Time Machine: 1967 was memorable year for Cedar Rapids high school football

Editor's note: This is a continuing series of Eastern Iowa sports history 'Time Machine' articles. Mark Dukes worked at The Gazette from 1973 to 1998, the last 14 years as sports editor. 

Metro programs have produced 10 state high school football championships in the playoff era, and each has produced lasting memories for the teams and its fans.

But 50 years ago, Metro football embarked one of the most memorable seasons ever.

In 1967, five years before the playoff system was introduced, these pages chronicled the following:

• Kennedy's first season and some controversy.

• Three teams finishing in the top 6 in state polls.

• The state's longest undefeated streak was snapped in a Metro rivalry.

• Prairie dedicated its football field to John W. Wall, a former player and student who was killed in the Vietnam War.

Local stadiums swelled with fans in an era before cable television and iPhones. Metro teams were good, as the eight schools combined for a 41-26-3 record.

The season was chronicled by Gazette staffers Gus Schrader, Jack Ogden, Al Miller and Bob Lana. Education writer Bill Duffy also became involved in the reporting of athletes avoiding moves when new district boundaries were drawn.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy opens

The opening of Kennedy in 1967 caused a measure of controversy and front-page news stories in The Gazette. With the school district creating boundaries for Kennedy, Jefferson and Washington, some athletes previously at Jefferson and Washington found themselves in the Kennedy district.

Several families moved to keep their children in the Jefferson or Washington districts. Some athletes changed guardianships to attend one of the three schools.

Kennedy fielded a competitive football team in its inaugural year and finished 3-6 under coach Dale Tryon.

The Cougars' opener was Sept. 15, 1967, against LaSalle at Kingston Stadium, the first game ever between Metro public and parochial schools. Mark Votroubek took back a 66-yard punt return in the first quarter for a 6-0 Kennedy win.

Kennedy finished the campaign with back-to-back wins over Davenport West and East Moline (Ill.). Linebacker Steve Dodge was a first-team all-Metro pick and center Gary Louvar received honorable mention all-state.

John Wall Field

On the same day as Kennedy's opener, an estimated 3,000 people gathered at Prairie for the dedication of its football field. Congressman John Culver was on hand to deliver the speech to dedicate John W. Wall Field.

Wall was a 1963 graduate of Prairie and played linebacker and fullback on the football team. He joined the Marines in September 1965 after working two years for Iowa Electric Light and Power Co.

Cpl. Wall was a radio telegraph operator stationed in the Thua Thien province of Vietnam. His battalion was involved in building a school and other facilities in the area. In the nighttime of April 21, 1967, his platoon became engaged with Viet Cong on a bridge.

They met heavy gunfire and one of Wall's fellow officers was severely wounded in both legs. Wall went to his aid but he, too, was mortally wounded.

In his Red Peppers column in May 1967, Schrader wrote, 'John W. Wall field at Prairie may mean something personal to only a few scattered people 10, 20 or 50 years from now, but we think it will stand as a memorial to the sacrifices a lot of American families made in Vietnam.'

Wall was 21. He was buried at Murdoch-Linwood Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Today, patrons at John Wall Field can view a fitting memorial to him.

Great teams, games

Jefferson, Washington and Regis all fielded excellent teams, combining for a 24-3 record with each squad going 8-1.

State champions were determined by panels of sportswriters and sportscasters in the Associated Press and United Press International polls. The final AP poll had Washington third, Jefferson fourth and Regis seventh. The final UPI poll had Jefferson third, Washington fourth and Regis sixth.

All three teams were guided by Hall of Fame coaches: Jack Fisk at Jefferson, Wally Sheets at Washington and Tom Good at Regis.

Jefferson's lone loss in 1967 was to Washington, 34-14. The Warriors employed a crushing rushing and return game led by Bob Brewster, Joe Hatchett and Landy Waller. Washington's victory snapped the J-Hawks' state record 37-game undefeated streak.

Washington fell to Moline (Ill.), 27-7. Regis played No. 1 Waterloo East in the final regular season game. East won its second consecutive mythical state title and its 20th straight game, 34-14.

Players from Jefferson, Washington and Regis occupied 19 of the 22 spots on the 1967 all-City team. Nine of them notched all-state honors: guard John Blessman, end Tom Mullin, tackle Clark Malmer, quarterback Ron Heidt and halfback Gary Benson of Jefferson; halfback Bob Brewster, guard Jack Douda and tackle Rick Jensen of Washington, and end Tim Stephenson of Regis.

Blessman, Mullin and Douda were among those whose parents moved so their sons could remain at their schools when Kennedy opened.

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