20051207 Carroll Public Schools’ Extracurricular Activities teaches values

Carroll Public Schools’ Extracurricular Activities teaches values

December 7, 2005 by Kevin Dayhoff (680 words)

(Related – see: Sports in Carroll County Football Westminster High School, 20021019 Freestate Spectacular XVI Marching Band Competition)

Originally published in the Westminster Eagle

While researching last week’s column on the 1951 football game between City College and the Westminster High School Owls, I leafed through the 1951 and 1952 Owl yearbooks, graciously loaned to me by Dr. Dean Griffin. Each page rejoiced in wonderful extra-curricular school activities, a great community, wonderful teachers, school administrators and students who later assumed community leadership.

The same feelings occurred looking at my Westminster High School (WHS) yearbooks from 1969 to 1971, twenty years after 1951. Attending the game last Friday night brought back a flood of great memories of growing up in Carroll County in the 1950s and 60s. The more things change, the more they stay the same, only updated.

Last week was a great week for our community. The South Carroll Cavaliers and Westminster Owls advanced to the state football championships and the Westminster Christmas parade came back. These are all positive things that bring a community together – just as years ago.

School extra-curricular activities build citizens, leaders and community. These activities teach positive consequences for hard work and discipline, the value of teamwork and the pride and confidence that come with accomplishment or just knowing that you did your best.

My nieces play in a high school band. It is inspiring to go to band competition events and see hundreds of young adults proudly displaying the results of hours of practice, teamwork and discipline in finely choreographed routines.

In a recent long conversation, Superintendent of Carroll County Public Schools, Dr. Chuck Ecker agreed. He went on further to say that when he was growing up “near Uniontown… I came home [from school] and … had many other chores. Often today’s children don’t have many home responsibilities… [Extra-curricular activities] teach meaningful teamwork relationships with others. Today we have too many rights and not enough responsibilities. With school activities, students learn to have a responsibility for what is best for the team… And the consequences for not fulfilling those responsibilities come from their peers and not an authority figure. It’s more that just sports...” Dr. Ecker continued excitedly, mentioning school bands, music programs and theatre…

Caroline and I stopped at Harry’s after the Westminster Christmas Parade last Saturday for my routine “two with everything.” Two Harry’s hot dogs have been a “Dayhoff Nutritional Pyramid” staple since the 1960s.

As Kim Henn took our take-out order for dinner, she noticed our “Go Owls” buttons and shared her excitement about the football game against City. Ms. Henn, WHS Class of 2007, works at Harry’s, runs on the track team and maintains good grades. She explained that extra-curricular activities “have taught me time management skills… I realize the value of my time…” Ms. Henn is looking forward to a career in broadcast journalism. What she is learning by staying active will serve her well in her future professional life.

In my interviews with Dr. John Steers, Sr. and Dr. Griffin; the same words were repeated as to the values that extra-curricular activities taught them: inspiration, work ethic, overcoming difficulty, focus, tenacity and the adrenaline rush of hard work.

Dr. Griffin took the opportunity to reminisce about the careers of the 1951 Owl football team. Raymond Bankert went on to work many years at Westminster Bank and Trust Company. Allen Baugher continued the family restaurant business. Donald Copenhaver worked for Baltimore Gas and Electric in their Westminster office. Charles Barrick ran “Nubbins” on Washington Road. Charles Havens became a successful D.C. attorney and worked with the likes of Dean Rusk. Urban Bowman coached in the Canadian Football League. Dean Leppo worked with the county Sheriff’s Department.

All got their start in Carroll County Public Schools and learned to excel by participating in extra curricular activates.

Local attorney, classmate and teammate Bill Finch (WHS Class of 1972), says “extra curricular activities keep teenaged boys and girls occupied and tired… and this a good thing…” He mentioned sports and high school band. He cited that “various studies indicate that children involved in extra curricular activities have better academic performance.”

The grades are critical, but winning’s not bad either. Go Owls and Cavaliers.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at: kdayhoff at carr dot.org

20051207 Carroll Public Schools’ Extracurricular Activities teaches values

####

20051130 Westminster, City College set to renew old football ties

Aerial photo of Westminster High School on Longwell Avenue in 1950

See related:

Sports in Carroll County Football Westminster High School

Westminster, City College set to renew old football ties

Westminster Eagle

11/30/2005 By Kevin E. Dayhoff

This Friday at 7 p.m., City College of Baltimore and Westminster High School will face off in the state football semifinals - at Westminster.

The only other time these two teams played each other on the gridiron was 54 years ago, in September 1951.

Two prominent local physicians remember that '51 game well - from opposite sides of the field.

Dr. John Steers Sr., City College class of 1952, played end for the City College Black Knights.

Dr. Dean Griffin, WHS class of 1952, was the team manager for the Westminster Owls.

In September 1951, the Westminster football program was only four years old. Herb Ruby first started Westminster High School football in 1947.

Fortunately, the lights for the field (later named Ruby Field) had been installed the year before or the game may never have happened.

According to Steers, as the bus driver was bringing the City College team up Old Baltimore Pike, (four years before Route 140 opened), "he got lost, and we followed the lights to the school."

It may have been just as well if City had gotten lost, as the Owls came up short in the contest, 20-6, in a game marred by too many fumbles, according to an account by The Sun.

(The 1952 Owl Yearbook notes that the Owls lost 22-6. Whatever ... Westminster lost.)

In 1951, head coach Herb Ruby, backfield coach Fern Hitchcock and line coach Nate Weinstock mentored the Westminster Owls, according to Griffin.

For City, Andy DiFassio was head coach. Steers still keeps in touch with Difassio after all these years, and will have dinner with him this week. Steers is considering inviting him up for this Friday's game, but may re-consider "due to [DiFassio's] age," he said.

Griffin noted that Ruby and Hitchcock were later recognized by the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Rotary Club, for contributions to sports in Carroll County. Nathan Weinstock was a volunteer coach.

Many will remember that Weinstock also owned "Weinstock's Dress Shop" on Westminster's Main Street.

A member of the Owls 1951 football team, Charlie Havens Jr., was also later inducted into the Hall of Fame. (So was his dad, Charlie Havens Sr., a Western Maryland College coach who also played professional football and was an active volunteer in the Westminster Fire Company. Griffin referred to him as a "one-man ambulance crew.")

Both Griffin and Steers remember the game as if it were yesterday.

Early in the first quarter Steers, playing end for the Knights, gathered up a fumble on the Westminster 15-yard line. Two plays later, Dick Whedbee, of City scored on a 13-yard run.

In the September 1951 Sun account, staff writer Edwin H. Brandt wrote: "City scored again after two minutes of the second quarter had gone by when Gene [sic Ð Carl] Fisher, Westminster quarterback, fumbled ... twice in a row. City recovered the second on the 9-yard line and [two plays later] Chuck Doering plunged over É"

"Westminster made its bid to get back into the game," Brandt continued, when "Fullback Al Kelbaugh got his shoulders over the goal line É"

In the third and final score of the game, "Quarterback Jerry Sisson then went around end on the initial play of the last period for the touchdown."

In this year's rematch, Westminster is ranked second in the state, according to a Nov. 23 poll by The Sun, while City is ranked 11th.

Griffin pondered that the 2005 Owl football team, coached by Brad Wilson, may be one of the three best ever fielded by Westminster. The other two teams he mentioned were the 1976 team and 1950 squad, which went 9-1 for the season. (This writer would add the 1981 squad.)

In 1950, Quarterback Jack Bowersox was named "All-Maryland" and halfback Bob Settle and tackle Calvin Dutterer were named "All-County."

The 1951 Owl yearbook notes that the success of the team "was the culmination of a great deal of work on the part of civic-minded citizens of WestminsterÉ"

Today, many "civic-minded" citizens who know their football expect Westminster to go on to win the state championship after they settle a 54-year old score with City College.

Dr. Steers said he is looking forward to the game this Friday, and asked that The Westminster Eagle spread the word for 1951 team members to get in touch with him, so that they may meet at the VFW at 4:40 p.m. for dinner and attend the game together.

It's a shame they'll all witness City College lose.

Go Owls.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com and Winchester Report.

Copyright 1998-2007 MyWebPal.com. All rights reserved.
Contact us at webmaster@mywebpal.com
All other trademarks and Registered trademarks are property
of their respective owners.

History Carroll Co., History Westminster, People Carroll County, Sports in Carroll County Football, Sports in Carroll County Football Westminster High School, Westminster Eagle

20051130 Westminster, City College set to renew old football ties

Aerial photo of Westminster High School on Longwell Avenue in 1950

Westminster, City College set to renew old football ties

Westminster Eagle

11/30/2005 By Kevin E. Dayhoff

This Friday at 7 p.m., City College of Baltimore and Westminster High School will face off in the state football semifinals - at Westminster.

The only other time these two teams played each other on the gridiron was 54 years ago, in September 1951.

Two prominent local physicians remember that '51 game well - from opposite sides of the field.

Dr. John Steers Sr., City College class of 1952, played end for the City College Black Knights.

Dr. Dean Griffin, WHS class of 1952, was the team manager for the Westminster Owls.

In September 1951, the Westminster football program was only four years old. Herb Ruby first started Westminster High School football in 1947.

Fortunately, the lights for the field (later named Ruby Field) had been installed the year before or the game may never have happened.

According to Steers, as the bus driver was bringing the City College team up Old Baltimore Pike, (four years before Route 140 opened), "he got lost, and we followed the lights to the school."

It may have been just as well if City had gotten lost, as the Owls came up short in the contest, 20-6, in a game marred by too many fumbles, according to an account by The Sun.

(The 1952 Owl Yearbook notes that the Owls lost 22-6. Whatever ... Westminster lost.)

In 1951, head coach Herb Ruby, backfield coach Fern Hitchcock and line coach Nate Weinstock mentored the Westminster Owls, according to Griffin.

For City, Andy DiFassio was head coach. Steers still keeps in touch with Difassio after all these years, and will have dinner with him this week. Steers is considering inviting him up for this Friday's game, but may re-consider "due to [DiFassio's] age," he said.

Griffin noted that Ruby and Hitchcock were later recognized by the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Rotary Club, for contributions to sports in Carroll County. Nathan Weinstock was a volunteer coach.

Many will remember that Weinstock also owned "Weinstock's Dress Shop" on Westminster's Main Street.

A member of the Owls 1951 football team, Charlie Havens Jr., was also later inducted into the Hall of Fame. (So was his dad, Charlie Havens Sr., a Western Maryland College coach who also played professional football and was an active volunteer in the Westminster Fire Company. Griffin referred to him as a "one-man ambulance crew.")

Both Griffin and Steers remember the game as if it were yesterday.

Early in the first quarter Steers, playing end for the Knights, gathered up a fumble on the Westminster 15-yard line. Two plays later, Dick Whedbee, of City scored on a 13-yard run.

In the September 1951 Sun account, staff writer Edwin H. Brandt wrote: "City scored again after two minutes of the second quarter had gone by when Gene [sic Ð Carl] Fisher, Westminster quarterback, fumbled ... twice in a row. City recovered the second on the 9-yard line and [two plays later] Chuck Doering plunged over É"

"Westminster made its bid to get back into the game," Brandt continued, when "Fullback Al Kelbaugh got his shoulders over the goal line É"

In the third and final score of the game, "Quarterback Jerry Sisson then went around end on the initial play of the last period for the touchdown."

In this year's rematch, Westminster is ranked second in the state, according to a Nov. 23 poll by The Sun, while City is ranked 11th.

Griffin pondered that the 2005 Owl football team, coached by Brad Wilson, may be one of the three best ever fielded by Westminster. The other two teams he mentioned were the 1976 team and 1950 squad, which went 9-1 for the season. (This writer would add the 1981 squad.)

In 1950, Quarterback Jack Bowersox was named "All-Maryland" and halfback Bob Settle and tackle Calvin Dutterer were named "All-County."

The 1951 Owl yearbook notes that the success of the team "was the culmination of a great deal of work on the part of civic-minded citizens of WestminsterÉ"

Today, many "civic-minded" citizens who know their football expect Westminster to go on to win the state championship after they settle a 54-year old score with City College.

Dr. Steers said he is looking forward to the game this Friday, and asked that The Westminster Eagle spread the word for 1951 team members to get in touch with him, so that they may meet at the VFW at 4:40 p.m. for dinner and attend the game together.

It's a shame they'll all witness City College lose.

Go Owls.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com and Winchester Report.

Copyright 1998-2007 MyWebPal.com. All rights reserved.
Contact us at webmaster@mywebpal.com
All other trademarks and Registered trademarks are property
of their respective owners.

History Carroll Co., History Westminster, People Carroll County, Sports in Carroll County Football, Sports in Carroll County Football Westminster High School, Westminster Eagle

20051129 Westminster Eagle: WHS City College set to renew old football ties

EAGLE EXTRA: Westminster, City College set to renew old football ties

(Related – see: Sports in Carroll County Football Westminster High School

By Kevin E. Dayhoff – originally published in the Westminster Eagle on 11/29/05

This Friday at 7 p.m., City College of Baltimore and Westminster High School will face off in the state football semifinals — at Westminster.

The only other time these two teams played each other on the gridiron was 54 years ago, in September 1951.

Two prominent local physicians remember that ’51 game well — from opposite sides of the field.

Dr. John Steers Sr., City College class of 1952, played end for the City College Black Knights.

Dr. Dean Griffin, WHS class of 1952, was the team manager for the Westminster Owls.

In September 1951, the Westminster football program was only four years old. Herb Ruby first started Westminster High School football in 1947.

Fortunately, the lights for the field (later named Ruby Field) had been installed the year before or the game may never have happened.

According to Steers, as the bus driver was bringing the City College team up Old Baltimore Pike, (four years before Route 140 opened), “he got lost, and we followed the lights to the school.”

It may have been just as well if City had gotten lost, as the Owls came up short in the contest, 20-6, in a game marred by too many fumbles, according to an account by The Sun.

(The 1952 Owl Yearbook notes that the Owls lost 22-6. Whatever ... Westminster lost.)

In 1951, head coach Herb Ruby, backfield coach Fern Hitchcock and line coach Nate Weinstock mentored the Westminster Owls, according to Griffin.

For City, Andy DiFassio was head coach. Steers still keeps in touch with Difassio after all these years, and will have dinner with him this week. Steers is considering inviting him up for this Friday’s game, but may re-consider “due to [DiFassio’s] age,” he said.

Griffin noted that Ruby and Hitchcock were later recognized by the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Rotary Club, for contributions to sports in Carroll County. Nathan Weinstock was a volunteer coach.

Many will remember that Weinstock also owned “Weinstock’s Dress Shop” on Westminster’s Main Street.

A member of the Owls 1951 football team, Charlie Havens Jr., was also later inducted into the Hall of Fame. (So was his dad, Charlie Havens Sr., a Western Maryland College coach who also played professional football and was an active volunteer in the Westminster Fire Company. Griffin referred to him as a “one-man ambulance crew.”)

Both Griffin and Steers remember the game as if it were yesterday.

Early in the first quarter Steers, playing end for the Knights, gathered up a fumble on the Westminster 15-yard line. Two plays later, Dick Whedbee, of City scored on a 13-yard run.

In the September 1951 Sun account, staff writer Edwin H. Brandt wrote: “City scored again after two minutes of the second quarter had gone by when Gene [sic – Carl] Fisher, Westminster quarterback, fumbled ... twice in a row. City recovered the second on the 9-yard line and [two plays later] Chuck Doering plunged over …”

“Westminster made its bid to get back into the game,” Brandt continued, when “Fullback Al Kelbaugh got his shoulders over the goal line …”

In the third and final score of the game, “Quarterback Jerry Sisson then went around end on the initial play of the last period for the touchdown.”

In this year’s rematch, Westminster is ranked second in the state, according to a Nov. 23 poll by The Sun, while City is ranked 11th.

Griffin pondered that the 2005 Owl football team, coached by Brad Wilson, may be one of the three best ever fielded by Westminster. The other two teams he mentioned were the 1976 team and 1950 squad, which went 9-1 for the season. (This writer would add the 1981 squad.)

In 1950, Quarterback Jack Bowersox was named “All-Maryland” and halfback Bob Settle and tackle Calvin Dutterer were named “All-County.”

The 1951 Owl yearbook notes that the success of the team “was the culmination of a great deal of work on the part of civic-minded citizens of Westminster…”

Today, many “civic-minded” citizens who know their football expect Westminster to go on to win the state championship after they settle a 54- year old score with City College.

Dr. Steers said he is looking forward to the game this Friday, and asked that The Westminster Eagle spread the word for 1951 team members to get in touch with him, so that they may meet at the VFW at 4:40 p.m. for dinner and attend the game together.

It’s a shame they’ll all witness City College lose.

Go Owls.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr dot org

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Contact us at webmaster@mywebpal.com
All other trademarks and Registered trademarks are property
of their respective owners.