HOME     |    HISTORY    |    ALL-TIME RECORDS    |   HALL OF FAME     |    HONORS   |    CONTACTS
 

 

 

SUPPORT THIS ARCHIVE

Support this archive page!

KEEP THESE PAGES AVAILABLE AND UPDATED

As little as $5/YR keeps this page and others active for others to view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Ubangi Club "Blackhawks" (1937); Black and Tan Blackhawks (1938)

Players (in picture - back row)

Dave (Babe) Wilson, Joe Staton (E), Scotty Brown, Bob (Red) Parsons, Sammy Bruce (QB), Ernie Lewis (E), Reino Nakamura (T), Brennan King, Bob Flowers, Bill Dozier (C), Otis Reese, Frank (Doghouse) Houston, Danny Allen (G), George (Switchy) Height (HB), Paul Chappell (HB), Abby Perkins, Carl Bentley, Lester Catlett, Mark Allen (FB), Bert Allen, Harber Gaston, Jack Tanner, and Paul Chinn.

 

Years of Operation: 1937-1938

 

Overall Record:  7-8-3

 

First Game: Sep 26, 1937 vs The Ranch Mustangs

 

First Win: Sep 26, 1937 vs The Ranch Mustangs

 

Final Game: Nov 20, 1938 vs Washington National Guardsmen 146th Artillery

 

League Affiliation:  

 

Seattle Community Football League (1937)

 

Team Headquarters:

Golden West Hotel

Seattle, Washington

Sponsor: Ubangi Club; E. Russell "Noodles" Smith (1937); Black and Tan Cabaret (1938)

 

General Manager: Bruce Rowell (1937-1938)

 

Coaches: Brennan King (1937), Johnny Burton (1937); Danny Allen (Backs 1938)

 

Home Field(s):

Titles Won

 

1937 Seattle Community League Champions

 

 

 

 

 

 The Ubangi Blackhawks were a predominantly black semipro football team in Seattle who played for the Community League in 1937.  Sponsored by nightclub owner Russell "Noodles" Smith, who was said to be present for every game, the team was also helped by Bruce Rowell who looked after the team's financial and physical health.  Ted Williams was also a financial backer.

 

Coming over from the Italian Club were all-city end Brennan King, all-city halfback Sam Bruce, all-city halfback Dan Allen, 3-time all-city guard John Burton, and hardest-hitting fullback George Height.  Paul Chappell joined from Uptown Club, and most of the recent Garfield High Championship stars.

In 1937 the Blackhawks were considered the most sensational team in the league, and during this time the community rallied behind such players as George "Switchy" Height, Rhino Nakamura, Brennan King, and Joe Staton.  The Blackhawks played the first six games of the season without allowing a single score, and this led many to think they were unstoppable. There was some question as to whether the nightlife of some of the players and internal dissent among the team would sabotage their season, after they were upset by the National Guardsmen in the seventh game of the season.  There were no such misgivings after the Blackhawks came back and beat the National Guard 13-0 in the league finals; they won the Community League football title.  After the game Brennan King was awarded the James Scavotto trophy, which he promptly gave to "Noodles" Smith.

The Blackhawks were so popular at this time that after their league finals game the New Enterprise claimed "that there will not be another performance of any kind in the near future that will draw the number of colored fans that the Ubangi championship game did."

 

Feb, 25th, 1938 the Northwest Enterprise announced that Feb 27th the Ubangi Club would close following the sale of the Hotel which housed it.

 

Brennan King would appear in games with the Renton Rams in 1937 and in 1938 he and Sam Bruce would help Leon Brigham win the 1938 Northwest Championship with the West Seattle Yellowjackets.

 

Sam Bruce and Brennan King, attached at the hip, would both leave for North Carolina A&T in 1939 and in 1940 Sammy would volunteer to become a pilot at Tuskegee Institute, Alabama.  He would be one of the first black pilots killed in action in 1944.

 

Bruce Rowell would rekindle the team as the Black and Tan Blackhawks for the 1938 season, with Ernie Lewis as captain, the 1937 league scoring champion.

 

Players: Otis Reese (E), Roger Robinson (T), Joe Staton (G), "Snoop" Al Smith (C), Reino Nakamura (G), Bill Dozier (T), Ernie Lewis (E), Paul Chappell (QB), Danny Allen (HB), Jack Tanner (HB), George "Switchy" Height (FB), Arlen Wilson (C), Willie "Skillet" Stockard (HB), Rex Rector (HB), Chubby Simmons (L), Harry Earls (L), Brady Watts (L), Hank Allen (L), Charlie Winston (L)

 

The team struggled without their star backs, and ended the season 2-6-1.  In a bizarre coincidence, in March of 1939, once again the team sponsor, this time the Black and Tan Cabaret closed its doors.

 

Danny Allen, Willie Stockard, Charlie Winston, Jack Tanner, Paul Chappell, Hank Allen, Carl Bently ('37) and Bob Flowers ('37) would be selected to play for the 160lb Brown Bombers

1937 Schedule/Results (5-2-2):

 
Sep 26 - The Ranch Mustangs 6-0
Oct 3 - Italian Club Lions 0-0
Oct 10 - Washington National Guardsmen 7-0
Oct 17 - Doghouse Bowwows 0-0
Oct 24 - Port Angeles Vikings PPD
Oct 31 - The Ranch Mustangs 12-0
Nov 7 - Port Angeles Vikings 19-0
Nov 14 - Italian Club Lions PPD
Nov 21 - Washington National Guardsmen 0-6
Nov 28 - Doghouse Bowwows 0-6
Dec 19 - Washington National Guardsmen * 13-0
 * Seattle Community League Championship
   
1938 Schedule/Results (2-6-1):  
Sep 25 - Knights of Columbus 6-0
Oct 2 - Italian Club Lions 0-6
Oct 9 - WA National Guardsmen 6-12
Oct 16 - Knights of Columbus 0-0
Oct 23 - Italian Club Lions 0-6
Oct 30 -WA National Guardsmen 12-13
Nov 6 - Knights of Columbus 14-8
Nov 13 - Italian Club Lions 0-27
Nov 20 - WA National Guardsmen 6-15
   
   
   


Lewis would enroll at Oregon in 1939
 
   
   
   
   
 

 

   
   
   
   

 

 

 

 

News Releases

 
 
  © 2008 GNFA GREATER NORTHWEST FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.