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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.
THE PLAYERS
J. D. Garner
Herbert Spivey
Odell Benton
Fred Britt
Ellsworth Wilson
Clyde Smith
Slade Phillips
Alvin Brusso
Neil McCellan
Harvey Butler
Joe Parker
Lloyd Smith
Ivan Fisk
George Lawson
Back
Guard
Back
Back
Tackle
End
Back
Tackle
Tackle
Back
Back
End
End
Guard
John Flynn
Philmore Joyner
Harry Lee Jones
Wilson Kelley
Charles Brown
William Cole
Gene Benton
Robert Oliver
Alvaro Copeland
Willard Pendleton
Allen Webb
Stewart Cushman
Bill Hiers
Harry Weiseman
Guard
Center
Back
Tackle
End
ENd
End
Back
Center
Center
Guard
Tackle
Tackle
Back
THE PLAYERS
Hunter Brantley
Odell Benton
Douglas Eley
Leo Kampman
Ivan Fisk
Phlimore Joyner
Connie McCarty
Griffin Staples
Warren Butler
Charles Brown
Charles Ham
Fred Hopkins
William Whittaker, Manager
Catchers - James Lewis, Stewart Cushman
Pitchers - Leo Kampman, George Webb, Hunter Brantley
First Base- Gene Benton, Ivan Fisk
Second Base - Griffin Staples, AShley Culpepper
Shortstop - Robert Oliver, John Messena
Thrid Base - Odell Benton
Outfield - J.D. Garner, Harvey Butler, Herbert Spivey, George Lawson
Woodrow Wilson
High School
Portsmouth, Virginia
Football Team
MAKING spectacular showing under the new system ot play introduced by Coaches Wild and Israel, the Wilson football team showed great promise of developing into one of the foremost contenders for the State title next season. The powerful forward wall was almost impregnable and held such strong foes as Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk, Alexandria and Fredericksburg scoreless. No single opponent was able to score more than two touch- downs against the Wildmen who were generally considered the strongest defensive team in the State.
Although the line was ranked among the finest, the backfield failed to supply a scoring punch and battled through six consecutive games without making a single tail)'. Relief came against the powerful Central team of Washington, D. C., when Lloyd Smith, end, took a pass in the end zone for a score. The traditional battle with Maury was played on a wet, murky day with every possible spectator looking on. For three bruising quarters, the under-dog Presidents held out against the Commodores’ powerhouse attack and even threatened once or twice themselves. Finally, in the last half, the State Champs smashed through Wilson’s heroic defenses and carried the day.
Many intersectional clashes were played this season featuring Devitt Prep and Central of Washington, D. C., and Greensboro from North Carolina.
With Coach P'rnest Wild and his Rockne system firmly established, the Fighting Presidents are looking forward to a banner season on the turf of new Portsmouth Stadium.
Basketball Team
LED by Captain Hunter Brantley, the Varsity Basketball squad completed one of its most successful campaigns in recent years. .Although the “basketeers” got off to a slow start against the (Gridiron Club, they soon picked up momentum and crushed Cradock in the next contest, 52-11. Two more close victories followed 'til the Presidents were swamped by Newport News Shipbuilders, 43-19. As the Shipbuilders eventually won the State Championship, this was not considered humiliating.
The fine sharpshooting of I.eo Kampman and Odel Benton contributed largelv to the fine record hung up by the Presidents in defeating manv superior foes. Granby was played tor the first time b\- Wilson and both engagements resulted in thrilling victories for the Kiblermen. The crowning achievement of the entire season, however, was conquering the highly-vaunted Maury quint in two well- played and hard-fought contests.
With many veterans returning next season. Co-captains Odel Benton and Leo Lampman are very optimistic concerning the future.
President 1940
The
SCHEDULE
Suffolk
Fredericksburg
Hopewell
Newport News
Alexandria
Maury
0
0
14
0
0
12
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
12
34
7
0
0
0
Hampton
Devitt Prep
Greensboro
Central
Lynchburg
0
6
14
7
13
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
0
0
0
6
6
SCHEDULE
Gridiron Club
Cradock
South Norfolk
Matthew Whaley
Newport News
Hopewell
Hampton
Suffolk
Gramby
Maury
34
11
20
20
43
33
23
41
11
33
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
24
52
22
24
19
27
21
25
29
36
W & M Frosh
Gridiron Club
Hopewell
South Norfolk
Newport News
Hampton
Granby
Suffolk
Matthew Whaley
Maury
45
60
31
41
24
35
27
31
17
34
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson
13
31
32
31
11
21
28
34
31
43
Baseball Team
April 5
April 18
April 19
April 22
April 25
May 1
May 3
May 8
May 9
SCHEDULE
Wilson 5 Granby 4
Maury at Wilson
Wilson at Holy Trinity
Churchland at Wilson
Wilson at Granby
Wilson at Cradock
South Norfolk at Wilson
Wilson at Maury
Holy Trinity at Wilson
Cradock at Wilson
Revived for the first time since 1935, baseball received excellent support from both players and spectators. Included in Coach Lester E. Kibler’s sweeping plan for re-organization of public school athletics in Portsmouth, a complete schedule was arranged with great success. With the school and public squarely behind it, baseball has returned to stay at Wilson High while even greater success is expected in the near future.
Tennis Team
Sweeping undefeated through a ten-match schedule, the Wilson tennis team captured the State Championship for the first time in its history in 1939. Led by Alfred Parker and Lee West, the team downed Maury twice and rode into Charlottesville with an emblemished record. With only two veterans returning, the outlook for 1940 was not as bright as the preceding year but Wilson was in there fighting for every game.