Graham Steers had powerhouse football teams from 1927 to 1930. During those four years, the Steers scored 772 points to their opponents’ 23. Of that total, 312 points were scored during the 1930 season. The high point man was Ollie Harley with 65 points, in second place was Gene Wignall with 53, third place went to Jack Wheeler with 45, and fourth place was Dempsey Parsley with 43. Graham would lose nine players to graduation next spring – George Lisle, Oliver Graham, Malcolm Graham, Guy Gibbs, Ollie Harley, Billy Turney, R. Cope, Grady Bread, and Carl Worsham.
In 1930, Graham had a hard time finding teams to play against, which was evidenced by having to play Weatherford College that year, a game they lost 13-0. But one game that year was memorable. I interviewed Gene Wignall about this game in 2000 when Graham defeated Bellevue, 147-0. At the time, it was the largest margin victory for Texas high school football. Mr. Wignall said they spent more time kicking off to Bellevue after taking advantage of their mistakes. After that game, Bellevue dropped football.
When Graham hosted the bi-district championship on a Friday afternoon in 1930, they defeated Bowie by a score of 12 to 8. But something unique happened during halftime. Graham’s first feminine football game was staged by the Graham High School Pep Squad. The “Blues” matched against the “Whites” with the girls in Graham proving their knowledge of the game as well as their capacity for “taking falls”, since they were playing tackle football.
The Whites kicked off to the Blues but were unable to gain 10 yards for the first down, so the ball went over on downs. Doris Bell and Evelyn Hall were knocked out, which added to the excitement. During the third quarter, LaRue Huffhines scored a touchdown, but a flag was thrown for an offside penalty. The game ended with a score of 0 to 0.
Research can often find unexpected treasures. Old programs I have saved through the years of Graham football all show the players’ name, position, and their weights. For the first time in 74 years, you’ll be able to see the names of these girls, their position on the team, and their weight, which was laid bare for all to see in 1930.
| Blues | Position | Weight |
| Marie Talley | L.E. | 100 |
| Lorene Martin | L.T. | 115 |
| Mary Bunger | L.G. | 106 |
| Mark K. Johnson | C. | 111 |
| Vera Mae Babb | R.G. | 120 |
| Elizabeth Bowron | R.T. | 108 |
| Evelyn Hall | R.E. | 105 |
| Gene Parsons (c) | Q | 105 |
| Doris Bell | R.H. | 109 |
| Alwana Wood | L.H. | 98 |
| Iona Curtis | F. | 115 |
- Subs: Betsy Whitehill, Helen Story, Morene Wilke
- Coach: Davie Della Wiley
| Whites | Position | Weight |
| Juanita Poteet | L.E. | 111 |
| Wilda Mae Martin | L.T. | 110 |
| Juanita Cole | L.G. | 121 |
| Dorothy Carter | C. | 127 |
| Mildred Walker | R.G. | 127 |
| Christine McClain | R.T. | 126 |
| Margaret Cole | R.E. | 130 |
| Lorene Rhoads | Q | 112 |
| Edith White (c ) | R.H. | 120 |
| LaRue Huffhines | F. | 124 |
- Sub: Mozelle Bennett
- Coach: Ruby Rinks
- Referee: Ted Clark
- Timekeepers: Louise Johnson and Pauline Jones
- Water girl: Laverne Bigham
- Doctor: Frances Morton
When I interviewed Alwana Vaughan about the game in 2001, she was delighted to share with me her memories. When I showed her the players and their weights, she quickly told me that all “those weights of the girls for everyone to see was shameful, shameful, shameful”. Of course, if you knew Alwana, she said everything with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face.