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WHITE CENTER HORNETS
(1934 - 1941)

WHITE CENTER LIONS
(1948 - 1949)

White Center, Washington
Mt. View School, Highland Park Field


Thank you to the supporters of this page and the GNFA mission!

Material Contribution:
Marilyn Hall on behalf of Paul Gross

Be a Hornets page Supporter!

The "Hornets" nickname, according to Coach Stevenson, came after the team was informed when joining the 160lb league in 1934, that they all had to have the same jerseys.  Coach found a bargain on some close-out thin-striped jerseys with stripes around the body and arms of the sweaters...looking like a hornet.  The uniform colors during the 1930's was Brown and Orange with players formerly representing West Seattle, Highline and Garfield schools.

Kent capitalized in the 1938 opener when fullback Paul Goss got off a poor punt early in the third quarter setting up the Purple Raiders at the 22-yard line.  Five plays later, Kent took a 6-0 lead that would be the deciding points.

In the 1939 opener against Rainier, the Hornets held strong until late in the 4th quarter; holding on 3 straight dive plays at the goalline, Rainier finally scored on 4th down dumping a pass into the endzone for the 6-0 win.   Luck continued to go against the Hornets when the Everett Rams, tied 0-0 with three minutes remaining in the game, intercepted a pass and returned it 45-yards for a TD and PAT to post a 7-0 win.

Injuries mounted resulting in shuffling players around, in one case, Bill "Terrible" Trimble found his spot at defensive end where he mowed down blockers and was harrasing the kicking and passing of the Everett Rams backfield.

Beginning in 1944 the "Associated Boys' Clubs" were formed to deal with trouble-making youth whose fathers were absent during World War II.  The White Center Boys' Club team would operate from 1944 to 1949 when a shift was made prior to the 1950 season requiring the players to be under 18-years of age.

In the 1948 game with Enumclaw, Don Larkin, future Seattle Rambler Hall of Famer, romped 83-yards for a touchdown and Dan Shearer scored from 8-yards out in the Nov 7 victory.

Jens Bugge, a former San Francisco Clipper in the 1940's, and University of San Francisco standout took over the coaching reigns in 1949 when he moved to Seattle to marry his wife Louisa Arnone, and Mel Olson asked him to provide "pointers".  His great-nephew, Mike Holmgren, son of Jens sister Barbara, would become an NFL legend.  Jens and Lincoln "Tiny" Holmgren were teammates on the 1947 San Francisco Clippers, both serving in the US Coast Guard during WWII.  Jens passed away in 1966 at the age of 52 and was buried in Renton, Washington.

Special thanks to the family of Paul Gross, especially his daughter Marilyn Hall who provided clues to uncovering the information on the Hornets.


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1934 Players

Neil Campbell (C)

 

1938 Players

Neil Campbell (C), Wayne Humble, Jack Taylor (HB), Frank Schultz, Frank LaVeau, Marty Lauzon, John Erickson, Bob Beck (T), Ernie Osborne (G), John Beall (T), Jack Dalrymple, Rueben Pete (E), Ray Carson (HB), Paul Gross (QB/DB), Bill Trimble (T), Bob Rimpi, Fred Simmons, Dick O'Reilly, Al Spadoni, Gale Campbell, John Erickson, Jim Duggan, Bud Orchard, Bill Anderson, Bill Gavin, Count Johnson

1939 Players

Tony Maestro (T), John Beall (T), Bob Hullett (T), Bill Trimble (T), C. Nye (G), D. Nye (G), Neil Cambell (C), Reuben Pete (E), Vance Orchard (E), Lloyd Campbell (G), Paul Gross (QB), Bill "Beef"  Carson (HB), Jimmy Nichols (HB), Bud Orchard (HB), George Moline (FB), Bill Gavin (FB), J. LeVaugh (FB), Red Flynn (G), Bob Carney (E), Bob Garvin


1948 Players

Don Larkin (FB), Dan Shearer (HB), Gene Zimmerman, George Zimmerman, Ed Huhn, Dominick Verdi, Bob Garvin, Bruce Durocher, Kenny Nave, Willis Jacobs, Joe Tamada, Norm Benjamin, Tom Gluthero, Ernie Aries, Glen Carlson, George Zandt, Doug Phillips, Jim Twigg, Ron Harris, Gary Davis, Bob Gough, Jack McPherson, Jim Lincoln, Don Gabetta, Dick Organ, Red Natolli, Ren Orcutt, Eddie Collins, Rollie Carver, Mike Nelson, Hugh Henricks, Bob Johnson, Jack Kennedy, Mike Monbolly, Dan Sheane, Eugene Linstead  


1949 Players

Jack Brenner (HB), John Popich (FB), Don Gambetta (E), Bill Dixon (HB), Gary Davis (HB), George Zandt (HB), Whitey King, Jack Waechter, Bill Schaub

1951 Players

Jim George (HB), Phil Wicklire (FB), Don Harvey (QB), 


Regional Hall of Fame Inductees



GNFA Hall of Fame: Don Larkin



1938
160lb Seattle Community Football League
Record
Mgr Frank McFee
Coach Herman Willi
Asst Stevenson


1939
160lb Seattle Community Football League
Record
Sponsors: White Center Businessmen's Association
Bunge Lumber, White Center Theater
Mgr
Coach Stevenson



1939 Window Sticker given out to merchants who financially supported the White Center Hornets




1948
175lb Northwest Football League
Record: 2-4
Coach Jack MacKenzie


1949
175lb Northwest Football League
Record
President John Stepich
Mgr Marv Nelson
Coach Jens Bugge
Assts Mel Olson, Gordie Waldo
Schedules and Results
1934    
     
     
     
     
1935 Nov 17 @ Tacoma Athletic Club  
     
     
     
1936 Oct 18 Georgetown Athletic Club  
1936 Oct 25 @ Issaquah Firemen 0-14
     
     
     
     
1938 Sep 25 Kent Purple Raiders 0-6
1938 Oct 2 Columbia City  
1938 Oct 9 @ Greenwood Athletic Club 0-13
1938 Nov 6 Eastside Panthers 18-6
1938 Nov 21 Issaquah Alpines 6-14
     
     
1939 Oct 1 Rainier Athletic Club 0-6
1939 Oct 8 Eastlake Pacific Outfitters 0-7
1939 Oct 15 @ Everett Rams 0-7
1939 Oct 22 Eastside Athletic Club  
1939 Oct 29 Issaquah Alpines 0-33
1939 Nov 5 Seattle Brown Bombers 0-20
1939 Nov 12 Kent Purple Raiders 0-28
1939 Nov 19 Enumclaw Wolverines  
1939 Nov 26 Cleveland Athletic Club  
1939 Dec 3 Japanese Athletic Club  
1939 Dec 10 @ Green Lake Athletic Club  
     
     
     
     
     
1948 Oct 3 Rainier Beach Ramblers 6-20
1948 Oct 10 Kent Athletic Club 25-0
1948 Oct 17 Issaquah Firemen 0-12
1948 Oct 24 @ Enumclaw Silverbarons 0-2
1948 Nov 7 Enumclaw Silverbarons 13-0
1948 Nov 14 @ Issaquah Firemen 0-15
1948 Nov 28 Kent Athletic Club  
     
     
1949 Oct 2 Issaquah Alpines 20-0
1949 Oct 9 Enumclaw Silverbarons  
1949 Oct 17 Port Angeles Coast Guard  
1949 Oct 23 Seattle Boys' Club 20-7
1949 Oct 30 Rainier Beach Ramblers 0-28
1949 Nov 6 Enumclaw Silverbarons  
1949 Nov 20 Issaquah Alpines 0-0
     
     
1951 Oct 14 Nisie Vets Club 7-0
1951 Oct 28 Bremerton Shipyard Yellowjackets 20-13
1951 Nov 9 @ Bremerton Shipyard Yellowjackets  
1951 Nov 11 Adna-Chehalis Ramblers 12-0
     
     
     
     
 
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