Feature Articles from
"CHUCK FOOTBALL" NEWSLETTER -
Fall 2007
Memorial Stadium:
Its History & Its Future
A conglomeration of memories with credit to Bob Fredericks, Louie Soriano, Don Brott and the help of Kitsap Sun's former and current staff, John Wallingford, Chris Barron, Ed Fredrich, and Chuck Stark.
1946 was the first full year of peace following World War II. Bremerton was basking in an economic boom with a population of over 72,000, the fourth largest city in Washington. Olympic College housed about 550 students with full-time tuition of $35 a quarter. Nationally, the sports world was welcoming the return of many athletes and contests. The Bremerton Bluejackets were formed.
The Birth of the Stadium
At Bremerton High School, their second year in the "new building" on 13th and High, the 1947 Senior Class and Student Body officers were in a dilemma. They were trying to decide what gift the senior class would present to the school at the end of the year.
Trophy cases and murals were on the list, but nothing seemed to fit the ambition of the young group. Student Body Vice President and the only football player in the group, Art Lund, said musingly, "You know, what we really need is a football stadium and an auditorium." Everyone laughed, enjoying the break, but then the serious talk began. A football field was needed more than an auditorium as the spacious gym was handling the assemblies and concerts. Playing in the "Hole" at Roosevelt Field on a lot of rocks was not fun. The school had designated a spot for the auditorium and even dug a large trench for the football field but there were no plans as to when these additions would be built.
The small group of eleven teenage officers agreed that they should try to make money to build a stadium. Initially they didn't know how to accomplish their dream; in fact, the idea of actually completing this project was unthinkable. Filled with youthful energy, they forged ahead. The group all agreed that they'd never know if it could be done unless they tried.
Student Body President, Bob Fredericks, instrumental in every step of this great project, went to the principal. The request was unheard of, but after awhile, Principal Harry D. Sorensen realized the group was serious and agreed to get them on the school board agenda. Before they could present anything to the board, their first step was to get estimates.
The eager students found the big-thumb estimate would be around $80,000 for a basic field, concrete curb around the track, concrete stands on the west side, 8-10 light poles, 2 ticket booths, a refreshment stand and restrooms, plus a cyclone fence to surround the stadium.
With paperwork in hand, Fredericks and Boys Club President, Louis Soriano attended the next school board meeting and asked if they would support the students' efforts to build the field. The board replied they'd like to help, but they were out of funds. Would they match whatever the students raised - - perhaps half the total cost? The board, recognizing the thrill of a dream for this small group, answered it was a great idea, and they would match whatever the students raised toward building the stadium.
Remember, Bremerton homes in those days were between $3,000 and $8,000...and the latter bought a great waterfront area with sizable land. $40,000 was probably the total worth of all the homes of the eleven BHS student officers.
Planning started with fundraising - bake sales, dances, selling "Build the Stadium" pins, but then an unbelievable bonus arrived. The Kerr Family, who owned the local Ford dealership right across the street from City Hall, heard what the students were attempting, and they decided to join the project by offering two new Ford cars that the students could raffle.
When Fredericks went to get the cars, Kerr became concerned. Perhaps an adult should become responsible. The Bremerton High Alumni Association was immediately created with 19 and 20 year old graduates. Dorothy Goulding Brott, one of the association members, signed for the cars.
This project was getting big!
The officers decided to raffle the cars individually; one at a basketball game and the second at a baseball game...in fact, they would include the price of admission for the biggest rival game with each ticket!
Books of raffle tickets were printed and chances for one dollar were sold around Bremerton. The vehicles were parked on Pacific Avenue. First thing every morning, a big sign with a card table was placed next to the cars with ‘good-looking gals' selling the tickets to the bustling crowds who passed by on their way to work.
As the energy escalated, more and more students got involved. It was no longer a senior project, but an entire Bremerton Student Body venture.
In 1946-47 there were 422 seniors and a total of 1,406 students at Bremerton High.
Each teen was checking out four to six books of 10 raffle tickets to help obtain the goal. Only 4 students did not participate in this adventure, and the rumor was they were in the juvey.
Finally, Game Day for the first raffle drawing. Fire marshals were called in, and it was agreed that everyone with a ticket could enter the overflowing gym for the raffle, but then the gym had to be cleared for the game. The night ended with a packed gym of 2,000, a great basketball game, and one happy winner. The second car was raffled at the baseball game at Roosevelt Field with more than 2,500 spectators. Fredericks was almost electrocuted at the microphone when the naming of the winner was given. His hair literally stood on end!
Not surprising, no one remembers who won the cars. With their goal of half the estimate successfully achieved, $39,562.00, a joyous group of young Wildcats were off to the school board.
The board kept its word and found the money to match. They organized the plans and construction began immediately on the field, fencing, lights, ticket booths, rest rooms, refreshment stand, and the permanent concrete seating on the west side. The grandstand at Washington Junior High was torn down and the lumber used to build temporary bleachers on the east side.
The Olympic College Booster Club, headed by Linc Perry, later raised money and built a covered grandstand on the east side to become the new home-side of the field. When Chuck Semancik became head coach, he moved the Blue and Gold back to the west side because he swore the crown on the field from the east side obstructed his view.
Chuck was a traditionalist...hmm
The field and facilities were mostly built during the summer of 1947 beginning the second week of May
and were ready in time for the 1947 football season. Plans for the track were headed by Coach Ken Wills who had arranged delivery of 40 loads of burnt cork for the ‘Willsmen' track team to spread out for a track. Unfortunately, these plans were stopped and the team ran on hard-packed dirt and clay for many years.
The field was named Memorial Stadium by the students as a memorial to the Bremerton alumni - their own friends and relatives - who had given their lives in battle in WWII to preserve our freedom.
The BHS officers who headed this dream were: Student Body Officers: President Bob Fredericks, Vice president Art Lund, Treasurer Charlotte Spotts, Secretary Connie Cornell and Senior Class Student Council Rep Don Christensen. Senior Class Officers: President Bob McKenzie, Vice President Jules Diebeno, Treasurer Joyce Peterson, and Secretary Myrna Metzler. Boys Club President: Louie Soriano, and Girls Club President: Bobbie Johnston.
Memorial Stadium is Christened.
But, the tale is not over. You've heard the stories of Bremerton High's 1947 championship football team, outscoring its opponents 386-69 en route to a 12-0 season. The ‘Scheyermen' performed brilliantly. Crowds of nearly 4,000 jammed the brand new Memorial Stadium for most home games to enjoy the offensive and defensive power.
The 1947 Bremerton Wildcats were lead by quarterback, Don Heinrich. The starting line was Babe Chase, Glenn Heistand, George Payne, Jack Crawford, Gordon Personius, and Harry Johnson. Bud Olsen, Jim Griffin, and Ted Tappe were ends. Jim Wiley and George Ogg were the starting halfbacks. Ronald "Tiny" Madlin was fullback. Jim Dalton and Ray Sacker filled in as scatbacks (smaller halfbacks). Other prominent players were Bob Plaisance, Bob Walker, Arnold Fox, Dick Fullington, Wally Erwin, Auzzie Robinson, Marvin Reed, Gerry Kluth, Bob Farmer, Jim Dillon, Glenn Otterbein, Jack Naon, Ed Thomas, Ed Boyle, Herb Stubbe, and Don Bayer. Coach Dwight Scheyer headed the group and was assisted by line coach Norm Richardson and backfield coach Tom Guerin.
As the season progressed, the Seattle schools decided to host an outside champion for the first time since 1916. Bremerton was invited to play against undefeated Ballard on Thanksgiving Day.
Playing before an estimated crowd of 16,000 at the new Seattle High School Memorial Stadium, Heinrich guided the Wildcats to three first-half touchdowns - two via his right arm and one with his legs. In a seven-minute span, Heinrich, who also had a touchdown-saving tackle before halftime, threw TDs of 16 and 29 yards and sneaked through the Ballard defense for another score to give Bremerton a 19-0 lead. The Beavers made it a nail biter in the third quarter with a score, and then, in the final three minutes, scored again.
Bremerton took a 19-14 victory back home on the ferry. The following Tuesday's Associated Press Poll voted the Wildcats the top team in Washington State.
Memorial Stadium's Future
Sixty years later. Around the first of November you will enter the southeast corner of Memorial Stadium near the ticket booth, and notice a number of changes.
Slightly to your left affixed to the near side of the concession stand is the large bronze plaque donated to the City of Bremerton in memory of the soldiers who had lost their lives in WWII. Until recently this memorial was attached to the cornerstone of the old city hall. Now, it fittingly rests near the smaller bronze which commemorates the efforts of the BHS student body of 1946-47 whose initiative lead to the building of our arena.
To your right are featured pathways leading toward a park-like setting, unique for any high school on the West Coast.
Following the Walk of Champions into the park, three large granite slabs with the names of all Bremerton's high schools state champions/all-state athletes and room for a hall of fame will be evident.
Continuing on will take one into the Semancik Victory Park, dedicated in 2002. This tile-engraved crescent, where many alumni have chosen to leave a memory, surrounds the granite with Chuck Semancik's plaque.
Turning 180 degrees, you may venture into the Path of Freedom, a beautifully landscaped memorial to all the veterans from Kitsap County who served in combat from the start of the 20th Century. The short pathway opens into a large granite plaza which has 300+ engravable walking tiles where veterans and community members have left memories of loved ones, the past, and the future.
On a protective berm, which horse-collars the back of the veterans ground, proudly flies Old Glory, once flown over the nation's capital. Beneath the lighted flag, facing the back of the park, one may read the names of Kitsap County's war dead from WWI to present engraved on granite slabs entrenched on victory hill with the defining theme of this veteran's memorial..."For those who have given life, limb, and soul, so we might enjoy our freedom."
With your memories in tow, onto the game. The Chuck Semancik Memorial Foundation is proud to have become involved with the school, the community, our military, and our veterans to create this fitting memorial for you.
For donations to the Semancik Foundation's Victory Park: Semancik Foundation - Box 2723 - Bremerton WA 98311-8907
Thru the Decades
This year's letters received. Please send us your stories of your memories
Touchdown Club
Thanks for the great looking plaque. I'm very proud to be included in this group. I'll share it with Chuck's other Indiana cousins. All of your work in the foundation amazes me.
Rosemary Semancik.
(Ed note: Chuck's cousin, Rosemary, sent us a couple of great pictures of Chuck that will soon be up on the website.)
The Newsletter
I just wanted to say ‘thank you' for all the hard work you guys put in on our community.
I got the Chuck Semancik newsletter the other day and will be making another small contribution, but I really wanted to make sure you guys knew how much you were appreciated.
Keep up the good work.
Jason Mayer
EHL Insurance/Poulsbo
Reunions and Websites
I'll be putting the link to the Chuck Semancik site on the class sites that I have accessed and can add on to as of right now, and will be e-mailing the fellow class admins' who will link on the site and the foundation newsletter.
I am currently 2000 miles away from Bremerton, so I'm always in need of updated pictures of the high school, Bremerton, etc., so if you ever have any to donate, they will be greatly appreciated.
Jason Muck
(Ed note: Jason Muck, Bremerton Class of 2002 has done a terrific job in creating the class reunion website,
http://classreport.org/usa/wa/bremerton
Remembering Veterans
It is wonderful how much people like you are showing more care for the world and Veterans. I like the idea of just remembering the local veterans.
I saw a tape on television where people described how the Navy and soldiers moved in here (Bremerton). This sweet peaceful village - Oh, how frightening and so new to them. So close to the enemy.
Lowell "Lody" Nelson
From Theresa Semancik
I hope you don't mind that I am writing this for my mom, but writing is a bit hard for her these days. However, she is doing well in most ways that count. It was very important that she let you know how proud Chuck would be of the amazing job you have done for "his boys," and in such a few short years.
Now your project grows on to completion to honor those who have led, and will lead our young people by their example. How Chuck would have delighted to stroll around your Path of Freedom, savoring each aspect, if only slightly chagrined (with that twinkle in his eyes) as he stands to see his name on Semancik Victory Park.
On the eve of your dedication, rest assured Chuck will be there strong in spirit, and that Spirit will be watching all your festivities, and when the evening comes, he'll take his stroll through your beautiful memorial park, always cheering Bremerton on to victory.
Thanks for all you've done! A great job - Thank you.
Theresa Semancik written by Susan Andrade, her daughter.
Scholarship Recipient
Thank you for selecting me as one of the recipients of your $1,000 scholarships. I will be attending Olympic College in the fall enrolled in Fire Science. I have already passed the first entrance test into the program. After I return from playing in the DownUnder Bowl in Australia I will be testing for the physical portion of the program.
Thank you for recognizing my efforts in high school and for supporting me in my continuing education.
Brandon Hansen
(Ed note: Brandon was given the highest honor of Mr. Football by Bremerton High School Knights' Football. He was then invited to join the Washington State Team and travel to Australia as part of the DownUnder Sports Program.)
New Chuck Story
I had the privilege to officiate the Washington State Senior Discus Throwers in Olympia this year and my favorite memory was a 94 year-young George Rowswell. As I called his name, he slowly meandered to the circle with his walker. In conversation, before he entered the circle, he stated he was still coaching the North Thurston football team. I took a guess and asked him if he'd ever heard of Chuck Semancik.
"Charlie!," he yelled, That damn Semancik! Look at my ear! See my cauliflower ear? That damn Charlie did that to me when we were wrestling at Washington State! Yah, I knew Charlie!"
Coach Rowswell then left his walker, walked into the ring, and threw more than 33 feet. I must have made him mad.
Deanna Dowell
Semancik Scholarships
The three recipients of the 2007 Semancik scholarships were Patrick Lewis, Charlene Sicat, and Brandon Hansen. The scholarship committee had some hard decisions to make as seventeen applications were received.
Lewis will be attending Olympic College. Sicat will become a University of Washington Husky, and Hansen is already involved with Olympic College's Fire Science program
For more photos and information on these three achieving students, go to www.semancik.org.
We would like to thank Dick and Beth McConaughy who donated $1,000 toward the scholarship fund again this year. We truly thank you.
We believe in kids!
2006 Tourney Great!
The Semancik Memorial Bremerton Alumni Golf Tournament has flourished beneath sunny skies providing excellent golfing weather since its inception in 2003. Thanks to our many great sponsors and the continuing full-field of golfers, this event has become a favorite among Bremerton alumni and friends.
2006 golfer, Mayor Cary Bozeman said, "This tournament is a great example of the community rallying around our kids and our school district." Rick Walker, East High class of 1975, added, "The tournament was first rate. It was a great time to see alumni and athletes from both sides of the water work together to help the foundation raise scholarship money for Bremerton students."
With the foundation netting almost $15,000, the overall tournament winners last year were the team of Matt Canady, Bruce Harlow (the elder statesman among our alumni), Bryan McConaughy, and Derek Mills.
Top mixed foursome went to the seemingly unbeatable Beth and Larry Sampson who hooked-up with Barry Janusch and Mike Braun.
West High '75 was the class competition victors, with just a little help from East.
Hope you make the roster of this fast growing and fun event for this year's tournament on September 22.
Bremerton Heroes
The Semancik Foundation considers the most distinguishing feature of all those who are selected as Bremerton Heroes is their commitment to leaving their community a little better than when they first encountered it.
In 2006, the Semancik Foundation recognized "Ike" Parker and Al Colvin as its first Bremerton Heroes. The recipients who have been designated 2007 Bremerton Heroes, and have already had their names carved in stone in the Victory Park, will be recognized at halftime of a Knight home football game. Congratulations to our 2007 community humanitarian role models, Chuck Haselwood and Louie Soriano.
Legacy for Pelluer families
The family of Maria Pelluer was kind enough to have memorial donations given to the Semancik Foundation. Maria was the wife of John Pelluer and mother of J. Arnold Pelluer, 1952 Bremerton High grad and honored as the All-American End. Her grandsons included Scott who played at WSU and the New Orleans Saints, and Steve who played at the UW, Dallas Cowboys, and Kansas City Chiefs. John and Maria's daughter, Joyce Pelluer Witt Lausund, has been an active donor to the Semancik Foundation since its inception.
Chuck Football is published annually by the Chuck Semancik Memorial Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit tax deductible corporation established and nourished by alumni, athletes, coaches, and friends all sharing to create opportunities for our youth. WA Non-Profit Corporation Act (RCW 24.03) - EIN 91-2020300 - State UBI #602 007 558.
