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SPOKANE VOLUNTEERS
(1959; 1961; 1964)

SPOKANE VALLEY OLYMPICS
(1960)

Spokane, Washington
Spokane Fairgrounds Baseball Park





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The team began practices at Pines junior high in October 1959 by former high school stars Bob Bourbeau, Art Schoveg, Max Willtzius, Phil Thompson, Mel Clark, Lyle Tucker, Fred Medlin, Don Hjort and Jack Davis among the initial 20 players set to face off with cross-town rival Spokane Rams on November 1st.  Following a tight loss the team announced a game scheduled with the Eastern Washington College Junior Varsity squad.


Front row left to right: Woody Woodward, Bruce Wager and Don Gest
Back row: Myrle Nead, Bob Bourbeau and Lyle Tucker

The team became the Olympics in 1960.  A dispute over a player (Don Gest) who had originally agreed to play with the Spokane Rams before changing his allegience to the Olympics, ended with the Sep 25 game being canceled.  Gest was already out with an injury however Rams coach Puggy Hunton said as long as there was a dispute there would be no game between the cross-town rivals.

The game on Oct 23 was billed as "the Spokane county semipro football championship".  Al Ruee was set to start at QB with regular QB Leo Chandler moving to end.

The Volunteers did not return to action in 1961 giving way to the Rams franchise.

The Volunteers and Rams would comine prior to the 1961 season playing under the Rams banner. 

In August of 1964, the Volunteers were reconstituted with Ed Justice returning as coach as Spokane joined the North Pacific Football League.  25 players were on the roster as the Volunteers prepared for the season openerBob Strahl got his first start on Nov 8 and led the team to it's first victory with two first half TD tosses.

The Volunteers called for a meeting in June of 1965 and began workouts in August.

 


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1959 Players included:

Bob Bourbeau, Art Schoveg, Max Willitzius, Phil Thompson, Mel Clark, Lyle Tucker, Fred Medlin, Don Hjort, Jack Davis, Don Gest, Myrle Nead, Bruce Wager, Woody Woodward, Frank Fisher


1960 Players included

Gary Cogdill (E), Carl Towner (T), Mike Edmunds (G), Wally Firor (C), Woody Woodward (G), Don Engles (T), Lyle Anderson (E), Dick Rue (QB), Dick Rostrum (HB), Al Rugleau (HB), Lyle Tucker (FB), Marv Messenger (HB)


1964 Players included:

Bob Ames (C)
1959
Independent
Record
Sponsor
Coach


1960
Independent
Record 3-2-1
GM Ron Mellinger
Coach Ed "Chug" Justice
Asst Don Gest

* Spokane County Champions *



1964
North Pacific Football League
Record 1-8
GM Merv Kessinger
Coach Ed "Chug" Justice
Schedules and Results
Date Opponent Score
1959 Nov 1 Spokane Rams 12-14
1959 Nov 14 Eastern Washington College JVs  
     
     
1960 Sep 11 Intrasquad Scrimmage  
1960 Sep 18 Seattle Cavaliers 12-6
1960 Sep 25 Spokane Rams Cancel
1960 Oct 1 Seattle Cavaliers 6-3
1960 Oct 9 Seattle Ramblers 6-41
1960 Oct 13 Eastern Washington College JVs Cancel
1960 Oct 23 Spokane Rams (County Championship) 8-0
1960 Oct 29 @ Washington State Penn Steelers  
1960 Nov 3 Eastern Washington College JVs Cancel
1960 Nov 6 Spokane Rams 16-16
1960 Nov 13 @ Seattle Ramblers 0-7
     
     
1964 Sep 6 Edmonds Warriors 0-73
1964 Sep 13 Seattle Ramblers 0-14
1964 Sep 20 Fort Lewis Rangers 6-14
1964 Sep 27 @ Tacoma Tyees 0-28
1964 Oct 8 Bellingham Bell-Jets W FFT
1964 Oct 18 @ Portland Thunderbirds 6-40
1964 Oct 24 @ Tacoma Tyees 0-54
1964 Nov 1 Portland Thunderbirds 6-21
1964 Nov 8 Seattle Ramblers 13-7
1964 Nov 15 @ Fort Lewis Rangers 0-68
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
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