THE ANAHEIM COLONISTS An American Football History
Written By Dennis Bateman Foreword by Jim Fassel
Andrew William “Bill” Cook, AUHS, Class of 1922; the Freshman student athlete who started the petition that reinstated football as a sport at Anaheim in 1919.
Chapter One
Beginnings : 1898-1930
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ince its discovery over 400 years ago, California has represented a golden dream for many people not only in the United States, but around the world. Acquired in the popular Mexican War of 1848 and spurred on by the Gold Rush a year later, thousands of people flocked to the virtually untainted lands on the west coast of North America. While the promise of gold riches awaited those in the north, still more began to settle to the south, expanding on the colonial towns established by Spanish missionaries, mostly centering around a growing city named Los Angeles. Germans were just one of the many ethnic groups that began to immigrate to Southern California. One particular group sought to build themselves an industry by starting a vineyard. With their families in tow, these aspiring German vintners set out to establish a new home just west of the Santa Ana River. They purchased almost 1,200 acres for roughly $2 an acre. When it came time to formally establish their settlement in 1857, it was only natural for the German colonists to name their new colony “Anaheim,” meaning “Home by the (Santa) Ana (River).” As with all growing cities, the education of
youth became a high priority. Under the direction of California education pioneer James Guinn, a basic school system was formed, eventually offering a selection of advanced courses. However, it would not be until the end of the century that an institution of higher learning would be established in the city. After protracted debate, the fire-damaged Central School at the corner of Emily and Chartres Streets was repaired to accommodate a new high school, which opened its doors in October of 1898. Being only the third high school established in Orange County (following Santa Ana in 1889 and Fullerton in 1893), a faculty of three teachers watched over the scholastic pursuits of 17 boys and 22 girls. However, within the span of only three years, the growing population soon outstripped the space of the Central School building. In February 1901, a school bond measure was approved to build a separate education facility. Built on the south side of Center Street, east of Citron, the new high school building was constructed, complete with a bell tower and a marquee with the name “ANAHEIM HIGH SCHOOL 1901” mounted above the entrance. 4
Anaheim footballers playing at the Central School location in 1910. Sophomore Ray Elliott (middle row, far left) would return twelve years later, becoming the first alumni player to return to coach at Anaheim. Over the next dozen years, the student population nearly tripled, and yet another bond was passed in April of 1911, approving $105,000 to purchase 11 acres on the northwest corner of Center and Citron Streets. In May of 1912, the new Anaheim High School was dedicated, where it stands to this day. Student athletics were understandably just one of the many concerns of the community during these formative years. Few records remain of the earliest days, but the local newspaper of the time, the Anaheim Gazette, records the first-ever football game played by the school’s students on November 6, 1900. In it, Anaheim emerged victorious over Fullerton by the score of 2-0. Certainly, the faculty was highly supportive of student athletics, for principal Fred Ahearn was the game’s referee and Alva Remmel, a science teacher, served as a lineman for the Anaheim team. Later that month, Anaheim would taste defeat for the first time, as Santa Ana dumped them 50-0. As with all other athletics, the game of football was still in development. Methods of scoring were adjusted, rules were formulated, and revolution-
ary concepts, such as the forward pass in 1906, were added. Even then, the game was criticized for its brutal nature, and a commission appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt looked into the harmful side effects of football. In 1910, Anaheim fielded a team once again. Under the direction of coach Loren Culp, the team played against Los Angeles Military Academy, Whittier, Fullerton, and two games apiece versus Orange and Santa Ana. Led by future USC Trojan Cyril Tipton, Anaheim emerged with a respectable season mark of three wins, two losses, and two ties. While most of the games were local, the team’s road trips could sometimes turn into colorful adventures. One time, the Anaheim squad had to utilize public streetcars for a game against Whittier. In full uniform going to and from the game, the players shared time and space with the regular commuters. Eligibility regulations during this time were somewhat ‘relaxed,’ as coach Culp recruited able bodies to fill out his often-undermanned roster. Sometimes, this so-called ‘importation’ would arrive fresh from the local tavern or drinking saloon. 5
The game of football was still experiencing growing pains, and the impact literally hit players the hardest. Numerous injuries plagued the team in 1911, and even Culp’s ‘importation’ provided little relief. After doling out $1,400 in medical costs ($38,000 in 2020 dollars), it came as no surprise when the Anaheim school board voted to ban the sport as ‘too dangerous.’ For the next seven years, Anaheim would not field a football team. But as the sport continued to gain in popularity and visibility across the nation, interest locally began to return and grow. Still, the board refused to sanction the sport despite a student petition in 1917. The following year, ROTC instructor John Malcolm formed a recreational team, which was key to building up public support. Yet another student petition, this time led by freshman student athlete, Andrew William “Bill” Cook, finally convinced the school board to reinstate the sport for the fall of 1919. It would be then that Anaheim’s annual fall football tradition would truly begin.
Despite the popular support of the student body, only 15 boys would suit up for the season. Of these, only two had ever played organized football of any kind. Utilizing a freshly plowed dirt field on the north end of the school property, the eager charges began to practice under the direction of Virgil Ward, a science teacher on campus. Because most every other school had already set their fall schedule, Anaheim was relegated to playing a second-team practice schedule and would not have a league affiliation. The official inaugural season of Anaheim football was expected to be rocky. The first round of practice games, which included a pair of 50-point losses to Compton and Orange, gave little reason for hope. However, in the second round of games, the blue-and-gold players acquitted themselves well. After enduring three straight shutouts, Anaheim broke out with a 37-12 win over Fullerton, followed by a 25 -13 victory in a rematch with Compton. 1920 saw Anaheim become an inaugural member of the Orange (County) League, along with
“The Freshman” In the 1918-1919 school year, only three of the county’s four high schools was playing organized tackle football as a varsity sport (Fullerton, Santa Ana and Orange). Despite growing community & public interest and national popularity, the decisive impetus for restoring football at Anaheim would not come from the community, parents, or faculty, it came directly from the student body itself. Though only a freshman student, Andrew William “Bill” Cook was already a star athlete, being on Anaheim’s varsity basketball and track teams. As much of a force off the field as he was on, Cook led a grass roots student petition, making their case directly to the school board to reinstate football as an official varsity sport for the 1919-1920 school year. Cook quickly established himself as one of the team leaders, being one of the team’s only two players who had experience playing organized football before. Though hampered by injuries, Cook was one of the reasons that Anaheim improved its record in each of Anaheim’s three varsity seasons. Cook became one of the team captains and once even coached the team when the head coach fell ill. After graduation, Cook went on to excel athletically at USC and then became a very successful head football coach at Santa Ana College.
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The 1919 Anaheim High School Football Team. Science teacher Virgil Ward (top row left) was Head Coach during that first season. Student petition leader, Bill Cook, now a Sophomore, is kneeling second from left. Fullerton, Orange and Santa Ana. Once again, turnout was light in both numbers and size for new head coach Harold Youngman. Unlike his predecessor, Youngman was a bona fide football man, having previously coached the game at Perris High School in Riverside County. Anaheim opened the season on the road in Los Angeles against Polytechnic High School. With L.A. Poly scoring two quick touchdowns in the opening period and threatening to score a third, inexperienced Anaheim pulled together to make a game of it. A loose ball was picked up by defensive end Harold Shoebridge, who returned the fumble 95 yards for the touchdown, a team record that still stands over a century later. But it was the only score for Anaheim, which lost 14-7. Citrus High School came to Anaheim for the next game, and the hosts got a 6-0 win, before being blanked themselves 14-0 on the road against Riverside, which had the advantage of playing on a grass
field. Despite the loss, the local boys brought a sizable fan contingent, including at least two dozen spirited girls to cheer them on. One Riverside player was overheard as saying, “You don’t catch the Riverside girls coming out to uphold their colors.” The final two preseason games were played with favorable results. Anaheim faced St. Vincent’s College of Los Angeles (now Loyola Marymount University) and defeated them 20-0. Against Compton, the locals sent the Tarbabes home with a 40-0 pasting, Anaheim’s most impressive victory to that date. Making its Orange League debut, Anaheim’s fortunes were dashed early. Star player Bill Cook suffered a broken arm that knocked him out for the season and Fullerton rolled to a 40-0 win. Anaheim fared little better the next week against Santa Ana, losing 36-0. In the league and season finale, Anaheim rebounded to defeat Orange 20-0, scoring three touchdowns in the first half in coasting to victory. 7
Youngman returned the following year, a season of tremendous highs and lows. For the third year, Bill Cook and Al Clayes would star for Anaheim, with Cook being named team captain. Anaheim opened the season in spectacular fashion with a 67-0 rout of Norwalk. Youngman pulled his starters and inserted the backup players following a lackluster effort to open the game. After the second string showed up the first string with three scores, the starting lineup returned to roll up seven more touchdowns. The 67 points scored are the highest singlegame point total and margin of victory in team history. The opposite results came the following week against Los Angeles Polytechnic, the defending City League champions. Anaheim lost control of a close game when a Poly defender intercepted a pass for a touchdown to key a 27-0 win for the visitors. Covina then defeated Anaheim a week later. A rematch with Norwalk once again proved successful, with Anaheim winning 62-14. Against Riverside, Anaheim played well in a 19-0 win to close out the preseason. The Anaheim boys matched up against Santa Ana to start Orange League play and fought through a scoreless first quarter before Santa Ana’s physical advantage overwhelmed Anaheim 55-0. The locals bounced back the next game versus Alhambra with a 34-0 pasting and then topped that effort with a 40-0 win over new Orange League entry Whittier. Al Clayes rushed for three touchdowns in the blowout. Anaheim then traveled to Orange and fought to a 1414 draw. The Fullerton game of November 12, 1921 became a day that would live in infamy for the locals. Bill Cook, the veteran star backfield man, was lost early in the game, and several other mishaps cost Anaheim several dearly needed players. The larger Fullerton squad played Heisman’s Georgia Tech to Anaheim’s Cumberland, winning by the unbelievable score of 109-0, far and away the worst defeat in team and Orange County football history. Anaheim was able to restore a measure of pride in a rematch with Orange to decide third place in the Orange League. Both Clayes and Cook closed
out their careers with touchdowns as Anaheim won 25-13, with the victory earning the blue and gold the No. 3 slot in the Orange League for the second year in a row. Coach Youngman resigned his position the following Spring. Filling the vacancy was Ray Elliott, fresh from a coaching stint in the Hawaiian Islands. Elliott was also a 1913 graduate of Anaheim High School, where he had earned a reputation as an outstanding student athlete. Alas, Elliott’s athletic prowess did not translate into coaching success. With yet another small turnout and the loss of key players to graduation, Anaheim endured its most difficult season yet in 1922. The team scored a meager 27 points for the entire season. Only a 6-0 victory against Tustin prevented a winless record. In the yearbook, Coach Elliott both praised the team for its effort against larger-sized opponents yet decried the players’ lack of focus in scholastics and in practice in his review of the team printed in the annual school yearbook. Elliott’s tenure at Anaheim was a short-lived one, as he soon transferred to Huntington Beach High School, where he became a teacher and later an administrator. Hired to replace him was A.E. Fitzmorris, who worked to organize prospective players into a disciplined program. The Colonists, as Anaheim High’s sports teams had officially adopted as their mascot, opened the 1923 season with a 3-0 defeat of a team from Santa Ana Junior College, then trampled Norwalk 260. A long road trip to San Bernardino ended with a 40 -7 loss to end the preseason schedule. Anaheim played host to Huntington Beach, and the Oilers went home in defeat 12-6. Trailing by six points against Tustin the following week, the Colonists rallied to go on top 14-13, a lead they protected until the game was called on account of darkness. Although only counting as a practice game, Anaheim topped the north boys from Fullerton 9-7, before meeting Orange in the season finale. A large contingent of fans gathered on Armistice Day to watch the local gridiron battle. A low-flying airplane dropped a football with blue-and-gold streamers on the Orange crowd, but the Panthers dodged the Colo8
“The Clayes Field Stadium” (1927-2017) contests, the concrete stadium also served as a vehicle for expressing class pride.
Anaheim High’s Clayes Field Stadium served as more than just a place to sit and watch Colonist football games, track meets, graduations, band performances and other events during its 90-year life. Under the steps of the 1000-seat concrete grandstand built in November 1927 for $13,000, were dressing and storage rooms, lockers, a heating plant for showers and offices for the coaches. Later additions included a batting cage, an indoor shooting range for the school’s rifle team, and eventually, a weight room. Built under the tenure of Anaheim’s longest serving Principal, Joseph A. Clayes (whose son and grandsons became some of Anaheim’s most accomplished student leaders and athletes), the stadium evolved into an iconic structure. It was the only structure on campus that survived the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. Joseph A. Clayes was Principal of AUHS from 1919 until his sudden death in 1941.
During his 22-year tenure, Principal Clayes oversaw the complete reconstruction of the school after being destroyed by the earthquake. Along with the main building, auditorium, gymnasium, athletic fields and stadium, a new swimming pool was constructed in the 1920s and later replaced in the 1940s.
At some point during the stadium’s 90-year history, the tradition of painting the stadium surfaced. An unofficial upper classmen privilege, painting the stadium became such a rite of passage, that any senior class that did not paint the stadium with their class year would rightly have had its spirit questioned. Of course, underclassmen would occasionally transgress and paint over the hard work of the seniors, touting their own class years. If one were not careful, or if they were caught in act, the reaction from senior classmen would be swift and usually result in students scattering into the dead of night. Painting class years in blue and gold on the stadium steps and being a part of the paint crew for these secret evening and night sessions is a favorite memory of many Anaheim grads.
One of the most memorable displays ever painted on the stadium occurred in 1978, after the death of legendary coach, Clare Van Hoorebeke, was honored by AHS students who painted “STILL A VAN FAN” in his honor. It was not painted over for several years after his death. Condemned as structurally unsound in the early 2000s, the stadium would stand alone for years. Upon learning of its impending demolition, the Class of 1977 slipped in under cover of darkness for one final, glorious Colonist tribute. Farewell, old friend.
Along with serving as a training facility, with generations of Anaheim athletes running up and down the large stadium steps, the concrete grandstands were a place from which Colonist fans cheered on their teams during after-school
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nist attack on the field, winning 16-0 and forcing a playoff for the league title. In the rematch, Anaheim was once again defeated by Orange, this time by the score of 21-9. Although undersized in comparison to their opponents, Anaheim placed four players on the AllOrange County team, three of which were linemen, none of whom weighed more than 155 pounds. One of those was guard Edwin Beebe, who became the first Colonist football player to be named to the prestigious All-CIF-Southern Section Team. Football was now beginning to become a key part of the fall semester. Nearly 200 boys tried out for the varsity and lightweight teams for the 1924 season. No record of preseason games exists, but the Colonists matched their league mark of the previous year. Anaheim opened its Orange League schedule with a 21-7 win over Huntington Beach. The second league matchup versus Orange was attended by over 3,000 fans at the local field. Giving up a 20-pound advantage per player, the Colonists fought hard, but ultimately were defeated 13-9. Despite losing the league title, Anaheim looked impressive in its final two games, both victories over Garden Grove (34-0) and Tustin (27-6). As the program improved, greater things were expected. However, another drastic change took place before the 1925 season, as Coach Fitzmorris abruptly resigned. The move was made in protest after his wife, who also taught at Anaheim, was dismissed due to declining attendance. George Hobbs was hired to take over the program, and his first season yielded mixed results. Turnout was half the size of previous years. Anaheim fell to Fullerton 26-0 in the Orange League opener. Two field goals provided the only scoring in a 6-0 win over Huntington Beach. A scoreless tie against Orange was followed by a 13-7 loss to Tustin to close out the season. Hobbs returned in 1926 with more games added to the schedule, and the Colonists had a successful year. Opening with consecutive 7-0 wins over Orange and Huntington Beach, Anaheim then routed Garden Grove 27-0 and Brea Olinda 52-0.
In a rematch with the Oilers, the Colonists lost control of the game in the second half in losing 20-14. The hopes for an undisputed league title were dashed by Fullerton in a rough 6-0 loss. At season’s end, Anaheim was tied with Fullerton and Huntington Beach for the title. CIF-Southern Section rules allowed Anaheim to compete in the postseason for the first time in team history. Against Pomona, the Colonists represented themselves well, battling them to a scoreless tie. In the CIF-mandated overtime, both teams played for field position, and it was here that Pomona edged the Colonists by yards and were awarded a 2-0 victory to advance in the Southern California playoffs. Key to Anaheim’s fortunes was the play of running back John Wallin, nicknamed the “Red Grange” of Anaheim High for his outstanding backfield play. Despite the successful record, Hobbs was not retained for the next year. Local ministers, concerned with Hobbs’ penchant for vulgarity, complained to the school board. Hobbs moved on to Alhambra High School, where he would lead the Moors to several championships. Hired to replace Hobbs for the 1927 season was George Righter, a straight-arrow type who became an active part of the local YMCA and advised the Hi-Y Club (a Christian student organization) on campus. Also notable was the fact that for the first time, Anaheim would play on an actual grass field. The gridiron was located on the north end of the Anaheim High School property, and was dubbed Clayes Field, in honor of principal Joseph A. Clayes, and is still used by Colonist JV and freshman teams more than a hundred years later. Bolstered by nine returning lettermen, the Colonists roared to a pair of matchups against Long Beach schools. A 6-6 draw versus Wilson was followed by a 16-6 win over Poly. In the reshuffled Orange League, Anaheim stormed its opponents, beating both Tustin (18-0) and Brea Olinda (25-0) handily, then overcame Huntington Beach (16-6). Anaheim won its fifth straight game of the season with a 31-2 pasting of Garden Grove, but the win proved costly, as six first-string players were injured.
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TWELVE YEARS & SEVEN COACHES Anaheim football had seven coaches in the first twelve years of the program, none of them lasting more than two years in the position. These coaches, ranging from erudite academics to foul-mouthed task masters, took charge of the young men playing an equally young, but popular sport. From the inaugural 1919 season through 1930, these first Anaheim Union High School football coaches led their teams through thrilling highs and staggering lows as this 12-year long trial-by-fire built and prepared the Colonists for a bright long-term future of success that none of them could have possibly dreamt of.
VIRGIL WARD (1919)
HAROLD YOUNGMAN (1920-21)
Coming to Anaheim from Beaumont High School, Ward was a science teacher and also coached the track team. As new to the sport as his team was, his 1919 Anaheim boys won three games, and lost six in the program’s official inaugural season.
A 1913 graduate of Santa Ana High School and football coach at Perris High School, Youngman’s brief two-year tenure saw both Anaheim football’s greatest victory (a 67-0 win over Norwalk), as well as its greatest loss (109-0 to Fullerton). Youngman would later coach at Van Nuys High School.
RAY ELLIOTT (1922)
A.E. FITZMORRIS (1923-24)
The first Anaheim alumnus to coach (Class of 1913), Elliott left his alma mater after his lone one-win season, becoming a respected teacher and administrator at Huntington Beach High School, where he’s best known for NOT hiring Clare Van Hoorebeke.
Albert Edward Fitzmorris won twice as many games as he lost during back-toback winning seasons as the Colonists Head Coach, but a dispute over his wife’s dismissal at AUHS caused him to resign, leaving for James A. Garfield High School up in Los Angeles.
GEORGE HOBBS (1925-26)
GEORGE RIGHTER (1927-28)
The first Anaheim coach to lead the Colonists into the postseason, the hard-driving young Hobbs’ foul mouth ran afoul of local clergymen, sending Hobbs to Alhambra High School, where he then coached the Moors for 21 years, winning 110 games and three CIF Championships.
Previously the coach at Visalia High School, and a World War I veteran, Righter was the winningest coach out of the first seven, with 11 wins, 3 losses and 3 ties in his two seasons as head coach. Righter returned to the Bay Area after leaving AUHS, coaching at Emeryville High School and later becoming an elementary school principal.
BEN CARPENTER (1929-30) Coming from Redlands where he was a municipal swim instructor, the former Oregon State athletic star had coached football, basketball and track at Commerce High School in Portland, Oregon. After coaching Anaheim teams for two years, Carpenter resigned as head coach to take a position running community aquatics in the City of Los Angeles.
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Once again, the Orange League title would be settled against Fullerton. The Indians ran up 17 unanswered points in the first quarter, but afterwards, the Colony settled in to make a game of it. Two fourth quarter touchdowns, one on a spectacular 70-yard interception return by Dick Lusk, brought Anaheim close, but not far enough to overcome Fullerton, who would win 17-13 and then go on to win the Southern California football championship. Team captain Herald Hylton was named All-County tackle, as well as being honored as the Orange League Player of the Year. 1928 was built upon the previous year’s successes, and Anaheim recorded a 5-2-2 record, good enough for third place in the Orange League. The Colonists notched league victories over Huntington Beach (14-6), Brea Olinda (16-12), Orange (16-3) and newcomer Excelsior (46-6) but were denied a championship once again by Fullerton in a 41-6 loss. A non-league matchup against Downey is worth mentioning, as 5,000 cheering onlookers converged on City Park (now Pearson Park) to watch a night game, the first in team history, which was won by Anaheim 30-0. Lights were strung over the field, occasionally getting in the way of flying footballs. Following the season, the revolving door for Anaheim football coaches swung again. Local merchants, still smarting over the dismissal of George Hobbs, worked up enough support to pressure Coach Righter into resigning.
Hired in his place was Ben Carpenter, a physical education instructor who specialized in track and swimming and was perhaps miscast as a football head man. With only 18 boys suited up for the first practice, the Colonists struggled through the season to a 2 -5 record, with one forfeit victory. The 1929 squad lacked the cohesiveness and talent level that had helped teams in previous years, and the constant turnover in the coaching staff didn’t make matters any easier. The 1930 team fared better, going 4-4-1. An undefeated preseason was capped by a 7-7 tie against Redlands, played under the Friday night lights at City Park in front of 4,000 fans. Orange League play was disappointing, as Anaheim posted a 2-4 record. After the season, Carpenter resigned from the head coaching position, and once again, the search began for a replacement. The formative years of Anaheim Colonists football could be described as a mixed bag of highs and lows, the unforgettable combined with the unmentionable. Even back in those early days, the Anaheim Colonists marched to what would become a familiar drumbeat; too small, too light, at a disadvantage against the big boys of other more experienced high school football programs. But greatness is only achieved through perseverance and determination, and it would be through this crucible that a legend would be born.
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