring drive but gave it their all! The game was, according to write-ups, a “beautifully executed game.”
‘63 Jackrabbit CAPTAINS– four worthy seniors: Arthur Beeler (All-Dist. Halfback 2 yrs.), Joel Boles (All-Dist. End 1 yr. and Hon. Ment. 1 yr.), Benny Kvapil (All-Dist. Tackle 2 yrs.), and Carl Senter (Hon. Ment. All-Dist. Quarterback 1 yr.)
Other Seniors– Vincent Cascio (All-Dist. Fullback 2 yrs.), Mike Hardman (Guard), Harry Shipley (End), Clark Warren (Hon. Ment. All-Dist. Center) Juniors– Lannie Anderson (End), Jimmy Duckworth (Quarterback), De-Wayne McDaniel (Tackle), Mike Swindle (Guard), Gary Thomas (Hon. Ment. All-Dist. Tackle), Jerry Wright (Halfback) Sophomores– Stanley Anderson (Hon. Ment. All-Dist. Halfback), Jerry Cates (Fullback), Roger Duckworth (Fullback), Bob Pinson (All-Dist. Guard), Roy Gene Thompson (Halfback) F reshmen– George Hughes (Fullback), Dale Penny (Quarterback), Lanny Pike (Fullback), Dan Pinson (Halfback), George Schlebach (Guard), Gary Whittemore (Guard) **When the season was over, our guys had a record of 6 wins and 4 losses during a season that was longremembered and talked about by Forneyites of the 1960s!** The JACKRABBITS defeated Anna, 20–0; Judson, 30–20; Mabank, 14–6; Cedar Hill, 50–14; Ferris, 28–12; DeSoto, 67–6. They also lost close contests to Canton and Nolan!
Varsity Coaches were Jimmy Johnson, Johnnie Henderson (Head), Randall Canup, Gus Hernandez. The “B” Team (as Jr. Varsity was called then) was coached by Johnson and Hernandez. Some guys played games on both teams at various times during the year.
Very important to the wellbeing of the team in many ways were the MANAGERS, Johnny Harper and James Hutto. James was labelled as the ALL-STATE Manager by many in Forney as he completed his 4th year of service.
Cheerleaders were Head Cheerleader, Sr.–Sue Pinson, and Marsha Cannon (Jr.), Dixie Burchfield (Jr.), Patricia Reeder (Soph.).
Majorettes were Senior Drum Major Jane Brummett, Darlene Eudy (Soph.), Gloria Feagin (Sr.), Becky Borth (Jr.), Janet Hussey (Soph.).
William E. Wilson and James T. Moses were Principals of the High and Grammar School respectively, “manned” the ticket booth, and helped with program (complete with rosters) sales. And as I remember, Bob Lucas (Science dept. Head), took up tickets at the gate! They were three smiling, respected, likeable men, but imposing if people were mis-behaving!
I will close by using that well-worn quote, “Those Were the Days,” but I will amend it to say, “Those Were the Nights!”
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