Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-08-21

as heterogeneous group
~ as ever gathered for single
purpose, will greet each other in South
east Washington on the steps of
building many of them have never
seen.
A group handpicked couldn't repre-
sent a more diversified cross-section
Of everyday life than these men, all
meeting for one reaSon-to commence
rate another milestone in the life of
an organization that played some
part, large or small, in molding their
lives, in helping to make them what
they are today.
They will meet to dedicate formally
the new home of the Boys Club of
Washington, Inc, at Seventeenth
street and Massachusetts, avenue Sc.
But, more than that, they will have
the opportunity to see themselves
as they were in years gone by.
Peering from a balcony onto the
spacious gymnasium floor of the
building will be one or two, perhaps
all of the eight men, who started 25
years ago in cheese box of a gym
to mold themselves into basket ball
unit that long will be remembered
in sport circles locally and along the
Eastern Seaboard.
THEIRS is real story. In 1922,
when they were about the ages
OF 10 or IL, they met one afternoon
on a small basket ball court near the
downtown area at the request of
Charles M. Fyfe, who was then assist
ant director of the Boys Club. Mr.
Fyfe wanted to try something rela-
lively unheard of before that time-to
y teach mere youngsters the mans game
of basket ball. True, there were some
younger teams, but not many.
The coach taught his pupils the
fundamentals of the game, but, more
than that, he drilled into their young
minds the necessity for teamwork, the
value Of functioning as unit This
lesson proved invaluable.
MIR. Fyfe's boys lost their first game
by close margin to slightly older
team from the Immaculate Concep-
ton School, but this defeat, bitter and
disheartening as it was, never was
to be repeated.
For six years these youngsters played
basket ball without a single loss.
Championships were won on every
hand. Yet at a time when most
boys grasp the slightest opportunity
to allow their hats to become too
small. these eight continued as a
unit-not big Il" in the bunch.
For time one of the young players
was shooting most Of the teams points,
but he never saw that fact printed
In the newspapers. Mr.. Fyfe would
see that portion of this youngster' s
points was distributed alongside the
} other players names before sending
the game summaries to the sports
editors.
one by score Of 1876 to 6. And it was
played in regulation time.
THESE boys carried their court
- proves with them to high and
preparatory schools, and some to COL
iege. At one time all were captains
Of their respective school quintets.
Today they are:
Or. Barnwell Smith, a doctor of
veterinary surgery.
Darius 0askins, an electrical engi-
neer with the Potomac Electric Power
o., who graduated from the Massa-
ciausetts Institute of Technology in
three years.
Joseph Lynch and Ray Davidson.
both special agents with the Federal
Bureau Of Investigation.
Richard Keefer, a railroad account
ant.
Henry weigal, employe in the De-
partment of Agriculture.
Teddy Cappelli, who has gone into
the grocery business with his father
here.
They will be on hand at the dedi-
cation and will watch kids, some of
them even younger than these eight
were in 1922, romping about on the
gymnasium floor.
Other alumni will visit the clubs
art department to watch youngsters
display remarkable talent at the draw
ing boards-talent similar to that dis
played by themselves when they were
:. active In the same club.
"A MONG these onlookers probably
will be George Abrams, promi-
nent at present in the professional