Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni "Sports Pics for Class of 1965"

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.

Row 1: Jerry Goney, Bobby Coleman, Tommy Davis, Scrappy Hughes, Harvey James, J.B. Edwards, Sanford Richardson, Dewey Spencer, Bill Jones, Ronnie Baker. Row 2: Wayne Redman, Richard Galbreath, Jerry Peaks, Butch Bisese, Bill Jennings, Brad Vaughan, Donald Sandie, Lewis Huddle, John Mercer, Scott Rhodes, Butch Hodges, Mike Martin, Garland Gifford. Row 3: Howard Bealeasst. coach, Ralph Gahagan-head coach, David Mullen, Tommy Matusiak, Sammy Bush, John Nobrega, Chet Forrester, Billy Smith, Luther Blair, Richard Vincent, Donald Bradley, Walter Tobler, Jim Paine-asst. coach.

WILSON6 - CHURCHLAND 25

The Presidents were plagued with opening game jitters, an inexperienced backfield, and a porous defense as they opened the 1964 season before a crowd of 8,000. When the dust of the evening settled, Churchland emerged with an easy 25 - 6 win. The Truckers tallied twice in the first quarter on short plunges by George Constantinides and Dwight Smith before Wilson was able to score in the second quarter. Butch Bisese completed passes to Scott Rhodes and Harvey James to penetrate deep into Churchland territory. Ronnie Baker, the only seasoned man in the Wilson backfield, carried into the end zone from two yards out,fumbled as he was hit, and freshman halfback Walter Tobler fell on the loose ball for the score.

Churchland got a big break on the last play of the first half as a result of a deflected pass that Jimmy Hawks gathered in on the Wilson 25, from where he went in for the score. Instead of just a one touchdown edge, the Truckers left the field with a 19 - 6 lead at the half. The third period found the Churchland eleven on the defense most of the time. The Prexies moved to the Trucker 14, but Bisese stumbled on a fourth down situation. They threat-ened again in the fourth period, moving this time to

the 13 only to see James drop a Bisese paas in the end zone. In the final minute of play Constantinides intercepted a Wilson pass on the 34, and four plays later, shot around left. end from the 15 to make the final score 25 - 6.

After intermission Bill Brett recovered a fumble on the Pexie 46 the first time Wilson gained possession. Eight plays later. Garland Hudson hit paydirt from 11 yards out to put the Typhoon on the score board. Wilson came up with the equalizer in the fourth quarter when Bisese spotted Walter Tobler open in the end zone. and hit him with a perfect pass. The extra point try failed, and neither team threatened seriously after that.

The defensive unit looked like an entirely different one compared to the first game of the season. Standouts were J.B. Edwards. Chester Forrester. Butch Hodges - in fact the entire unit must be credited with a well-played game.

WILSON 6 - NEWPORT NEWS 6

A determined Wilson eleven rallied in the fourth quarter to tie the highly favored Typhoon from Newport News. 6 - 6. before 5.000 persons at Frank D. Lawrence Stadium. Neither team was able to keep its offensive attack moving. with untimely fumbles and pass interceptions spoiling several drive a by each.

The scoreless first half saw neither team in control of the ball for more than eight plays on anyone drive. Wilson threatened serious ly in the second quarter. marching 64 yards to the Typhoon 8. Ronnie Baker's 30 yard dash on a quick opener. and Butch Bisese's gallop around right end for 12 yards highlighted the drive. Unfortunately, it was stalled by a delay-of-game penalty. followed by an interception of a Bisese pass.

WILSON 19 - NORVIEW 18

The first win of the season came at Chittum Field before a rain drenched crowd of 4,500 as Wilson downed Norview, 19 - 18· The Pilots scored first with 4:02 remaining in the first period, but the lead was only momentary, because on the ensuing kick-off, Ronnie Baker electrified the crowd by scampering 89 yards for a touchdown behind perfect blocking. The try for the extra point failed, and the quarter ended in a 6 -.6 tie.

In the second quarter, the Prexies looked like they

were going to break the game wide open as they added

two more six pointers .The second came as a result of a

punt fumble recovered by Wayne Redmon on the Pilot 35. Twelve plays later Bobby Coleman plunged for the score from two yards out. The Presidents scored again three minutes later when Luther Blair blocked a punt which was recovered by Wilson on the 10. Sophomore David Mullins scored from the six, and Baker then added the all important extra point.

The rains carne down during a scoreless third quarter in which neither team threatened. However, the fourth quarter made up for any lack of excitement as the Pilots came storming back on a 39 yard scamper into the end zone.

All the drama of the night was packed into the last two minutes of the game. A sustained drive carried the Pilots to the two yard Iine where a determined Prexie defense held for four downs, and the ball went over. On the first play the Presidents fumbled in the end zone, and Norview recovered for a score. The run for the tying point failed as the clock ran out.

WILSON 13 - OSCAR SMITH 7

Homecoming saw the Presidents rise to their greatest heights as they upset a highly favored Oscar Smith team that went on to win the District title. The 13 - 7 loss before 8,000 partisan fans was the only one suffered by the Tigers during the season.

Wilson took the opening kick-off and marched 81 yards for a score. The touchdown resulted from a Butch Bisese pass which was deflected into the hands of Walter Tobler in the end zone. Harvey James converted for a 7 - ° lead. Oscar Smith threatened in the first quarter after David LeDoyen intercepted a pass. The Tigers moved from the Wilson 47 to the 7 where the drive stall ed as the Prexie defense held. Buoyed by this turn of events, the Prexies initiated a march that wound up 93 yards away as Ronnie Baker plunged the last four yards to put Wilson ahead 13 - a at half time.

The Tigers recovered a fumble on their 46 early in the third quarter, and went on to score their only touchdown and extra point. The big scare came in the last minutes of the game when the Tigers, aided by a 15 yard penalty. moved from their 34 to the Wilson 12. Here they bad a first down and one minute to play. At this point Bob Coleman and Luther Blair came up with key tackles that preserved the victory.

The upset victory of the year, and the crowning of the Homecoming Queen, Avenell Harrington, high-lighted an evening that will long be remembered by the returning classes of 1938½ and 1939, who were this year's honored guests.

WILSON6 - HAMPTON 12

Journeying to Darling Stadium for their second game away from home, the Prexies came up against a hard-hitting Hampton team that handed them the second loss of the season, 12 - 6. Wilson was able to move the ball well between the two twenty yard lines, but the Crabbers proved tough in close.

The first quarter was scoreless, and Wilson's best attack was hindered by a 15 yard clipping penalty on the Hampton 45. David McKnight scored the first Crabber touchdown on a one yard plunge in the second quarter. They threatened again, but fumbled on the Wilson three yard line. Their second touchdown was set up by a block-ed punt on the Wilson 36, and was scored by Raymond

Burton from two yards out.

Butch Bisese directed the Presidents to their only score late in the fourth quarter. The touchdown was the result of a ten yard pass to Harvey James who was wide open in the end zone. Penalties were the culprits all evening as far as the Prexies were concerned, stopping several potential drives. Wilson had 155 yards rushing to Hampton's 144. The Crabbers went 68 yards through the air as compared to 26 for the Presidents.

WILSON 13 - GREAT BRIDGE 13

In the first meeting ever between the two schools, Great Bridge came up with the key play in the last two minutes to salvage a 13 - 13 tie with the Presidents. The game, played at Great Bridge, started out as a defensive battle as neither team was able to score in the first period.

The second quarter saw each team score, the Wildcats on a 75 yard march that ended with Billy Phields scoring from five yards out, and the Prexies on a long pass-run play. This was a beautifully executed pass from Butch Bisese to Harvey James, and covered 68 yards in all. The second Wilson score came in the third quarter which was completely dominated by the Prexies. They took the second half kick-off and marched 65 yards for the touchdown. The final two yards were covered by Walter Tobler and Bisese ran for the extra point.

The third and part of the f curth quarter saw the Wildcats lose the ball time after time as a result of fumbles, penalties and pass interceptions. They finally managed a sustained drive Iate vin the game that carried them to the Wilson five yard line. Here, with less than two minutes to play, they went into a wide spread formation, and Phields hit Lowry on a quick slant in pass for the score. Richard Unser then calmly booted the extra point for the tie.

WILSON 7 - MAURY 13

The Presidents crossed the river for a visit to Foreman Field where they lost, to the Maury Commodores for the first time in three years The score was 13 - 7.

Both teams were crippled cons iderab ly, with Wilson suiting up only 29 of 36 boys. The Prexie cause received another severe blow when Butch Bisese was shaken up late in the first half. and was lost for the rest of the game.

Wilson scored first as Walter Tobler. who took over for Bisese at quarterback. ran up the middle for 20 yards. and Harvey James converted to give Wilson a 7 - 0 lead at the quarter. In the second quarter. Maury scored after Dolly Madison recovered a Wilson fumble. Don Gibbs completed

three passes. the last one to Madison covering the final five yards. Madison's kick failed.

In the third quarter the Pres idents protected the ir 7 - 6 lead twice by stopping Maury at the goal line. But the situation changed when guard Joe Bilbo blocked Tobler's punt, and Bill Gearhart fell on the ball in the end zone. Madison'S kick was good. and Maury went in front to stay.

The Prexies gained some momentum in the fourth quarter as they stormed to the Maury 29. Unfortunately. this last drive was stopped when the Commodores intercepted a pass. Individual standouts included Tobler. James, and Bob Coleman, as we II as the entire defensive squad.

WILSON 14 - PRINCESS ANNE 7

While the game against the Cavaliers at Princess Anne did not have the significance of the 1963 meeting between the two teams, there was an interesting parallel. The Presidents went on to win by passing successfully from a fourth down, long yardage situation which called for a punt. The Cavaliers had done the same thing the previous year, and got away with the play to keep a touchdown drive alive. The Presidents went on to score what proved to be the winning touchdown.

Because of an injury to Butch Biaese , Walter Tobler

took over the quarterback spot. He scored the first touchdown from two yards out, climaxing a march of 51 yards. Pete Sachon, the Cavalier who was the key man in the fake punt play the previous year, went the last 15 yards of a 93 yard drive to score for P.A.

The big play came in the third quarter with Wilson stalled on the Cavalier 48. From a fourth and seven situation and in punt formation. Tobler straightened up and passed to David Mullins for 29 yards and a first down on the P.A. 28. Ronnie Baker scampered 16 yards. Harvey James kicked the extra point, and that was the game, 14 - 7.

The Wilson defense throttled the enemy's ground game, except for the 93 yard drive. Richard Vincent, along with the rest of the defensive team, stood out. and Tobler sparkled all night at a position relatively new to him.

WILSON 6 - CRADOCK 6

For the first time in the eleven year history of the series with crosstown rival Cradock, the game ended 10 a 6 - 6 tie before a sparse home crowd at Lawrence Stadium.

The Admirals took the opening kick-off and marched to the Wilson two yard line, but the Prexie defense held.

They then followed up with a 45 yard drive., kept alive by Johnny Griffin, Ralph Geabhart, Torn Dail, and Dennis Strickland, which ended when Geabhart passed to Dail in the end zone from the two. The extra point try failed, Cradock was in complete control during the first half. The Presidents did threaten early in the second quarter on a 35 yard run by Butch Bisese, but the march was stalled at the Admiral five.

The big play of the game carne after D.ail intercepted

a Bisese pass on the Admiral 26, and carried the pigskin

to mid-field. On fourth down with nine seconds remain-ing in the first half, and the ball at the Prexie 26, Geabhart threw a wobbly pass in the flat. David Mullins, spotting the play perfectly, intercepted on the Wilson 27, and streaked 73 yards to tie the score. He gave the home crowd heart failure for a moment as he stumbled at mid-field, but he regained his stride, and went the rest of the

way unmolested.

The final quarter saw each team threaten without success. Bisese and Walter Tobler led the rushers With 86 and 84 yards gained. The game was the finale for the

following 12 seniors: Ronnie Baker, J .B. Edwards, Chester Forrester, Don Bradley, Harvey James, Scrappy Hughes, Mike Martin, John Nobrega, Jerry Peaks, Scott Rhodes, Wayne Redmon, an~ Richard Vincent.

WILSON 14 - GRANBY 13

After four straight games away from the friendly confines of Lawrence Stadium, the Presidents returned to hand the visiting Granby Comets a l4 - 13 loss. The winning margin was the result of a 50 yard scoring dash by Butch Bisese, followed by Harvey James' successful conversion.

The first quarter was scoreless, with Wilson threatening by recovering a fumble on Granby's 35, only to lose the ball when a Bisese pass was intercepted. The first touchdown resulted from a 71 yard drive which was spearheaded by Bisese and Walter Tobler, who tallied from the two. James converted for the 7 - 0 lead. Granby retaliated with a drive of 59 yards which ended as Ron Hill gathered in a Buddy Watson pass in the end zone. The kick for the extra point failed.

The second Granby score resulted from a 23 yard pass from Brad Lowry to Hill. McWhorter kicked the point that put Granby in the lead, 13 - 7. It was after this score that Bisese came up with his 50 yard gem that won the game. Granby stormed back and reached the Wilson nine, but the Prexie defense, led by J.B. Edwards, Chester Forrester, and James, rose to the occasion. The Cornets missed a field goal attempt as the game ended.