ROCKVILLE HIGH SPORTS - EARLY 50'S

RHS SPORTS-EARLY 50'S

           I wasn't much of an athlete, but was determined to play football. Upon his entry at Rockville High, coach Ted Ventura had re-introduced football. When I reported for try-outs at the American Legion Field in August of 1950, I was apprehensive but enthusiastic. Eventually, I made the J-V team, joining a great bunch of guys, eager to play. Names I remember include; Bob Hirth, Mickey Ruggles, Rudy Hany, Joe and Andy Curtis, Bob Brennan, Bob Orlowski, Frank Badsteubner, Ronnie Badsteubner, Franny LaForge, Hank McDermott, Bob Gorski, Bob Pagani and Johnny Olender.

           Once school started, it was practice every day. Our practice field was the Rec field in the center of Town. We would suit up in the locker room and exit the school at a run as soon as classes ended for the day. Then it was practice until the dinner hour. We played our games at Henry Park. I don't remember winning many games, but there were some memorable moments.

            At one game (I think against Canton) Bobby Orlowski took the ball for an end-to-end touchdown, running 110 yards. Mickey Ruggles was one of the smallest guys on the team but a real scrapper. In one game, he charged through an opposing lineman, leaving him almost unconscious on the ground. Franny LaForge was the biggest guy on the team. I remember Coach Ventura transferring him off the line into the fullback position as he could bull his way for the extra yards, dragging opposing linemen along with him. Joe and Andy Curtis were brothers and both fine athletes. Joe was probably a bit faster than Andy.  Even better than Joe's athletic abilities was his wonderful singing voice. Hank McDermott was a skinny guy and could run like the wind. Coach was always worried he would get hurt in practice and would yell at the rest of us when we made a hard tackle on Hank. Give him the ball in an open field and he was gone. Hank also played a mean piano, specializing in boogie-woogie.

            My own fleeting moment came when we were playing a J-V game at Mansfield. I played right guard and on the bus on the way over, asked the coach what to do if there was a bad kick-off and the ball came my way. He laughed saying, "Pick it up and run like hell." About halfway through the second quarter, the Mansfield guys kicked off and guess what. It was a bad kick, careened along the ground and bounced into my hands. I grabbed the ball, took a couple of steps and was buried under the entire opposing line. So much for running like hell - but it was good for a laugh on the bus ride home.

            Winter passed, then spring and summer vacation. It was back to the tobacco fields for me and Bob Hanson and Press Strait. We started working peace work that year and made a little more money, but their was something extra. Teachers didn't make much money in those days so when we showed up at the tobacco fields, we learned that our straw boss for the summer was our football coach-Ted Ventura.

           Bob, Press and I worked as a team alternating with two guys picking and one dragging the baskets of leaves. We were pretty fast, made maybe a little bit faster with the "urging" of Coach Ted. He was merciless in trying to get me in shape for fall football. Unfortunately about the second week of practice when school started, I  blew out my left knee (replaced some 60-plus years later) and my football career was over at Rockville High.  It was also my introduction into the grocery business. I went to work for Ed Dymond in his grocery store on School Street. Coach Ventura was a nice man, both on and off the field. He also taught a couple of subjects and coached basketball during that season.

          A couple of other noteworthy memories regarding RHS. My Dad, Luke Alley was a graduate of RHS and star basketball player and President of his senior class.

           Basketball was always the most popular sport at Rockville High. I doubt I ever missed a game. My cousin Bob McCarthy also played for Rockville, well enough to play on into college at Hillyer. A couple of his team-mates I remember were the Brennan brothers and Francis Pritchard. Stu Beal was a trumpet player and every score at every game, Stu would ramble off a triumphant tune on his trumpet. One of the biggest fans for sure. Another big fan was Mrs. Harlow, who taught biology during the daytime hours. Nobody cheered longer or louder at every game. Basketball games on Friday nights usually preceded a school sock hop and all the kids would dance away the night, either in sorrow or celebration.

           Halfway through my sophomore year, my Dad took a job in Westport, CT and I moved to that town where I lived most of my adult life, raising my family and pursuing a career in law enforcement. Following my retirement, my bride and I moved north again and now reside in Manchester, CT.