THE GOLDEN AGE OF JHS ~ 1965 ~ Page III

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JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVES

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The first of the decade's urban race riots began in the Watts district of Los Angeles. It lasted 6 days with 34 people dead, 1,072 injured, and 4,000 arrested.

The first rumblings against the war in Vietnam began with protests around the nations college campuses. The practice spread to campuses throughout the nation and the first demonstration of 15,000 in Washington D.C.

Lyndon Johnson's makes the "Great Society" State of the Union speech and signs the Medicare bill making national health care available to the elderly.

Concert Band Members; First Row - L- R; J. Marlow, S. Craven, M. Underwood, G. Brooks, M. Bryan, S. Blackstock. Second Row - L - R; A. Parks, K. Bryan, T. Daves, C. Langford, P Bryant, P. J. Hoard, J. McEver, A. Ethridge, P. Daves, S. Thorn, E. Boyd, D. Kinney. Third Row - L - R; C. Frix, B. Rice, G. Davis, B. Massey, T. Purcell, S. Kinney, E. Underwood, V. Martin, J. Cole. Fourth Row - L - R; S. Kinney, V. Murphy, P. McCreery.

The Jefferson High school Marching Band and Majorettes.

Priscilla Daves - Drum Major.

Judy Marlow - Head Majorette.

Another good crowd on hand to watch the Dragons at Memorial Stadium.

Football Team: First Row - L - R; G. Foster, R. Johnson, G. Kesler, B. Duke, D. Hancock, J. Stovall, E. Watson, L. Stewart, D. Murphy, C. Godfrey. Second Row - L- R; M. Cotton, C. Anglin, G. Thurmond, D. Beatty, H. Sauls, D. Watson, B. Ray, T. Beatty, J. C. McEver, W. Storey. Third Row - L - R; R. Cooper, J. Bishop, R. Johnson, T. Nabors, M. Burnett, S. Bryan, C. Hooper, J. Beatty, H. Williams, J. Elrod. Fourth Row - L- R; K. Rosser, C. Fuller, S. Wilson, M. McCain, D. Foster, D. McEver.

Coach Davis with Dragons Captains Rod Johnson ( 22 ) and Billy Duke ( 12.

Front Row - L - R; David Gooch, Walter Storey, James Stovall, David McEver, David Hancock. Second Row - L - R; Eddie Watson, Charles Hooper, Jerry Ewing, Tommy Nabors, Charles Pinion.

J. C. McEver. Tackle.

Mike Cotton. End.

George Kesler. End.

Billy Duke. Quarterback.

Ronnie Johnson. Halfback.

Howard Sauls. Guard.

Rod Johnson. Halfback.

Larry Fletcher. Tackle.

Steve Wilson. End.

Dragons playing defense against Union County.

Jefferson 1965 football schedule.

Rod Johnson scores versus Union County on a 13-yard run as the Dragons won 20 - 14 on Homecoming night.

Eddie Watson; Best Defensive Award Winner in football.

Howard Sauls; Best Lineman and Best Spirit Award winner in football.

Gerald Foster; Best Back Award Winner in Football.

Johnny Beatty; Most Improved B-Team Player - 1965.

Billy Duke; Most Valuable Player Award in football.

Walter Storey; Best Blocker Award Winner in football.

1965 - B-Team Football. First Row - L- R; T. Beatty, J. Bishop, E. McEver, R. Huckeba, L. Weldon, S. adams. second Row - L- R; J. Ewing, J. Beatty, C. Wood, E. Pethel, L. Stowe, J. Hayes. Third Row - L - R; Coach Paul Knight, K. Key, P. McDonald, J. Alexander, T. Tatum, Manager - B. Bolton.

Dragon Football Cheerleaders - L - R; Mildred Stringer, Mary McElhannon, Laura Massey, Claire Adams, Elieen Bryan, Melanie Bullock, Carolyn Samples, Judy Hawkins, Dianne Thurmond.

On November 6, 1965 in Toccoa, the Jefferson Dragons closed out their season with a 20 - 0 loss to the Purple Hurricanes. They completed the season with a 4 - 6 record. Coach John W. ( Stooge ) Davis coached his final game for Jefferson High School. A new era of Jefferson Dragon football had begun. The Golden Age of Jefferson Dragon Football had reached its end. Hundreds of players had worn the blue and red since they started play in 1947. While there were numerous "stars" over these years, most of the players were average guys that just wanted to play the game. To be a star was not why they played football. Many, at the time, didn't realize the valuable life lesson's they were learning. That realization would come later in life.

I Thank GOD for the opportunity and the health to have played for the Dragons. I also Thank God for teachers like Coach John W. Davis, Lew Holliman, Mrs. Mabel Potter and Miss Irene Rankin. They were the high school teacher's at Jefferson High that had the greatest impact on my life. ~ Cecil Buffington.