It was 60 years ago that the Ballard Beavers football team went undefeated and was crowned as the state champs. This weekend, the 1951 team was honored. On Friday afternoon there was a luncheon and pep rally, followed by a tailgate party at the high school before the homecoming football game on Saturday.
Russ Quackenbush was a senior wide receiver on the team. “It was a great group of guys. I think that’s what was so neat about it,” he tells us about that 1951 team. “There were no stars, no two or three guys who made it happen. It was all of us, offensively and defensively. It was a special group of guys.”
The 1951 undefeated state champs. Russ Quackenbush is third from the right.
During half time of Saturday’s game, the team was honored in front of a sea of red and black. “I think it’s very special. None of us anticipated all this that’s been done for us,” Quackenbush says. “In fact I think it makes it more of an event now than it was when it happened.”
Many of the players on the 1951 team started working out together in the summer of that year at the Loyal Heights Field House. Not only did they go undefeated that year, but Ballard outscored its opponents by 187-8.
Two players were nominated All-American: Mel McCain and Arleigh Hiersch. Seven others made the all-city team. And in the Thanksgiving Day game, Ballard beat Bremerton 14 to 13.
And the champs weren’t disappointed at last night’s homecoming game against Garfield. Ballard dominated the night, winning 26 to 7 at Memorial Stadium. Congrats, Beavers! Here a few more photos from the big homecoming game:
For those of us who grew up in Ballard in later years, it was awesome to see how many of those players continued to live in the community and raise their families there – their contributions were immense. Russ Quackenbush went on to be a legendary science teacher at BHS for his entire career. Mel McCain was a successful finance executive who helped mentor young people in the community (including members of my family). I could go on and on. Both of those players teamed up as very successful players for WSU and are also legendary ‘Cougs – along with long-time BHS vice principal Frank Sarno. If you ask why Ballard is such a great community, there’s your answer.
For more on 1951 season-for-the-ages:?
http://files.leagueathletics.com/Text/Documents/3675/23562.pdf
If it were not for Mr. Quackenbush, I would have never had the chance to participate in YCC.? That was a?great summer learning about our forests and caring for them. ??He was a very good teacher and made the classroom experience fun and interesting!
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就刚刚辛卯年(兔)九月十四 2011-10-10………为什么qgw4cs评论还要审核
Beavers Rule!!!!
This is absolutely fine – let the athletes remember their glory days and enjoy the memories with like-minded fans. But just once, I’d like to see a high school – or a college for that matter – hold a big public celebration like this for the former students who went out and accomplished important things in the world using their *education*. Where’s the cheering crowd for the doctors, the scientists, the successful businessmen whose tireless efforts shape our community and began with what they learned at these schools? All this focus on the entertainment we get from a handful of athletes on Friday night seems off-target for a school.
Are you really a “former student”? How did you miss the enormous “Wall of Recognition” at BHS which dominates the foyer at the main entrance and honors dozens of Ballard grads, from elementary school teachers to an astronaut? Somehow you missed out on hearing about the hundreds of alums who have raised over $1.5 million to benefit student programs at Ballard – with all of the publicity that went along with it. The only thing off-target here is your attitude, get back to Ballard and get involved, you can recover your Beaver spirit!?