In celebration of the 94th year of Tiger Football, this original photo was sent to me recently by Fred Reckling (Lusk High School Class of 1952). Here is the starting offense for the 1947 team. RE Keith Ray #40 JR (front L-R), RT Kenneth Butler #41 SR, RG Bill Reckling #30 SR, C Richard Lenz SR, LG Mahlon Blagg SR, LT Everette Kilmer SR and LE Kenneth Malmborg SR. TB Melvin “Red” Williams #21 JR (back L-R), #38 Richard Hoy, WB Bob Cates #22 SO and FB Stan Kuns #35 SR.

Everett Kilmer still resides in Lusk and I had the pleasure to reminisce with him and his wife Fredda Lou on their days as high schoolers during the late 40’s and early 50’s. “Mahlon Blagg was too little for high school football, but he didn’t know it,” noted Everett. “My god he was a tough fart.” Blagg’s name came up several times in this interview and it became apparent that Everett and Mahlon were pretty good friends.

Kenneth Butler was easily the biggest and toughest guy on the team. Bob Cates was the sophomore quarterback, and might be Lusk’s first multi-sport star. “Oh, he was the best looking guy,” said Fredda Lou. “And he still looks like a kid, but she got stuck with me,” Everett added with a smile. Cates was an all-around star in football, basketball, baseball and track and field. “Stan Kuns, he was the fastest guy on the team,” added Everett. “He was tough too-still lives in Torrington. Richard Hoy would beat himself over backwards sometimes- he was just a battering ram every game.”

As the memories came back to the Kilmers, I continue to learn how much different things were 70 years ago. Kirtley Road, the Rawhide Buttes and Node were part of an extension into Lusk, and Fredda Lou mentioned days of Everett and Mahlon walking home up the 28 road.

“Bill Reckling- he was our injury guy,” said Everett. “If we needed to save a timeout he would lay there with a bad knee or whatever, go out for a couple of plays and come back.” After a pause and grin he added, “I’m pretty sure the referees knew what was going on, but it must not have been illegal because they never said a word.” Dale Gunn and Red Williams were also mentioned by Everett as great teammates.

The 1947 team went 3-4-1 in Floyd Hart’s second official stint as head coach, and laid the groundwork for the first era of greatness. His 1943 team went 7-1-1 and won a conference title before going off to fight in World War II in 1944 (8-1 Conference Champs), ’45 and ’46 before returning.

One game stands out from Kilmer’s senior year as the Tigers went to Midwest in late October. The Oilers won 7-0 on a wet muddy field, and Everett commented, “I think our shoes weighed ten pounds each in that gumbo by the time it was over, it was nothing but rain and snow the whole damn game.”

The 1948-49 teams went a combined 14-3-2 and won the conference both years. “He was a tough coach, but fair, everyone liked Coach Hart,” Everett said. “And he coached everything- football, basketball, baseball and track, there was no wrestling at that time.”

Despite not winning another championship, Coach Hart retired in 1953 as the winningest coach in school history with 47 victories. The record stood until the first game of the perfect 1986 season when Jerry Fullmer passed Hart and Matt VandeBossche passed him in the second game of his eighth season in 2012.

Nine miles west, the Manville Panthers also had a memorable season. They went 6-0 in an early version of six-man football and were declared state champions by statewide media members.