THE REGISTER~HERALD.
Desire to play football helped shaped men’s future
- By Douglas Tench
- Feb 27, 2011 Updated Jul 29, 2014
Editor’s Note: This article was written by Douglas Tench, formerly of Raleigh County and now residing in Dunbar. In it, he describes the experiences of himself and his friends as they became the first blacks to play football for Mark Twain High School in the late 1950s.
In 1954, lawyer Thurgood Marshall won the landmark case concerning Brown versus the Board of Education, declaring “separate but equal” education for all regardless of the color of their skin was no longer legal. The schools of West Virginia and especially Raleigh County were not impacted by such a decision. White students continued to go to white schools, and black students continued to go to black schools.
The year was 1956, and segregation was still prevalent in West Virginia high schools. The town of Stotesbury was one of many booming coal mining camps in Raleigh County. The one high school for colored students was Byrd Prillerman, which was about a 30-minute ride on a bus. Mark Twain was within walking distance for all of us.
Wayne and I had come home from summer camp at Washington Carver 4-H Camp, Clifftop. We were all at the club joking about going to Mark Twain. Of course, we thought no one was really serious. We later found out Wayne had talked Ronald “Pap” Holland into going out for football with him. When Wayne told his mom, Mrs. Casey, she quickly told him they would not let him go out for the team.
Wayne and I have been like brothers since we were 9 years old. Neither one of us had any formal training when it came to sports. We played any and all ball in the roads between the railroad tracks. The balls were often flat or the bladder was coming out of one the seams. Perhaps our skills were God-given or we were quick learners. Do not forget we had no one teaching us any skills except the coaches. Wayne was a natural and excelled in any sport he played.
Wayne and Pap reported on Tuesday, and I came out a day or so later. Wayne was ready to quit, but Mrs. Casey would not let him. It seems we were not permitted to start something without finishing it. Truthfully, not one of us knew a thing about football uniforms. We did not know where the pads went in or the correct way to wear the shoulder pads. Sadly, no one offered to help us. I guess by then we should have sensed something was not quite right with this picture.
We reported to our practice field, which was Helen’s baseball field. Mr. Hovanski, (recently deceased) was our coach. Coach Hovanski was a very fair man and treated us with respect.
We only wanted to play football, and to our surprise, the football team did nothing to make us feel welcome. It was just the opposite. Our teammates called us names and showed us little respect. They let us know we were not welcome. We stayed to ourselves and made it through practices without any major incidents. There were about 25 white players on the team, and they did not win very often.
Stoco and Sophia high schools burned Wayne’s number in effigy. Trap Hill was just as bad and let their feelings be known without any reservations. Wayne was the first colored boy to play on an all-white football team in Raleigh County and the state. Mr. Charles Walker was the principal and called Wayne to his office on that Friday, the day of our first game. We were in English class, and Wayne and I thought he was in trouble. I later found out Mr. Walker was letting Wayne know that state and county police would be there “just in case something happens.”
Wayne was told trouble was expected at the game. Stoco was our first game of the season, and Coal City was known for being very racist. We rode the bus to Stoco High, and as the bus pulled up to the stadium, the racist name-calling started. Recently, Wayne reminded me coach Hovanski called him aside and asked him if was he certain he wanted to play.
Of course, Wayne said yes. Although he was extremely nervous and scared, he was not going to quit on this night. Well, it rained and stormed so badly the game was called off so we had another night to wonder what the hell were we trying to prove. We played the next night and went through the same treatment. We lost 40 to 0. Wayne was the victim of name-calling because he was a starter. When I went into a game, I received the same treatment.
The last game of our sophomore year, Wayne played quarterback the final minutes against Shady Spring. Coach Daniels realized the ability in Wayne to play the number one position — quarterback.
Our junior year brought another hurdle into Wayne’s life. Coach Daniels announced to the newspaper and team that Wayne was going to be the quarterback. Did that send shock waves throughout the coal camps? This was another first for Wayne, being the first colored boy starting on a white team in Raleigh County and probably the state of West Virginia. Our teammates threatened to quit because they were not going to play with a “n—–” quarterback. Our principal, Mr. Walker had to talk with the team, and only three or four really quit.
Wayne actually played end, linebacker, halfback and quarterback during high school. By the way, we did not begin to win until Wayne became quarterback.
The teams we played were Stoco, Sandstone, Shady Spring, Clear Fork, Trap Hill, Marsh Fork and Glen Rogers. We could not defend ourselves because all eyes were on us and the way we would handle these situations. We had been told by Mr. Walker if we said or did any thing as far as retaliation, we would face suspension for the season. This was enough to get our attention.
Wayne cried a lot, and I kept it inside of me. The one thing that was never affected was our desire to play football. We carried scars throughout high school. The names of those that really cared and showed it were coaches Glen Daniels, Noel “Babe” Rife, Jack Patton and our principal, Charles Walker.
Wayne played football at West Virginia State College, the Wheeling Ironmen semi-pro team and graduated from college. He was selected to the WVSC National Sports Hall of Fame and was introduced by me. He recently retired from several successful business endeavors and positions.
Wayne and I stay in contact and often reminisce about our high school days. Yes, we would do it all over if we had the choice. We realize it was our destiny to go through those experiences, and it really made a difference for those who came later. We certainly understand how those challenges influenced our lives in extremely positive ways and helped to mold us into the successful men we are.
Thanks for the opportunity. After all, we only wanted to play football.