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The pictures are as represented in the Woodrow Wilson High School, Portsmouth, Virginia yearbook or annual of the year indicated on the page. The Memory pictures may not be complete and pictures and names may have been removed by request of the person involved. Also, it does not offically indicate the year of graduation and/or that the party in question graduated. This section of the website is dedicated to the memories of all alumni and are found in personal items that alumni have saved and were kind enough to allow it to be shared with others. Thank You. If you are not represented in your class, or have other pictures for the memories section you may submit a photo to be added. John “Eddie” Lee ’68.
Woodrow Wilson
High School
Portsmouth, Virginia
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM is by no means the usual order of affairs in the athletic history of the school, and State honors for two consecutive years is a source of pride and a claim for glory. All praise to you, team of '28, and all honor to you, Coaches Kibler and Wilde.
Coach Kibler merits unstinted recognition for the successful seasons enjoyed
by the Wilson yeams under his mentorship. He performs his functions quietly but the results that he achieves loudly procliam his skill.
The valuable assistance of Coach Wilde must also be mentioned. He is at all time a most helpful and willing contributor to the progress of the team.
"Bob" was a slendid captian of a splendid team. His own excellant playing was a constant challenge to every member of his squad to measure-up to the best, and not once did his interest center around himself.
And who knows but that the team of '29 may repeat? A winner of all State honors, for next year's captian may foretell another championship. Casey is a gridiron star swhose skill and understanding of the game should assure a wise and considerate direction of his team.
A Tribute
Wilde
Everette
Casey
Kibler
WILSON VS. SOUTH NORFOLK
UNDER the slogan, “They shall not score,” adopted by the 1927 President squad as an incentive to retain the uncrossed goal line bequeathed by the State Championship Eleven of 1926, the Orange and Blue successfully initiated activity this season by toppling South Norfolk’s “Tigers,” 6 to 0. Captain “Bob” Everett caught Casey’s 20-yard heave behind the visitor’s goal line to tally the only score of the game. Casey as halfback was decidedly the star of the match, plunging through all opposition to make all but two of nine Wilson first downs. The Presidents suffered from under- development, and had their hands full to hold the light but rampaging Countymen.
WILSON VS. LYNCHBURG
In Lynchburg the Wilson grid contingent defied superstition and achieved their thirteenth straight win without a rival tally, stopping the Lynchburg Hilltoppers, 7 to 0. The meteoric Casey was again responsible for the scoring, sprinting 75 yards through a broken field in the final period to plant the ball behind the Lynchburg last line, Rose drop-kicking the extra point. Nick Dillon was a mainstay of the President bulwarks, with Rose showing unusual form on the defensive.
WILSON VS. NEWPORT NEWS
In their third game the Presidents emerged as victors again, displaying championship calibre to overcome their ancient challengers, the Walter Reed High School of Newport News. Wilson’s touch- down was artistically fashioned by the admirable Casey in the first quarter, when the star halfback skirted right end for 35 yards and glory. Casey missed his placement kick for the extra point. Captain Everett, Purl Powell, and Buddy Owens showed commendable action in the tussle. A 6 to 0 count gave the victory to Wilson.
WILSON VS. SUFFOLK
Again our “Fighting Presidents” met and vanquished a foe without having the now almost sacred goal line crossed. Exhibiting a brand of teamwork that had not been equalled in any of the previous games, the Wilson Presidents trampled over the Suffolk Peanutmen in a fast one-sided contest, 19 to 0. Casey played his usual fine and spectacular game, with Rose, Owens and Capt. Bob Everett running him a close race for glory. Casey’s run of fifty yards for a touchdown was one of the prettiest ever made in our park.
WILSON VS. PETERSBURG
The trip of the Wilson men to Petersburg ended in an unpleasant surprise when the fighting Goobers held the mighty Presidents to a 0 to 0 tie. The Wilson steam-roller although showing plenty of fight throughout, lacked sufficient punch to drive the ball over when they had it on the Petersburg two- yard line. In the Wilson stone wall, Collier, center, and Starke at left tackle, played splendid games, proving themselves great assets in keeping the fighting Goobers halted in mid-field.
WILSON VS. ALEXANDRIA
Playing with renovated backfield the Presidents fought throughout a hectic game with the fighting Maroon eleven from Alexandria High. With Captain Bob Everett playing his first game in the backfield and carrying the brunt of the attack, the Presidents made first down after first down only to meet a de- termined Maroon line in sight of the goal. The Wilson aerial attack did not accomplish much in this game, despite the fact that Rose, who had been on the sick bench, played for a short time. Captain Everett played particularly brilliantly, while our old reliable Starke played a splendid game.
WILSON VS. WILLIAM AND MARY
Playing again like the team that crushed all before it to win the State championship last year, the Wilson Presidents ran rough-shod over a strong William and Mary Freshman team. The Four Horsemen—Captain Everett, Casey, Rose and Kirshon—rode fiercely against the heavy green-clad trosh line and smashed through it to a final 14 to 0 victory. For Wilson, Captain Everett made some beam4fiu]_njns, while Rose displayed his unsurpassed generalship already known on numerous occasions. In the line Starke, Morlino, Brown, Savage and Powell showed up splendidly.
WILSON VS. ROANOKE
The Wilson steamroller met and vanquished the Roanoke gridders for the first time in our football history, but even so the Magicians succeeded in accomplishing what others had tried to do unsuccessfully. They scored a touchdown and an extra point, to make the score 26 to 7. The Orange and Blue overshadowed their opponents in every quarter, but Roanoke opened an aerial attack that covered eighty yards for a touchdown, while the Vice-President backfield was in action. Captain Everett, Rose, Casey, Robinson and Kirshon showed splendid form in this game.
WILSON VS. MAURY
Accompanied by continuous roars and cheers of defiance and triumph, the Wilson Presidents rolled their steamroller up and down a victorious field, to grind the Maury Commodores in the dust of defeat. Wilson received the ball on the kickoff and with the Four Horsemen galloping through the line and around end, the team marched up the field to its first touchdown, executed by Captain Bob F.verett. Later, Robinson, who had been playing a brilliant game on end, received a bullet pass from Rose and made our second tally. In the final quarter Captain Everett made a beautiful thirty yard sprint to place the ball within twelve yards of the goal post, where Casey plowed through the line for the next marker, making the score 19 to 0. It was impossible to pick stars for this game. The line played as a single unit, with each man a bulwark of defense, while the backfield functioned beautifully, showing a drive and generalship that seemed unsurpassable.
massacre, Petersburg totaling 15. Parker Powell and Morlino, forward and guard, were conspicuous. The affair took place at Wilson. Traveling later to Petersburg, Wilson had another try at the Goobers and emerged on the long end of a 37 to 17 verdict. The Powell family arranged things neatly, abetted by Dolly Brown at guard. Sweringen, Petersburg for- ward, evinced indications of brilliance, but to no avail.
HAMPTON
Hampton’s scholastic court assembly were twice prey to the Wilson machine and the Kibler mechanics. The Presidents discovered some pithy opposition in the first game at Hampton, winning only after appreciable diffi- culty, 30 to 22. Johnson, Crabber forward, all but upset the Presidential cart, a last quarter
rally of proportions engineered by Captain
Powell and Mayo saving the contest. Hampton failed to trouble the Presidents on the latter’s court, however, Coach Kibler summoning both varsity and bench-varsity into service to smother the Crabbers 58 to 15.
ROANOKE
With the State Class A High School titles at stake, Wilson outclassed Roanoke in an inter-district playoff on the President court fol- lowing the close of the regular season. Roanoke, although initiating battle with fervor and science, failed to endure the pace set by Captain Purl Powell and his competent mates. The Western District champs were eliminated, 48 to 25. Wilson matched the Maroon efforts in the first quarter and had assumed a commanding lead at the half, which was retained and increased in the third and fourth periods. A capacity audience witnessed the Roanoke set-back and voiced a vociferous admiration of the Presidents’ astute application of the Kibler tactics. The conquest was a notable exhibition of Wilson superiority.
ALEXANDRIA
Although downed by Alexandria, 26 to 18, at Alexandria, in their first meeting, the Presi- dents definitely quelled this five 39 to 22 in a second engagement here. Alexandria, Class B State titleholders, visited the Wilson precincts to advocate their challenge of Wilson’s A Class supremacy. The Alexandrians, although well- drilled and playing in fine form, were unable to cope with the fierce President assault, which was combined with a stubborn defense. The tussle was rough and fast, with Smith of Alex- andria troubling the Champions to no trifling extent, and with Captain Purl Powell and Mayo the chief contributors to the Wilson margin. The victory settled all dispute as to Portsmouth superiority for the year in Old Dominion scholastic basketball.
SUFFOLK
Our Presidents performed in an unusually acceptable fashion in two showings against a feeble Suffolk combine. In the first match in the Peanut City, Parker Powell and Mayo, local forwards, were jointly eminent in the compiling of a 44 to 6 Wilson triumph. The Presi- dents again completely subdued Suffolk, achieving a 50 to 7 margin. Parker Powell and Rose featured Wilson scoring.
MAURY
Exhibition of the form which captured All- Virginia scholastic laurels marked the Presi- dents’ appearance against their traditionally deadliest rivals, the Maury Commodores. Portsmouth’s proudest did away with the Maury threat on both occasions, taking the first game at Norfolk, 29 to 16, and the second by a single point, 29 to 28, in the Wilson gym. The efficiency of Captain Purl Powell, center, and the accurate co-operation of Lem Mayo were the outstanding factors in Wilson’s earliei invasion of the Maury premises. Louis Morlino, guard, added to the impressiveness of the Presidents in action by capable defensive labors and occasional single-handed raids in Maury territory. Maury’s visit here, however, proved one of the major strifes of the season. Hysteria ruled the mob of spectators which jammed the Wilson gym as spectacular operations in the last minute gave Wilson the District Championship by no more than a lone count. Captain Powell’s generalship, with the cohesive support of the entire squad, won the day.
NEWPORT NEWS
The Newport News Shipbuilders amazed all concerned by defeating the Presidents 53 to 20 on the foreign court, the loss being the only league defeat suffered by the Presidents during the year. Wilson retaliated with a 40 to 30 decision over the Reed High delegates at Wilson some weeks later. The Kibler athletes appeared off form in their first demonstration against Newport News, and succumbed to the over- hand shots executed by one Price, opposing
toss-off man. Wilson defenses against this wizardry were woefully inadequate. The Presidents derived considerable consolation, however, in extinguishing the Shipbuilder fire in the subsequent hostilities in Portsmouth. The Powell brothers and the admirable Mayo maneuvered the invaders’ downfall, to the excessive rejoicing of Wilson supporters.
PETERSBURG
A pair of league tilts against Petersburg developed easy Wilson successes. The Presi dents amassed 42 points in their first Goober
PURI. POWF.I.I. ( Captain )
Center
The fine example and steadying influence set by Captain Powell was one of the big reasons for the wonderful showing ot the team. In addition to this, Purl played a heady and reli- able game and always proved an inspiration to the rest of the squad. He rose to his greatest heights in the Alexandria game, tallying 18 points.
PARKER POWELL
Forward
Parker, playing his first year at Wilson, proved his worth early in the season and earned a first string berth. His passing game was of the best quality and his long shots and deadly foul shooting soon made him the nemesis of his opponents. Handicapped by illness before the National Tournament, Parker was not at his best at Chicago.
LEMUEL MAYO
Left Forward
Lem Mayo is a forward who will stand out in the records at Wilson as one of the best basketeers ever to wear a varsity “W”. His un- canny shooting from any position on the floor places him as one of the high point men in the State. His very presence seemed to put pep and fight into the whole team.
LOUIS MORLINO
Guard
Louie, serving his third year on the team, was a tower of strength on the defense and could be depended upon for a fast offensive game. His beautiful long shots from mid-floor rime and again thrilled the audience. In the game with Naugatuck, Connecticut, champions of the Atlantic Seaboard, Louie rose to supreme heights, counting 15 points and playing a wonderful floor game.
CHARLES BROWN
Guard
Dolly, in his position of standing guard, is due noteworthy credit. Playing hard, steady basketball, he had few chances to do the spectacular, but for a fighting, never-say-die man, Dolly ranks with the best. Besides the quality of his play, Brown also leads in quantity, playing more quarters than any other member.
HERBERT E. BUXTON
Manager
Manager Buxton’s well-planned schedule had a great effect on the results of the basketball season and worked up a greater interest in the game than has ever before been manifested. His good humor and geniality kept the team cheered even in defeat, and he has just cause for being proud of the record of the team that he managed.
ALFRED CASEY
Forward
Casey, although a second-string man, was invaluable to the team. Entering the game at opportune moments, his pep and life instilled new fight into the team. His work at Chicago was especially commendable. By earning his letter in this sport, Casey joins the ranks of the immortals, the “Four-Letter Men.”
PAUL ROSE ( Captain-Elect )
Forward
Rose, working with Casey as sub-forward, was one of the Presidents’ scoring threats. Possessed of a deadly eye and one of the most reliable ball handlers on the squad, he was ever a menace to the opposing teams. He was elected to succeed Powell in the office of Captain, and it is hoped that the team will have a successful season under his leadership.
CHARLES MATHIAS
Guard
Although one of the smallest men on the squad, “Slick” was one of the “fightingest.” He was always on his toes and going at top speed when called upon to show his wares. Besides playing a fast floor game, he could always be depended upon to help in the scoring. His cheerfulness and constant good humor made the long, tedious practice sessions somewhat more en-joyable.
JOHN HAMLETT
Center
John, one of our best athletes, was handi- capped by being understudy to the Captain, whose berth was seldom open to a substitute. When the position was vacant, it was most
creditably filled by John, whose fighting spirit has won his varsity “W.
The First for The Basketball Program
BASKETBALL season commonly conceded to have been the most triumphant since the introduction of the game into the school, is the record which is left behind by the 1927-28 Wilson courtmen. The first State Championship in basket- ball ever captured by a Wilson team, and participation in the national interscholastic championships at Chicago are the two achievements for which distinction is justly claimed. To Coach L. E. Kibler and to this basketball squad must be accorded the highest tribute in recognition of their might and imposing feats.
