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BUTTE BUZZIES
(1949 - 1952)

Butte, Montana
Naranche Memorial Stadium





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Created in 1949, the Buzzies gained experience with the long-standing Anaconda Anodes in a three game series before venturing out to take on collegians and the Billings semi-pro team.

Alex Chavez, QB (Butte, HS) completed 7 of 8 passes for 4 touchdowns in the win over Daylis (October 1, 1950), while rushing for a TD as well as the Buzzies started out 4-0.
 
Weather forced the cancelation of the Mines game of 1950, and the Anodes were forced to cancel due to injuries and military call ups.  The Seattle Ramblers traveled to a defeat on October 22nd, 1950.  The win resulted in the Ramblers offering a rematch in Seattle in the Queen City Bowl where they avenged the loss 7-0 claiming the series by a single point (7-6).  3,500 fans attended the game in Seattle.  Bill Boston, 2nd in the nation as a collegiate punter at Montana State, made the trip to Seattle.
 
Many of the Buzzies enlisted in the military when the Korean Conflict broke out and the team halted operations from October 1951 until September 1952.
 
1952 saw the Buzzies return to action in a loss to Carroll College.  A match with the Ramblers was canceled when Charley Judd announced the team did not have the depth to play a team like Seattle.   The team never made it back to the field.
 
Coach Bob Sparks would go on to coach the Butte High Freshmen team in 1953
 
The Buzzies as a team were inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.  Jim Scown, Jack Coyne, and Larry Connors were individually elected to the Butte Sports Hall of Fame for their careers.


1950 Team Members: 

John Gasper, J. Miller, Vern DiRe, Matt Cassick, Alex Chavez, Chuck Stears, Bill McKechnie, Jim Scown, Joe Matkovic, Max Weathers, John Masonovich, Jack Bennett, John Tomich, Bob Edwards, Jack Coyne, Jim Kello, Bill James, Carroll Johnson, Monk Semansky, Jim Morrissey, John Kovacich, Lee Mann, Jack Dobie, Clark Lilly, Frank Donovan, Al Cutler, Joe Harris, George Twardus, George Huddleston, Fred Annula, Mark Hampton, Paul Stanich, Chuck Shontell, John Masonovich, and Bill Clifford.


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Buzzies Players through the years: 

John Hugh "Jack" Bennett, QB ('49-'51)
Jim Scown (1950)
Jack Coyne (1949)
John "Curly" Masonovich, DE/T ('49-'50)
Frank Donovan, E (Central HS)
Frank Vernose, G 1949
"Hap" Todd, T (Chicago Bears)
Joseph D. Ferko, OL (1949, 2 weeks; 1951)
Bob Edwards, E (Butte, HS) 1952
Joe Matkovic, HB (Montana State Univ)
Bob McKechnie, HB (Butte HS)
Matt Cassick, HB/G (1949-1952)
Jim Kovacich, E (Central HS)
George Huddleston, T 1952
John Gaspar, HB (Butte HS-US Navy)
Dick Barrie, HB (Cleveland HS)
Floyd Actis, FB (Butte HS - Shrine Game '49)
Joe Chelini, C (Butte HS)
Bill James
Paul Stanich, G (Butte HS)
Jim Scowan, G (Central HS)
Charley Stears, HB (Butte HS)
John Tomich
George Twardus, C (Butte HS)
Ed Rosich (G) 1952
Mike O'Leary, E (Englewood HS) 33-oldest
John "Jack" Dobie, E/L (Butte HS - 1949)
Tim Downey
Bob Walter, T (Michigan City, IN)
John O'Leary
Andy Oleson, T (Nebraska)
Dan McElroy, E (1949)
Andy Cutler, T (US Navy)
Bill Neuberg, T (Duluth, MN)
Chuck Vernos
Dick Barry
Eulijio Navarro, C 1949
Jim Morrissey, G 1949
John Anderson
Frank Annala, C (Butte HS)
Pat McCarver, G (Mullan, ID)
Bob Baker, HB (Bakersfield, CA)
Bob Celfrid, HB (Seattle, WA)
Harry Watts, G (North Carolina)
Chales Lilly, HB (Roberts JC, NY)
Charley Johnson, HB (Nebraska)
Alex Chavez, (QB/HB/PK) 1949-1952 Capt
Bill McKechnie (FB) 1949-1952
Bob Scofield (E) 1949 Capt.
George Vucurovich (QB) 1952
Schulte (C) 1952;
O'Neil (T) 1952;
Mayo (E) 1952;
Harrett (HB) 1952;

 


1949
Independent
Record 2-2-2
Sponsor Charles Judd, Alex Blewett, W.P. "Wreck" Donnelly, Joe Lowney
Manager Jack McCaw
Coach Bob Sparks
Asst Larry Conners, Charles Judd



1950
Independent
Record 4-1
Manager Charlie Judd
Coach Bob Sparks
Asst Larry Conners, Charles Judd, Milt Popovich



1951
Independent
Record 0-1
Manager Charlie Judd
Coach Bob Sparks
Asst Larry Connors



1952
Independent
Record 0-1
Manager Charlie Judd
Coach Bob Sparks


Jersey Design
Schedules and Results
Date Opponent Score
1949 Oct 16 Anaconda Anodes 22-0
1949 Oct 23 Anaconda Anodes 0-0
1949 Oct 30 Anaconda Anodes 19-19
1949 Nov 6 Montana State University Frosh 0-6
1949 Nov 13 @ Daylis Cubs (Billings) 6-20
     
     
1950 Sep 9 @ Daylis Cubs 8-0
1950 Sep 16 Anaconda Anodes Cancel
1950 Oct 1 Daylis Cubs 25-0
1950 Oct 8 Lowry Field Prospectors (Denver) 14-6
1950 Oct 22 Seattle Ramblers 6-0
1950 Nov 5 Modesto Falcons Cancel
1950 Nov 11 @ Montana School of Mines PPD
1950 Nov 19 Bremerton Naval Yard Cancel
1950 Dec 3 @ Seattle Ramblers (Queen City Bowl) 0-7
     
     
1951 Oct 7 Colorado School of Mines 0-19
1951 Oct 14 Seattle Ramblers Cancel
1951 Oct 28 San Jose Brewers Cancel
1951 Dec 3 @ Seattle Ramblers Cancel
     
     
1952 Sep 27 Carroll College 14-25
1952 Oct 19 Seattle Ramblers Cancel
1952 Oct 24 Montana State University Frosh Cancel
     
     

Poster for 1952 game that was never played
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
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