Friday, August 04, 2006

Sports: Vintage Football

1922 High School



from St Francis County Museum Website (See Links)


Champions 1993-34


Number #63 front row right is Walter Ferguson, Sr.
The paper doll guys at the bottom are Faye, Parker, Bridgforth and Wright. Picture by O'dell. Now we are wondering ...Champions of what? Or could "Champions" have been the name of the team?...because in the next photo you'll see that the FC football team was not always the "Mustangs" -- it was the "Thoroughbreds"-- or at least it appears that way...

Thoroughbreds 1935




We believe Walter Ferguson, Sr. is now #55 front row to the left of football boy. Paper doll guys are Burns, Frye, Frye, Hulen, Gross, Parker, Tatum & Wright.



Our beloved Coach Bill Irving (affectionately known as "Bull") appears here, who later became Superintendent of Schools. Husband of Mary Ann, dad of Etta (Class of 68) & friend to all.



These valuable photos are being shared with you thanks to the love, trust & generosity of Walter Ferguson, Jr.






Mustangs 1959
Butch Class of 60: The following is a retyped clipping of the Mustangs beating Conway in the opening game of an undefeated season.
Conway Toppled by Forrest City
Conway, Sept. 11 (1959) - Quarterback Donnie Kessinger directed the Class AA Forrest City Mustangs to a 20-6 victory over Conway before an opening night crowd of 2,500 here Friday. Kessinger, a loose, long-strided runner, scored one touchdown, Jim Finch, a combination end-fullback, scored one and halfback Roy Hall got Forrest City's third TD. Johnny Simmons, the game's leading ground gainer, accounted for Conway's TD with a 66-yard scamper in the third period.

Forrest City relied on 13 players. Conway used 15. The Mustangs scored early. Phil Hickey ran 36 yards to Conway's 35 and Hall raced to the 23. Kessinger galloped around left end to score standing up from the 18. He then ran to the other side for the extra point. Penalties hampered the Mustangs in the second quarter. Neither team mustered a threat in this period. The third quarter was all Conway's. Jim Turnery returned the kickoff from the 14 to the 44. And on the first play Simmons broke through center to score. Ronnie Roach's conversion try was wide and Forrest City led by 7-6. The Wampus Cats got another drive underway after Turner's interception of Hickey's pass at Conway's 22. Conway marched to Forrest City's 23 before being halted.

Forrest City went on the offense in the fourth quarter with Kessinger, Finch and Hickey registering the yardage. Finch scored from the three to climax a 77-yard drive. And Kessinger once more ran the extra point. The ponies struck quickly for their third touchdown. Hall intercepted Jim Sanders' pass at mid-field and returned to the Conway 30. Finch carried to the 11 and Hall skirted right end to score. Kessinger's kick failed. The Cats put together their best sustained drive of the night in the last few minutes. They took Kessinger's kickoff and went to Forrest City's 16 as time ran out. Simmons accounted for 139 yards of Conway's 256 from scrimmage. Turner had 67. Hickey was Forrest City's leader with 75 yards. Kessinger got 53. (Statistics below)





Colts 1956: Jr High

Butch, Class of 60: This program is from the Forrest City vs Marianna junior high football game in the Fall of 1956. The Colts won 28-14. Notice the weights of the players. Everybody is little and scrawny except ME. I'm the fat guy at 200. Jerry Fong is the biggest player for Marianna. I sat next to him in freshman orientation at Arkansas State.

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