The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-09-14
Quarterback Club Fetn
Team In Kickoff Dinner
Grid Coaches
Tell Hopes For
Coming Season
BY BILL sPlLLMAN

Over two hundred men,
bers and guests of the local
Quarterback Club jam-pack-
ed the dining room of the
Casa Marina last night to
attend the kick off dinner
for the 1854 Conch football
season.
The Key w e 8 t High
School team and cneer lead
ers were guests of honor
for the meeting.
The club presented Coach Ed
Beckman with baby's high chair
and a large white towel. Master Of
ceremonies Earl Adams, told Beck
man that the towel was to wipe
away the tears. He said that last
year, Beckman cried and cried,
but this year, he was expected to
do all Of his crying at the meet.
ing.
He cried for end coaches, Adams
stated and he cried for line coach.
es. This year, he has his coaches.
Team Introduced
The meeting was turned over to
coach Beckman who introduced the
team individually. Beckman gave
the short history and capabilities
of each player he introduced. AT
one point, when he became pessi.
mistic in his talk, Adams hand
ed him the towel.
Beckman in his talk, told q foot.
ball joke about once when North
Carolina was defeated by Notre
Dame by several touchdowns.
Members of the North Carolina
squad said after the game that
they would not have lost if their
star player, Choo-C hoo Justice, had
not hurt his ankle before the game.
The members Of the Notre Dame
team retorted that even their "Pro-
testant" team could have beaten
them.
While Beckman was speaking, a
waiter dropped stack of dishes.
Beckman quickly ad-libbed,
"Tat's a tumble If I ever saw
one."
Beckman had high praise for DR..
H. c.. Campbell, principal Of the
jhig sc h o l. HE al
ways carried the ball for us when
we need him." Beckman said.
Other Coaches
Also honored at the meeting were
coaches Harold Allen, line; Walter
Chwalik, end: and Harold Haskins,
Junior Varsity.
During the meeting, Adams re-
quested Earl Yates, William Ar
mold and Glynn Archer to come to
the speakers stand. He announced
that they were members Of the
first Key West High School team.
The men described how they
used to play on a field down by
Army Barracks. They stated that
400 to 500 people used to attend
They said that there were nc
hleachers and the families used to
follow the teams up and down the
field. When someone would make
a touchdown or an outstanding
play, the father of the player
| would yell, That's my boy"
| One of the men said that they
did not have so many coaches
l"We only had one coach and wher
l see all these coaches today,
have to admire our coach"
| - To Q Game
They also told OF q game IN which
they played st. Petersburg years
ago. The score was considered {,
be quite significant, 80 to 0, the.
reluctantly told.
| In speaking to the Conch foot
ball squad, Adams told them tina
the Quarterback club would Away
be behind them. "All we ask yo,
to do is go out on the field on Fri
day night and do your best" Ad
ans said.
Father John Armfield gave tn
invocation.
i After the meeting, a movie O
the game played by the Conchs q
gainst Tampa Jefferson was shown
As to the forthcoming game witt
| st. Theresa, Beckman said that b.
talked with their coach and he salt
that they are coming down thi
year, "but it viii not be like las
: year."