Dunbar High School was wellknown across Oklahoma for its athletic programs and coaches – football, baseball and track, with several coaches, and players’ names now etched in the pages of history for their prowess.
Names come to mind such as Wilbur Ross, Jerry Franks, Clarence James, Elmer House, Ted Clements, Dewey McClain, Jasper Brown – and that list goes on and on.
As the Dunbar Alumni gather this weekend in Okmulgee for the reunion, we take a glimpse back at a period of time in the Tigers history where they won several state football and conference championships in a six-year period. See page A10 for a picture of the group of men that were honored for their run at the state basketball championship, though their being honored may have been delayed for several years.
— Tigers stormed through campaign with incredible string of victories (1949) The Dunbar Tigers raced through the 1949 football season with a perfect 8-0 record and their A Conference crown, equal to the classification’s state championship. This was the first of three state crowns the Okmulgee school would win during a 6-year span.
Dunbar followed up with the title in 1950 … and added another in 1955. But the first one for Dunbar was very special to the community.
Here are the game by game results from the 1949 campaign:
• Dunbar 25, Beggs 0
• Dunbar 32, Tulsa St. Monica 0
• Dunbar 33, Sapulpa 6
• Dunbar 14, Choctaw Dunjee 12
• Dunbar 25, Hugo Booker T. Wash. 0
• Dunbar 35, McAlester L’Overture 0
• Dunbar 37, Wewoka 6 • Dunbar 35, Ponca City Attucks 7 Here is a recap of the games of the 1949 campaign:
Dunbar 25, Beggs 0
The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers opened their 1949 season against Beggs Wheatley on September 23. The 8 p.m. kick-off at Harmon Field featured two teams with most of their players returning from the 1948 campaign. Both teams boast strong lines and shifty, hard-running backs.
Dunbar’s defense proved to be too much for the visiting Beggs squad. Offensively, Holly Hall opened the scoring with a touchdown run. James McDowell followed with a rushing TD. Later, James Jackson fired a 35yard TD pass to Gilbert Eaves.
— Dunbar 32, Tulsa St. Monica 0 The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers started conference play Oct 7 with a home date against the Tulsa St. Monica Saints. The Tigers were looking to avenge the 12-0 loss from a year earlier. A nice crowd was on hand at Harmon Field for Dunbar’s blowout victory.
The Tigers extended their win streak and shutout streak to five games straight, dating back to the final three games of 1948.
Okmulgee’s scoring was balanced. TDs were provided by Eaves, Cardell, McDowell, Moore, and Hall. A pair of extra points were made by James Jackson.
— Okmulgee 33, Sapulpa 6
The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers extended their winning streak to six wins, including three this season. However, the hosting Sapulpa did end the Tigers’ shutout string at five. Sapulpa’s Bulldogs managed one touchdown in the one-sided victory.
Holly Hall was the offensive star with two touchdowns and three extra- point conversions. James Jackson added a pair of touchdowns in the winning cause. He also tossed a 50yard TD pass to Gilbert Eaves.
— Okmulgee 14, Choctaw Dunjee 12 The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers defeated Choctaw Dunjee 14-12 in a road game Oct. 21.
Dunbar fell behind 6-0 early in the game. However, the Tigers rallied ahead with a 30-yard TD pass from James Jackson to James McDowell. Jackson then put the Tigers on top 7-6 on a keeper for a conversion in the second quarter.
Dunjee countered with another goahead score on a short running play. The effort sent the host team to halftime with a 12-7 lead.
Okmulgee Dunbar rallied again for the game-winning score in the third quarter. James Jackson scored the TD and Gilbert Eaves chipped in the extra point for the 14-12 final margin.
— Okmulgee25,HugoBookerT.Wash.0
The Dunbar Tigers crushed Hugo’s Booker T. Washington Hornets 25-0 on Oct. 28 at Harmon Field. The win puts Okmulgee in the driver’s seat in the A Conference championship.
Tiger running backs ran at will, including Jackson, Hall and McDowell.
A 40-yard Jackson to McDowell opened the scoring floodgates. Mc-Dowell leaped between two would-be tacklers at the 15-yard line to make the circus catch. He then raced to pay dirt for the score.
After a Hugo fumble, Okmulgee jumped up by two TDs. Jackson ran a keeper around the right end for the score.
Harley Hall made it a 3-TD lead with a powerful six-yard touchdown run later in the half.
The final touchdown was set up by a 30-yard pass from Hall to McDowell. Two players later, Hall dashed into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night.
In the backfield, McDowell was the glue-fingered receiver who caught passes from Hall and Eaves.
Captain Cordell Moore, Jackson Eaves and Harley Hall alternated in battering the opponents’ line and skirting the ends.
McMullin, a standout center and linebacker, was out of the game. He was replaced by Davis, a 200-pound backup center.
— Okmulgee 35, McAlester L’Overture 0 Dunbar was hammered 28-0 by McAlester L’Overture last year. This time around, the Okmulgee squad came out on the winning side of a 35-0 blowout against a previously undefeated team on Nov. 4 at Harmon Field.
The win moves the Tigers close to clinching the A Conference championship with their win at Harmon Field. The win would also likely earn the Tigers a place in the Big Seven championship game.
James Jackson scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to start the game. Later in the first period, Jackson tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Montgomery.
Captain Cordell Moore started the second-half scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run. Hollie Hall followed with the extra point.
Dunbar defender David Mims was very impressive in the win. He scored a safety when he tackled a McAlester player in the end zone. Later, Mims added a defensive touchdown when he picked off a pass and returned it 65 yards for the score. Hollie Hall got the call on the conversion and tacked on his second extra point.
Dunbar’s forward wall included: Mims, Montgomery, McMullins, Collins, Hollie Hall, Watkins, and Elliott.
Elliott turned in exceptional play on both sides of the ball. He blocked a punt to set up an Okmulgee touchdown.
Also playing standout ball was the Dunbar backfield of James Jackson, Charlie Moore, Cordell Moore, and McDowell. Despite being one of the youngest Tigers on the field, McDowell more than held his own against the visitors.
The victory was sweet for the Tigers. They were successful in downing the defending champions of A Conference football (from 1948).
— Okmulgee 37, Wewoka 6
The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers blistered hosting Wewoka 37-6 to capture the ‘A’ Conference championship. Wewoka was a mighty foe, having gone unbeaten before falling to the Okmulgee footballers.
The Dunbar team is now a perfect 8-0 on the season, and owns an 11game win streak dating back to last season.
Okmulgee led 2-0 in the first quarter. Hollie Hall and Watkins sacked the ball carrier in his own end zone to tally the early points.
Wewoka rallied ahead 6-2 with a touchdown at the end of the first quarter.
Dunbar came back with a go-ahead drive. Charlie Moore gained 40 yards on a run to the Wewoka 6-yard line. On the next play, Hollie Hall blasted into the end zone for a 9-6 edge.
Charlie Moore set up another score with a 38-yard run. On the following play, Cordell Moore punched the ball in for a TD.
Two more scores were provided by Hollie Hall and Cordell Moore. Hall sprinted 60 yards to paydirt … and Moore bolted 40 yards to the end zone.
Fans were also treated to a 55-yard touchdown pass from James Jackson to James McDowell.
— Big Seven Championship Game Okmulgee 35, Ponca City Attucks 7 The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers tackled the Ponca City Attucks Chiefs in a Homecoming.
The visitors were billed as a fast and heavy team, with players averaging 173 pounds at every position. Also on the line was a season-long shutout at Harmon Field. No opponents have scored on Dunbar – with one game to play.
One other interesting fact: the coaches of the two teams are brothers!
A mammoth homecoming parade was held at 4 p.m. in downtown Okmulgee.
In the game, Charlie Moore put Okmulgee on top with a 9-yard run off-tackle. James Jackson plunged through the line for the conversion for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
In the second period, Gilbert Eaves blasted off-tackle for an 8-yard TD run. Cordell Moore followed with the conversion run to make it 14-0.
James McDowell caught a 50-yard TD pass from James Jackson just before the end of the first half. McDowell also tacked on the conversion for a 21-0 cushion.
Cordell Moore tallied a third-period TD on a 3-yard run. Jackson was credited with the conversion for a 28-0 cushion.
Jackson made the final Okmulgee TD on a 15-yard run around the corner. Richard Archie got the call on the conversion run to blow the lead open to 35-0.
Attucks never threatened to win. However, the Chiefs did score the first opponents points against Harmon Field. Up to that time, no opponent had scored at Harmon Field against Dunbar.
Five Dunbar seniors were on the winning side. The group includes Cordell Moore, Charlie Moore, Glen Ward, David Mims, and Clarence Elliott.
— Dunbar follows up with near-perfect season (1950)
The Okmulgee Dunbar opened the 1950 season with an 8-game schedule, including four contests slated for the friendly confines of Harmon Field. Coach E.T Johnson returns to the helm, along with Coach Elmer House. The coaches welcome back about six returning starters from the A Conference title team.
The state’s 15 participating schools were split into three districts for 1950. The Tigers were expected to win District 2’s crown.
Quarterback James Jackson returns to direct the Dunbar offense. He was an incredible passer and runner during the 1949 season.
Halfbacks Gilbert Eaves and James McDowell will provide offensive spark from the backfield. Others include center Carl McMullin, tackle Charlie Montgomery and end Harley Hall.
The schedule opened at Muskogee on September 29. After that, the Tigers played all four October games at home in Harmon Field. Their foes include Hugo on Oct. 6, Sapulpa on Oct. 13, Dungee on Oct. 19, and Sand Springs on Oct. 26. The final three games will be on the road. The Tigers travel to Beggs Wheatley on Nov. 2, visit Boley on Nov. 10, and play at Tulsa’s St. Monica on Nov. 15.
The district games are Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Beggs and Boley.
— Muskogee Manual Training High School 34, Dunbar 0
The Dunbar Tigers lost the opener 34-0 to the Muskogee Manual Training High School Bulldogs. The showdown in Muskogee at the ball field across from the bus station. The starting lineup included the following Tigers: E – Harvey Oates E – Pat Watkins T – C. P. Montgomery T – James Gore G – Clarence Hall G – Arky Davis, Jr. G – Willie Huffman C – Carl McMullin QB – James Jackson RHB – James McDowell FB – Gilbert Eaves LHB – Harley Hall — Dunbar 34, Hugo Hornets 0
The Okmulgee Dunbar squad rebounded from the loss at Muskogee by blistering the Hugo Hornets 34-0 Friday night at Harmon Field. The win extends the unbeaten home streak which started in October 1948.
All-Conference quarterback James Jackson was the star against Hugo. Jackson tossed four touchdown passes and ran for a fifth TD.
Other major weapons were Harley Hall and James McDowell. They were the ‘big guns’ behind Jackson. Backup QB Johnson also made his bid for fame against the Hornets.
Okmulgee started the scoring parade with a 25-yard TD pass from Jackson to Oates. The score came early in the second quarter. Jackson then crashed into the end zone for the conversion.
The lead swelled to 14-0 when Jackson scored on a 5-yard bootleg play. Hall caught the conversion pass after the TD.
Okmulgee’s final touchdown was a 40-yard pass from Jackson to Oates. The QB had taken the snap and dropped back to pass the midfield stripe. He then launched a bomb all the way to the end zone where Oates caught it for an instant touchdown.
— Okmulgee Dunbar 34, Sapulpa 6 The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers improved to 2-1 Friday night with a 34-6 thumping of the visiting Sapulpa Booker T. Washington Bulldogs. Okmulgee is now 2-0 at Harmon Field in 1950.
The win in conference play featured an easy romp for the defending state champs. Second and third team players saw plenty of action as Okmulgee was barely tested by the visitors.
QB James Jackson fired a 30-yard touchdown toss to fullback Gilbert Eaves. Dunbar added the extra point for a 7-0 lead. Sapulpa then responded with their only TD of the night. The tally came on an end-run from about 30 yards away. The extra point try failed, which left the visitors down by a point, 7-6.
After that, it was all Dunbar. The final score of the game came in the third quarter. Jackson bucked the line on a quarterback sneak from the 2-yard line. He also ran in the extra point to seal the 34-6 victory for Dunbar.
— Okmulgee 33, Choctaw Dungee 0 The Choctaw Dunjee Tigers were no match for the hosting Dunbar Tigers in their Thursday night showdown at Harmon Field. A crowd of over 3,000 showed up to watch the non-district conference meeting.
Hollie Hall put the Dunbar squad on top in the first quarter. The hard-running back crashed up the middle for a 25-yard touchdown run.
After Dunbar blocked a punt, the DHS Tigers punched in a short scoring drive. The final 2-yard run was by Eaves on a slick handoff from QB James Jackson.
Dunjee tried unsuccessfully to get on the board the entire first half. Meanwhile the 12-0 Okmulgee lead remained unchanged until mid-way through the third stanza. That’s when Jackson linked up with Oates on a 45yard TD toss. Jackson ran a keeper for the extra point to make it a 19-0 game.
On defense, Jackson then picked off a Dunjee pass at the Dunbar 20. The fleet-footed Okmulgeean then rocketed straight up the middle for an 80yard interception return for a score. Jackson flipped the ball to McDowell to make it a 26-0 blowout.
— Okmulgee wins forfeit over Sand Springs
Sand Springs ran into a player situation and was unable to bring a team to Okmulgee for the Oct. 26th game. Instead, they forfeited the conference game to the Dunbar Tigers. Officials expressed a desire to play the game later in the season, to allow Dunbar to play all four scheduled home dates.
— Okmulgee Dunbar 21, Beggs 6 The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers captured the District 2 championship with Thursday’s 21-6 win over the hosting Beggs Wheatley squad.
The conference win featured scoring by all members of the starting backfield, and also one of the ends. Hollie Hall opened the scoring parade with a 25-yard touchdown run. Fullback Gilbert Eaves tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The Wheatley Bears responded with a 65-yard TD run by Adams. Their attempt to tie the score failed when Dunbar stuffed the play. That left Okmulgee on top 7-6. A 60-yard pass to the Beggs 3 setup Okmulgee’s next score. Jackson then bullied his way over for the TD from three yards out.
James McDowell raced 12 yards for the third Dunbar touchdown.
The final score was provided by a defensive end for Okmulgee. End John Oates fell on a Bears blocked punt in their end zone to extend Dunbar’s final margin to 21-6.
— Okmulgee 26, Langston Freshmen 13 The final regular season game was played Nov. 10th against the Langston University freshmen. It was the Dunbar Homecoming game at Harmon Field. This is a replacement game for the one dropped with Sand Springs.
Okmulgee fumbled the first play of the game. Langston recovered and drove a short distance for the TD. The Lions also added the extra point to lead 7-0.
Each team scored once in the second quarter.Dunbar worked back into a tie in the third period. A touchdown and an extra point deadlocked the score at 13-13.
From there, Dunbar erupted for two more touchdowns and a pair of extra points. That iced away the 26-13 win.
-Okmulgee 32, Tulsa St. Monica Saints 0 Okmulge Dunbar closed out the regular season with the Tulsa’ St. Monica Saints at Carver Stadium in Tulsa.
The game was close for the first half. In fact, Dunbar was clinging to a 7-0 lead. But after intermission, it was all Dunbar. The Tigers burned the Saints for four more touchdowns en route to a 32-zip blowout.
— Okmulgee Dunbar 13, Guthrie Favor High 6 The ‘A’ Conference championship was decided Dec. 1 at Jelsma Stadium in Guthrie. Okmulgee Dunbar and Favor High School each enter the game with unbeaten conference records. Dunbar’s lone loss was in the season opener in late September at Muskogee Manual. Since then, the Tigers have beaten seven straight opponents (and collected a forfeit from Sand Springs.)
On this night, Guthrie Favor High held the home field advantage. But even that was not enough to stop Okmulgee Dunbar’s bid for a second consecutive state A Conference crown.
Okmulgee’s scoring began on a 3-yard sweep by Hollie Hall. QB James Jackson added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Favor appeared on the way to a game-tying touchdown. However, deep in Dunbar territory, Favor’s quarterback attempted a pass into the end zone. Instead of scoring, Favor players watched Dunbar speedster James McDowell intercept the pass … and return it 103 yards for a touchdown! The score provided the game-sealing points.
Late in the game, Flavor also used an interception to score. Their pick by a defensive back was returned 60 yards for the score. However, the only thing the play did was round out the final margin at 13-6 in Dunbar’s favor.
— Tigers thrive in 1955 season
Coached by Elmer House, the Dunbar Tigers romped through the season after an opening loss, but never looked back as they went on to capture a AA Conference title.
— Muskogee Manual Technical 28, Dunbar 12 Okmulgee Dunbar’s Tigers suffered a 28-12 loss to Muskogee Manual Training High School in Muskogee.
— Dunbar 6, Idabel Wildcats 0
The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers notched their first win of the 1955 football season on Sept. 23, 1955 at Harmon Field. Dunbar was on the up side of a 6-0 victory over the Idabel Wildcats.
The only score in the game came on a 9-yard end sweep by the quarterback, Walter Willis. The touchdown came in the third quarter of the defensive struggle.
The win put Dunbar in first place in the Double A conference standings.
— Dunbar 18, Ardmore 2
The scouting report had Okmulgee Dunbar expected to face a larger team, and a series of trick plays in short-yardage situations. However, Coach Elmer House was up to the task and stormed to an 18-2 win over the hosting Ardmore squad.
The win kept the Tigers on track for a possible conference championship.
— Dunbar 0, Tulsa Booker T. Wash 0 For the first time in 35 years, the Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers did not lose to the talented Tulsa Booker T. Washington Hornets. The Oct. 7 showdown ended in a 0-0 tie at Harmon Field.
Tiger fans were thrilled to watch their defense stand up to the more powerful Tulsa squad. Several times the Hornets drove down to the five or six yard line of the Okmulgee squad. Each time, the smaller Tigers stopped the scoring bid.
Every man on the Dunbar team played a great game against the beefy Hornets.
— Dunbar 13, Lawton 6
A big game awaits the Dunbar Tigers and the Lawton Lions in this ‘AA’ Conference showdown. The Oct. 20 encounter in Commanche County would provide the Tigers with an opportunity to almost clinch the conference crown.
Support was heavy for the Tigers as three buses were taken to Lawton, including the world-class Dunbar High School marching band.
In the end, the title-hungry Dunbar Tigers smashed the powerful Lawton Lion grid machine. The win improves the Tigers to 3-0 in the ‘AA” Conference.
Vernon Armstrong opened the scoring with a one-yard plunge in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Willis twisted 12 yards for a touchdown to double the lead to 12-0. Cook kicked the conversion to increase the lead to 13-0.
Lawton’s Lions managed one TD before the final gun sounded. However, the host team came up on the short end of the 13-7 final score.
— Okmulgee Dunbar 32, Hugo 6 The Dunbar Tigers took a step closer to the AA Conference championship with a 32-6 win over the Hugo Hornets.
A hard-rushing Okmulgee defensive line stopped Hugo cold. On offense, Dunbar scored touchdowns in every quarter en route to the impressive victory.
The 26-point win gives Dunbar a strong grip on the conference title.
Quarterback Walter Willis opened the scoring with a 14-yard TD run in the first quarter. Later in the opening frame, halfback Vernon Armstrong blasted 12 yards off-tackle for another Okmulgee touchdown.
In the second period, fullback Cornell Simon banged over from the 4-yard line. Willis then added the kick to send the Tigers to halftime with a 19-0 edge.
Willis followed excellent line blocking to score a 40-yard TD run in the third period.
Okmulgee’s final touchdown came in the fourth quarter. Vernon Armstrong helped to set it up by throwing a 35-yard pass to Walter Willis. The quarterback then ended the drive with a 4-yard run. Armstrong followed with the conversion to make it a 32-0 game.
Hugo avoided a shutout by blocking an Okmulgee punt near the goal line. The Hornets banged home a 5-yard TD run to make it a 32-6 final.
By winning, the Tigers improved to a perfect 4-0 in conference play.
— Dunbar 24, Choctaw Dunjee 7 The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers locked up the AA Conference crown on Friday, Nov. 4 at Harmon Field. The 24-7 win over Dunjee clinched the title for Coach House and his squad.
Homecoming provided a backdrop for this pivotal showdown. Okmulgee’s chances were bolstered by 10 talented seniors who wrapped up their season in front of home fans.
David Mangum provided a defensive touchdown for Dunbar. In the second period, Mangum broke a scoreless game with an interception that he returned 20 yards.
Mangum also scored the second touchdown. He took a pitchout and raced around the end for 15 yards.
In the third period, Dunjee scored on a drive for their only points of the game.
Later, Vernon Armstrong hit the end zone on a 70-yard running play right up the middle. He also tacked on the conversion that followed.
Mangum dropped back to pass in the fourth quarter. When his receivers were covered, Mangum tucked the ball under his arm and raced 30 yards for a touchdown.
The big Tiger line was outstanding from end to end. However, Charlie Jefferson and Lincoln Wilson stole the defensive show.
The win improved Dunbar to 5-1-1 … and locked up the conference trophy.
— Dunbar 19, McAlester L’Overture 0 The Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers finished out the regular season with a 19-0 shutout of the hosting McAlester L’Overture.
Two Okmulgee backs produced three touchdowns in the season finale. Vernon Armstrong opened the scoring with a 20-yard off-tackle burst to the end zone.
Left halfback Quincey Jones twisted over from the 2-yard line following a 40-yard drive. Quarterback Walter Willis tacked on the conversion to make it a 13-0 lead.
The final TD came from Quincey on another 2-yard plunge.
Okmulgee closed out the year with a 6-1-1 record and the AA Conference championship.
