Farragut’s Press NEWSLETTER OF THE MARE ISLAND HISTORIC PARK FOUNDATION MUSEUM

December, 2011

1902 Rose Bowl, Michigan 49, Stanford 0

Mare Island and the Rose Bowl

The weather has turned crisp and the leaves are

changing, so it must be football season. Soon it will be

Christmas and then New Years and the Tournament of

Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl football game. “But

what does that have to do with Mare Island?” you ask.

The Rose Bowl, considered the granddaddy of bowl

games, was first played in 1902 at Pasadena California’s

Tournament Field (Rose Bowl was not built until 1923)

between Stanford (3-1-2) and Michigan (11-0).

Michigan was coached by Fielding Yost who had been

the coach at Stanford the previous year. Admission

was $.50 to $1.00 and an additional $1.00 allowed you

to bring your horse and buggy onto the grounds. The

field was 110 yards long; there were two 30 minute

halves. Each team had 3 downs to make 5yards;

forward passes were not allowed and the scoring

system was as follows: touchdowns = 5 points; field

goals =5 points; conversions=1 point In the second

half with eight minutes left to play the score was

Michigan 49, Stanford 0. Capt Ralph Fisher of

Stanford asked to quit the game and the Michigan

captain agreed. There was no football game for the

next fifteen years, though they had such events as

chariot races and ostrich races.

In 1916 they resumed playing football and in 1917

Oregon went to the Rose Bowl and played

Pennsylvania. The coach of the Oregon team was

Hugo Bezdek. The captain of the team was John

Beckett and the stars were Hollis and Shy Hollington,

two brothers. Oregon, in an upset, won by a score of

14-0. In 1953 when the MVP award was created, John

Beckett was chosen and given the award retroactively.

Soon after the United States was involved in World

War I and it was considered unpatriotic to be drafted,

so many young men enlisted. John Beckett enlisted in

the U.S. Marines during his senior year. In fact, about

half of the Oregon football team also enlisted in the

Marines and they all ended up being sent to Mare

Island for basic training since that is where Marines

from the West Coast received their basic training until

1924.

In 1918 the Rose Bowl committee decided not to have

a game since many of the young men who would have

been in college playing football were in the military

and there was no place for an East-West football game

during a national crisis. However, President’s Wilson’s

chief of publicity decided that was not a good idea and

that a jittery nation needed a release from war worries.

When the Rose Bowl offered to cancel the game, the

government bestowed its official approval on the

game and suggested all proceeds be given to the Red

Cross. It was decided it would be a contest between

two military teams and the Mare Island Marines and

the Army from Camp Lewis in Washington were to

compete.

According to a December 26, 1917 article in the

Vallejo Evening Chronicle the 40,000 soldiers at Camp

Lewis were entirely confident that their team would

make short work of the Marine team. As the Army

team passed through California on their way to

Mare Island Museum Hours 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Weekdays

10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. First and Third Weekends Tel: (707) 557-4646

Shipyard tours by appointment, please call: (707) 664-4746 or (707) 280-5742

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Preserving the history of Mare Island

Farragut’s Press December, 2011

States Marine Corps and rose to the rank of brigadier

general. He was inducted into the College Football

Hall of Fame in 1972 and was a charter member of

both the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and the

University of Oregon Hall of Fame in 1992.

The 1916 University of Oregon Team

The 1919 University of Oregon Team at a 30 year reunion

(1) John Beckett, (2) Hollis Huntington, (3) Charles “Shy” Huntington

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Pasadena they made sure that people at each stop were

made aware of how easy it was going to beat the

“navy’s soldiers.” And the sports writers, especially

those in San Francisco seemed to agree with them.

The only remaining stronghold with belief in the

Marines was Vallejo.

Commissioned while on duty at Mare Island, Johnny

Beckett coached and played on the Marine football

team which beat all other teams in the west, including

the University of California at Berkeley. When Coach

Bezdek heard his former players were again going to

the Rose Bowl, he came to Mare Island to coach them.

So in 1918, on a hot 86 degree day in Pasadena, the

Mare Island Marines played football. Hollis

Huntington gained 111 yards on 20 fullback smashes.

Jap Brown was the quarterback. Mare Island won the

game 19-7. Huntington was chosen as the MVP.

Huntington would again play in the Rose Bowl after he

returned from the war on an Oregon team that was

coached by his brother Shy. He was one of only three

men to have played every minute in three different

Rose Bowl games. Beckett became the only player to

have captained two different Rose Bowl teams.

In 1919 most of the Marines who had played on the

Mare Island team had shipped out, but Mare Island

(10-0) was again invited to the Rose Bowl as the

representative of the West Coast and great Lakes

Naval training Center was the representative for the

East. The quarterback for Great Lakes was the

“Wasp” Paddy Driscoll who completed four of eight

passes, including a 45 yard touchdown to George

Halas. Halas, the game’s MVP, rushed for 34 yards,

drop-kicked a 30 yard field goal and averaged 43.5

yards with six punts and returned nine punts for 115

yards. Halas also holds the Rose Bowl record for the

longest non scoring pass by returning an intercepted

pass for 77 yards. On the coldest day ever recorded

for a Rose Bowl game, 25 degrees, the Marines were

defeated by the Navy team 17-0.

As any football fan knows, Halas became known as

“Papa Bear” Halas a pioneer National Football League

coach, owner of the Chicago Bears and a member of

the National Football League Hall of Fame.

John “Johnny” Beckett coached Marine teams at Mare

Island, Quantico and San Diego and had a winning

record (56-19-3.) He served fifty years in the United

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Farragut’s Press December, 2011

What’s a Docent?

One of the primary means of support for Mare Island

Historic Park Foundation is by renting St. Peter’s

Chapel, the Mansions or the museum for events.

These rentals could not occur without the volunteers

we call docents. The docents are there to open and

close the facility, to provide assistance to the renters,

to ensure the safety of the guests and to make sure

that the property is properly cared for by the renter.

Typical of these docents is a long time volunteer,

Helga Wallace. Helga was born in Schneimuhle,

Germany, close to the Polish border. Her family and

neighbors were among the first to flee when the

Russians invaded Germany during World War II.

After the war was over, Helga’s mother had died and

her father was in a British prison as a result of the

war. There were few prospects for a young person

and Helga decided that her future lay somewhere

other than in Germany.

She read an ad in a German newspaper for a nanny

and called the number. It was the grandparents of

children who needed the nanny and the family lived in

New York. They called their son who was a director

of Volkswagon and he decided to hire her. It took

almost a year for her to get a visa and she had to

remain in the United States for two years. She

fulfilled that obligation and then went to work for a

family in Connecticut with whom she is still quite

close.

But Helga loved to travel and each year when she had

vacation she would travel to other parts of North

America. She decided that she wanted to live in

California. When she had fulfilled her contract with

her employer they helped her get a job in the

mailroom with a life insurance company in California.

Helga spoke little and could not write in English, but

she learned on the job.

After Helga retired she read an ad in the paper in

Vallejo in 2002 for volunteers at Mare Island and

decided to apply. She now volunteers as often as three

or four times a month and at other times it may only

be once or twice a month. She likes the fact she can

work when it is convenient and if she has something

else she needs to do, no one is offended if she says

no. She feels that being a docent is a great way to

make friends and you are usually always working with

people who are happy because they are celebrating a

wedding or some other pleasant event in their lives.

She says that parents and grandparents, especially, are

most appreciative and always thank her profusely.

People are often amazed she is a volunteer, but she

tells them she loves the job and meeting and making

friends is her pay. In fact she said.” Everybody who is

retired should volunteer. It should be a law!”

When asked what her most unusual experience was as

a docent she remembered a Hell’s Angels wedding.

Everybody rode up on their Harleys and they all wore

jeans and T-shirts. Refreshments were hot dogs and

beans. She said it was probably the happiest and most

fun wedding she had ever seen.

Helga says she is constantly telling other people about

the benefits of being a volunteer. She likes the

opportunity to put on some of her nicer clothes and to

get out and meet new people and to work with the

other docents she has met while at Mare Island.

If you are interested in being a docent please contact

Joyce Giles at the museum (707) 557 4646 or on her

cell (707) 280 5742. Training is provided and you can

decide if you want to docent at the mansions, the

chapel or both. And, yes, we also have men who are

docents, as well as couples who work events together!!

It’s a great opportunity to keep active, provide service

to the community, meet new people and have fun.

And you do not have to be retired!!!

A stain glass window “Good Shepard” in

St. Peter Chapel at Mare island

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Farragut’s Press December, 2011

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USS Langley (CV-1)

Coming Events

December 15, 2011 Christmas Party for Volunteers

5:00-7:00 P.M.

Quarters A

December 18, 2011 2:00 P.M.,

St. Peter’s Chapel

January 30, 2012 MIHPF Board Meeting

10:00 A.M.

Quarters A

April 23, 2010 MIHPF Board Meeting

10:00 A.M.

Quarters A

June 24, 2012 Contra Costa/Solano Food Bank Gala

Quarters A and B

For Further Information Contact the Museum at

(707) 557-446

16th Annual Christmas Concert

One of the first events sponsored in 1996 by the

newly formed Mare Island Historic Park Foundation

was a Christmas concert in St. Peter’s Chapel. This

year the foundation will be presenting the 16th Annual

Christmas Concert, Holiday Celebration: A Journey

through Time, on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 2:00

P.M. at St Peter’s.

Returning after a well-received concert last year will

be the Vallejo Choral Society directed by Dr. Cyril

Deaconoff. The concert will feature Renaissance to

Baroque choral music, gospel and minstrels and

popular Christmas carols. Dr. Deaconoff said the

choir was especially looking forward to the concert

after their warm reception last year.

Tickets for the concert are $15.00 and may be

purchased at the Mare Island Museum, the Vallejo

Naval and Historical Museum or the Vallejo

Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Tickets can also be

purchase d by using a credit card and calling (707)557

4646. You can also purchase tickets by mail by

sending a check to MIHPF, 1100 Railroad Avenue,

Vallejo, Ca 94592. Tickets purchased by phone or

mail can be picked up at Will Call the day of the

concert. Tickets will be sold at the door, but it is

advisable to purchase tickets prior to the concert as

we have had standing room only crowds in recent

years.

Following the concert, the traditional reception will be

held at Quarters A, the Admiral’s Mansion, which will

be decorated for the Christmas season.

St. Peter’s Chapel, Mare Island, California

Mare Island Historic Park Foundation Partnership 1100 Railroad Avenue, Vallejo, CA 94592

(707) 557 4646 mihp46@att.net www.mareislandhpf.org The Mare Island Historic Park Foundation keeps alive the history of Mare Island Naval Shipyard and chronicles its shipbuilding activities in the museum, as well as preserving the most historic buildings – St. Peter’s Chapel, the Shipyard Commander’s Mansion and Building 46, the oldest building on the island dating from 1855. The shipyard founded in 1854 by Commander David G. Farragut, first admiral in the USN, was the first naval installation on the West Coast and was an important contributor to success in World War II in the Pacific. It also played a prominent role in the Cold War by building 17 nuclear submarines. We invite YOU to become a part of this endeavor by partnering with the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation and supporting its work. Benefits of Partnership:

Free Admission to the Mare Island Museum (Bldg 46) for the year of partnership 10% discount on purchases in gift shop Advance notice via email of new exhibits or events sponsored by the foundation Access to Mare Island Museum Library Free newsletter via email Helping to preserve the history of Mare Island Naval Shipyard

Partnership Levels: (All partnerships are for one (1) year and are fully tax deductible)

• Individual $25.00 – Admits partner named on card • Out of State $20.00 – Admits partner named on card • Family $40.00 – Admits two household members and their children or grandchildren 12-18 (under 12 are free) • Student $15.00 – Admits student named on card with a student ID card

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mare Island Historic Park Foundation Partnership Application Name _______________________________________________________________ Date ___________________ Street Address _______________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip Code ___________________________________________________________________________ Phone____________________________ Email Address ______________________________________________ Partnership Level: ______ Individual $25 _____ Out of State $20 _____Family $40 _____ Student (with ID) $15 Visa_____Mastercard ____American Express____Card Number _________________________ Exp. Date ______ Make checks payable to MIHPF. Remit to: ATTN; Partnership Mare Island Museum 1100 Railroad Ave, Vallejo, CA 94592 (For Office Use Only) Received by:_____________________________ Date_______________

Farragut’s Press December, 2011

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