By Frank Vetters,
Cub Reporter
November 8, 2006
The New York Yankees met the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series. This series featured Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra for the Yankees and Sal Maglie, Carl Furillo, and Jackie Robinson for the Dodgers.
On October 12, 1956, the city of Sheffield missed a chance to annex Muscle Shoals City, when a vote of MSC residents rejected the proposal by 383 against annexation to 219 in favor of joining Sheffield. This might have really changed things for Sheffield.
On October 2, the paper featured a picture of the Sheffield High School Majorettes. Joyce Grainger was the head with Jan Rutledge the mascot. Other majorettes included Geraldine Nash; Kay Mason; Twink Sanders; Peggy Malone; Linda Herring; Carolyn Mcdonald, and Charlotte Bennett.
The team picture for the SHS football Bulldogs was also in that day’s paper. Our classes players pictured were Kenneth Sockwell, Wiley Montana, Dale Williams, Bill Olim, Guy Rankin, Myrll Andrews, Gerald Ingle, Bo Vinson, Ronald Nesbitt and listed as injured was Kenneth Rhoden.
Athens High barely beat Sheffield that week 7 to 0. The article said that the entire Sheffield line was outstanding on defense in the game.
Vanderbilt beat Alabama that week 32 to 7, while Auburn beat Furman 41 to 0.
Movies for the weekend of Oct. 7 included Marilyn Monroe in Bus Stop; 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and John Wayne in the Searchers. How many times has the Searchers been shown as reruns on TV since then?
Don Larsen of the Yankees pitched his perfect game in the World Series that week.
Governor Big Jim Folsom and Sheffield Mayor C.L. Beard were attendees at the celebration held to begin construction on the new Ford Plant.
The Bulldogs barely lost to Decatur by a score of 19 to 12. The paper listed tackle Dale Williams as the most spectacular lineman, causing one fumble. Wiley Montana scored a TD and end Ronald Nesbitt played a good game at end.
On October 14, there was a picture in the paper of the SHS Home Economics Class featuring Sara Terry, Vice President, Donna Blackburn, President along with other members of the class.
On October 18, the front page of the paper featured a picture of the 1956 Homecoming Queen for SHS. The Queen was Nancy Bolton, as selected by the student body.
A picture of the Homecoming Court was in the paper. The court with their escorts were: Nancy Bolton, Queen and Jon Guy Franks; Francis Higdon and James Buettner; Minnie Ruth Tidwell and Charles Clendenon; Mary Katherine Perry and Mike Holland; Betty Lou Davis and Paul Wood. Tommy Mitchell escorted the 1955 Homecoming Queen, Connie Johnson.
The Kroger ad included bread for 15 cents a loaf, large Tide 31 cents, l lb. of Sunshine Crackers 19 cents, can of tuna 33 cents, 10 lbs. of sugar 89 cents and motor oil at only 19 cents a quart. Remember also, all purchases also came with trading stamps.
On October 20, Sheffield whips Northport 13 to 7 in the Homecoming Game at SHS. The article included a picture of jubilant cheerleader Janet Jensen celebrating. The article mention that “end Ronald Nesbitt, the outstanding tackler on the field, commenced pouring the pine with monstrous regularity” (whatever that means). “ He was joined primarily by Bill Olim, who performed splendidly at at the middle guard position in the five man line and linebacker Wiley Montana” Gerald Ingle scored on a 15 yard touchdown pass. Guy Rankin was mentioned in the article for his fine play.
Check the next page, Homecoming 1956 for more photos. I will be happy to add any that you send.BLDR 11/16/06