Old Timers section Brooklyn Eagle
by George F. DRISCOLL

Crown Heights "Rock Pile¹ Was Real Tough Proving Ground
Editor Old Timers:
A recent article by Jimmy MURPHY in the sports columns of the 
Brooklyn Eagle has prompted me to reminisce a little on the good 
old days at Brooklyn Prep, back in the days of 1921.

The photo of the Prep¹s 1921 team that accompanies the letter includes,
first row, left to right:

KANE, Harry ­ coach
BOWEN, Jack, back ­ now deceased
DOYLE, Bill, back
KANE, John, line
MALONEY, William Power, quarterback
SAUNDERS, Bubby, fullback
DRISCOLL, George F., Jr, captain and end
MATTIMORE, Thomas, quarterback
ZIEGLER, William, line
HARRISON, Ed, back
REARDON, Cy, manager
Second row
MOON, Howie, back
MATTIMORE, James, back
PETRILLI, Pete, end
LOUGHRAN, Wallie, guard
HEAPEY, Bill, line
TIERNEY, Jack, guard
WORSTELL, "The Weazle", water boy
Third row
LAWLESS, Frank, assistant manager
PRENDERGAST, Tom, line
WEEKS, Artie, line
FUREY, Ralph, end
TORMEY, back ­ deceased
CUSH, Jim, line
Back row
ETZEL, Adrian, back *my grandfather
BILLING, Paul, line
DOLAN, Eddie, end
ROSE, Bob, line
VAIL, Frank, line
O¹NEIL, Tip, line
MC CULLOUGH, George, end
KANE, Ed, line
MC ALLISTER, Jim, line * my g uncle

Many of these boys have grown up to be top-ranking men in business.  
James MC ALLISTER president of McAllister Lighterage Line, Manhattan; 
Ralph FUREY is director of athletics at Columbia University, 
George MC CULLOUGH is an ex Chamber of Commerce; 
Adrian ETZEL is president of Adria Farms, Monroe, N.Y.,
George F. DRISCOLL is vice president of George F. DRISCOLL Co, contractors,Manhattan.

"Eppie" HARRISON, whose father owned a grocery store on Washington Ave.,
drove a delivery wagon after school.  He would drive the horse and wagon to
football practice and have some of the students make the deliveries while he
carried on with signal practice on the "Rock Pile" of Crown Heights.  Many
an order was "short" of a few apples, grapes or other items due to the
liberal gifts of Eddie to the team.

"Tommie" MATTIMORE, the pint-sized quarterback, whom Ripley¹s "Believe It or
Not" called the Watchfob Quarterback", weighed 110 pounds but managed to
make "All Scholastic" and "All-City Back" three years in a row.  Today he
tips the beam at a shade over 165 pounds.

Ralph FUREY was later to be named "All-America End" while playing for
Columbia University.  He has been at Columbia ever since.

George MC CULLOUGH (Coney Island George) had a father who came from the West
years ago, from Montana and they called him "Montana Jim".  He did much to
build up Coney Island and married a TILYOU.  Between the two of them they
made Coney Island the shooting gallery of the world.

I can remember the days with George MC CULLOUGH when we went to "Home Made
Louie¹s" on the Bowery to have "Bananas in the Alley," "Rice Pudding in the
Alley," and many other Home Made Louie¹s specialties.
The upstairs balcony of STAUCH¹s ­HENDERSON¹s ­ FELTMAN¹s received a daily
visit from both of us.  George MC can be seen today in front of the clam bar
with his beautiful beak (stepped on in football) lighting up the avenue for
miles around.

William Power MALONEY, former assistant on the staff of U.S. Attorney now in
private practice, once called signals for the Prep in this manner, "Come on,
gol darn it.  Let¹s take them one at a time."  And at that time he was
called Gol Darn It MALONEY.

Bub SAUNDERS, one of the most rugged men on the team, was the only one to
last 60 minutes when we played Fordham.  We were beaten 57 to 6 after not
losing a game all season.
After every play he would walk to the sidelines and say to Harry KANE the
coach "Send in another one Harry ­ these guys are awful brittle."  L(ater?)
on he became a pro bo(???) merit, being called ????? SAUNDERS.
Harry KANE, ou"'. An all around coach,"(pro?)fessor and pal, a" recall in
physical" cadence begin."  I ". (the Silver Fox) i"High School.  [sorry,
part of that section missing]

Bill ZIEGLER, who". Years has been president of the Cathedral Club, was
quite a crap shooter in his day and believed in making his money "the hard
way."  He carried his game too far, however, and was caught by Tiny Tim in
the engine room at Brooklyn Prep with a pair of dice with all sevens on
them.

The "Rock Pile" of Crown Heights was about the toughest proving ground for
football I have ever seen, and elbow "razzberries" and knee "razzberries"
last for four full years.
I have seen many of these fellows in the past few years.  Some are bald and
gray and many now have children at Brooklyn Prep carrying on the traditions
of the KELLYs, the MASTERSONs the MATTIMOREs and the HARRISONs.  Too bad I
cannot mention MC CULLOUGHs, as George was only blessed with two daughters,
Eileen and Joan.
I would like to hear more from the "old timers."  I think that the Old
Timers Page is ' of the "main features" of the Brooklyn Eagle.
George F. DRISCOLL, '..  Brooklyn P".

Transcriber: Mimi Stevens
RETURN to 1921 GRADUATE MAIN
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