According to the Summerville News in a story which appeared in the December 1, 1955 edition, the Summerville High School football team was honored at a banquet held at Riegeldale Tavern. The banquet was given by the Quarterback Club, its first ever.
From left to right, Lamar Parker, coach; Jimmy Barron, senior center; Marlin Payne, Quarterback Club captain; Jimmy Waters, senior guard; Pete Boney, master of ceremonies; Morris Hogg, senior halfback, Malcolm Thomas, guest speaker, and Carlton Reynolds.
The team members, coaches, and club members were served a steak supper. Afterward, Dr. Marlin Payne introduced Pete Boney, an attorney and former coach at both Summerville and Trion high schools, who served as master of ceremonies and regaled the attendees with humorous stories of his coaching days.
Each player was presented a team photograph by Coach Lamar Parker. The players were commended for their cooperation, team spirit, and practice attendance. (Considering the 1 win and 9 loses for the 1955 team, there wasn't a lot to crow about. And, yes, the team lost to Trion 6 to 13 that year.)
Principal E.M. Blue thanked the Quarterback Club for the scoreboard at Sturdivant Field and other support during the club's first year. Principal Blue said several of the team's stronger opponents had been reclassified and would be removed from the game schedule for the 1956 season. Superintendent Lowell Hix also commended the team for their excellent spirit.
Summerville insurance agent Malcolm Thomas was introduced as the main speaker. Thomas was a member of Summerville High School's first football team in 1933 and told the audience that many of his teammates had never watched a football game prior to their debut.
According to statistics presented by Thomas, Summerville's best season was in 1941 under Coach Farmer. The following season, the reverse was true with another 1-9 season under Coach Pesterfield. The next year, 1943, there was no team. (No doubt due to World War II.) Following Summerville's 1940 loss to Trion (0-39), the two teams did not meet again until 1944 when Summerville lost 0-75.
After Thomas concluded his remarks, a film of the Summerville-Trion game was presented by L.C. Smith Sr.
Photograph by T. Emmett Nunn. Courtesy of Chattooga County Library.
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2012 Greg W. McCollum. All rights reserved.