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Restoring pride in a community by fixing an old school building is one thing, but can it serve as a platform to help restore pride in the football team? We think so!

By Brad Heath | Photos by Rip Stell

1917 RamonaHigh School Football- With a few additions to the back row.

Renaissance building in Ramona was built around 1915-16 by the Kreep & Hinkle Company of Bartlesville. The “Showcase” building provided the students of Ramona with a place not only for classrooms, but a regulation basketball court was built on the top floor with opera-type seating and a capacity of nearly 400. The lower floor housed a small power plant, a swimming pool with modern dressing rooms featuring hot and cold showers. The lower floor also included a woodworking room and a forging room. This was truly an innovative building that served students for many decades.

In the late 90’s the building was in trouble. A leaking roof, broken windows, holes in the floor, all made it very difficult for students to use the facility effectively. After several attempts at making the building an historical landmark, the school board and the community were faced with trying to decide whether to tear down, rebuild or restore. The community chose to restore and in January of 1996 the restoring process began.

But this story is about more than just the rebuilding of a 93 year-old building. In January 2010, VYPE printed a photo of the 1917 Ramona football team. Not knowing who was in the photo, what year it was taken or where it was, VYPE left it up to the readers

to let us know. Jewell Marie Boone and Dana Cross from Bartlesville we were able to piece the story together. While eating at a local Wendy’s restaurant, Jewell Boone picked up a copy of VYPE to read as she ate. As she turned to page 12 of the January 2010 issue she was shocked to find a picture of her father sitting in the front row for the Ramona football team.

We (VYPE) received a letter

in the mail explaining the photo. Names were hand written on the photo, Talmage Boone, Harold Patterson, Paul Lee, Maurice Bass. So the research began.

Then the idea was born. What if that building was still standing? Could we take a photo with the current football team? Several years ago Ramona consolidated

with three other districts now know as Caney Valley.

A few phone calls and a couple of trips up I-75 and you’ve got yourself a story. Yes the building is still standing and yes the football team can climb up that same staircase. A few modifications have been made to the stairs. The current steps are much taller with handrails and a wheelchair access ramp has been built off to one side. Interesting side note, the original

stairs are visible under the ramp. The brick on the side of the stairs are covered with plaster, but the door into the building and the windows look the same as they did in 1917.

*A special thank you goes out to Lois Plett for gathering priceless information on the building and the head coach, Ralph Hamilton.

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The Players - NewLyndall “L.W.” BerwaldtRB/DE - #30

Lyndall “L.W.” Berwaldt is new to the Trojans this season, but he is expected to contribute full heartedly. L.W. enjoys playing music and says he would be voted most likely to become CEO of a company. He is best known for his Jerry Clower imitations and his favorite subject is school is Math.

William “Lil Bill” BradleyQB - #3

William “Lil Bill” Bradley also displays his skills on the diamond during baseball season. Bradley is a character and is known for being a class clown, but he gets his studies done, especially in Math. He is known for being very athletic.

Brandon “B-Dub” KincaideRB/WR - #25

Brandon “B-Dub” Kincaide is fast on the filed and fast on the motocross track. He is best known for getting in trouble because he is class clown like Bradley. His favorite subject is school is English. Look for No.25 racing for a touchdown.

Austin “Shordy” EdenWR/CB - #20

Austin “Shordy” Eden is known for his good looks, but isn’t afraid to get dirty. Eden likes to show livestock in his free time and believes he is most likely to become President. His favorite subject in school is Math.

Jordan “G-Baby” BradleyWR/CB - #5

When Jordan “G-Baby” Bradley isn’t chasing down wide receivers he’s chasing girls on campus. Bradley is a whiz at Math and is most likely to become a highway patrol after high school. He’s also known for having a good time at parties.

Landon “Smokey” LunsfordTE/LB - #35

Landon “Smokey” Lunsford is a hard-hitting linebacker who loves to suck up to his teachers. When the pads are off Lunsford enjoys hunting and fishing and hopes to one day to become an actor. His favorite subject in school is Math.

The Players - Old(The descriptions used in this paragraph are copied from the 1917 Ramona High School yearbook titled Gusher)

Football was new to Ramona in 1917, but coach Hamilton was able to form a team and compete at a high level. The Captain was Maurice “Slick” Bass, played quarterback and always contended for a square deal. Dewey “Dude” Ely played right tackle and started there the entire year. George “Chief” Daniels played right end and his favorite pastime was importing flowers to a blonde. Talmage “Cabbage” Boone played fullback and was known for eating cabbage, being a hard line plunger and a demon on defense. Harry “Pete” Radebaugh played left guard. Radebaugh also filled in at center and his pastime was making tackles and flunking history. Harold “Pat” Patterson played center and was known for his sense of humor. Patterson’s pastime was telling tales. Paul “Shag” Lee played halfback and surprised Caney when he picked off one of their passes in the air. Joe “Count” Foltz played halfback. Foltz tackled men who were coming straight at him, that’s how he broke his “breather” in the Dewey game.

It was a new game to the kids of Ramona High School. Today the players fight to restore the pride once prevalent in the school, in the locker room and on the football field. Now head coach Anthony Fogle in his fifth year, is looking ahead at a brighter future with the squad. “The Caney Valley Trojans are a young group of guys working hard to change the past disappointments and rekindle the success of old. The extreme heat hasn’t dampened any spirits. We are 30 strong right now with expectations of a few more joining our ranks.” Coach Fogle continues, “The boys have already become a closer knit family than the teams of years past. We have high expectations to have a break out season this year. The attitude has been awesome in the locker room and the boys have been so dedicated that they spend up to an hour after practice getting extra reps.” The overall feel around the players is one of excitement and eagerness to get on the field and the photo shoot for this story has taken on a life of it’s own. “The photo shoot was an awesome experience for me and my boys. The boys have been buzzing about the old team and asking many questions. It has given us time to reflect on the history of our program and allows my team to take a since of pride in working to revive a tradition of winning like the school did so many years ago,” said coach Fogle.

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Onyx “The Ox” Bonner DE - #65

Onyx “The Ox” Bonner is known for working out 24/7 and would be voted most athletic, although he’s known for being a class clown as well. When he’s not working on Science homework he’s hanging out with friends, playing volleyball or wrestling.

Dillon “D-Bo” WardMLB - #52

Dillon “D-Bo” Ward plays middle linebacker for the Trojans. When he’s not on the field he loves to hunt and fish, but in school he loves to mess with the A.G. teacher. His favorite subject is Math and could be voted as the most athletic in the school.

John-David “Maverick” MartinOLB - #4

John-David “Maverick” Martin spends much of his school day working on Math, but when practice rolls around he’s usually making the coaches angry. The linebacker loves to hunt and fish and thinks he’s thinks he should be voted the most athletic.

Jared “Goose” Ward QB - #7

Jared “Goose” Ward not only plays a big role on the football team he also plays baseball and basketball. He’s known for his athletic ability and is most likely to succeed. His favorite subject in school is U.S. History.

Jarrod “Chief” AllenC/DT - #58

Jarrod “Chief” Allen is a throwback player known for his direct snaps and fighting with the coaches. His favorite class is Current Events, but when he has some free time he prefers to hang out with friends and play baseball.

Kade “Jeffy” CopelandG/LB - #66

When Kade “Jeffy” Copeland isn’t fishing or working out he’s playing guard and linebacker for the Trojans. Copeland is known as a good fisherman and excels in A.G. class. Look for Copeland to be a success on and off the field.

Steve “Stevamos” RobledoDT - #74

Steve “Stevamos” Robledo could be considered the teams gym rat. He loves to workout and hang with friends. His favorite subject in school is Science and he believes he could be voted most likely to succeed.

Levi “Feo” FarrisDE - #75

Levi “Feo” Farris has high hopes for the season and his future. Farris says his class will vote him most likely to become President. When he’s not playing football he’s on the wrestling mat. Farris is a good hunter and his favorite class is Math.

Eddie “Puppet” RobledoRG - #70

Eddie “Puppet” Rebledo loves hand-to-hand combat on the offensive line and enjoys doing MMA in his free time. His favorite class in school is History and he’s known for his cage fighting. Rebledo believes he will be voted most likely to succeed.

“The photo shoot was an awesome experience for me and my boys. The boys have been buzzing about the old team and asking many questions. It has given us time to reflect on the history of our program and allows my team to take a since of pride in working to revive a tradition of winning like the school did so many years ago,” said coach Fogle. Now the players take the field on Friday nights playing for more than just themselves. They play for Talmage “Cabbage” Boone and George “Chief “ Daniels, for Maurice Bass, Harry “Pete” Radebaugh and all the guys from years past. They also play for each other and those who will come long after they are gone. And maybe, just maybe one day another team at Caney Valley will look at their photo, read the nicknames and how they played against Barnsdall, Chelsea and Mounds and they too will inspire a group of young men to do something great on the football field.