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On the field or on the court...
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School Colors:
Red and White
Mascot:
Eagle
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Athletics are an integral component of one's educational experience. Learning to play as a
team and to depend on others are lifelong lessons taught on the field and on the court. The
friendships and respect gained from being part of a team last a lifetime.
Oakdale School has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in regards to the athletic teams.
However, win or lose, the players were winners for representing their school and for giving
everything they had.
This issue of The Oakdale Express is dedicated to the athletes and coaches of Oakdale
School and to the fans who have followed them wherever they played.
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Boys' Basketball Team Takes the Court in 1925
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Oakdale's first boys' basketball team was formed in
1925 with Dr. Jim (Doc) Carr as the coach. The team
was often referred to as "the Round House Boys"
because one of the players - Shirley Thomas - also
worked at the round house for the railroad. He was
enrolled in school so he could also play basketball.
In the team photo to the left, members of that 1925 team
were: Row 1 - Fred Goldston, Hooper Goldston,
Charles Hughes, Bill Jones, Ralph Stansberry; Row 2 -
Roy Tipps, Shirley Thomas, Gilbert Goldston, and "Doc"
Carr.*
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Girls' Basketball Team Wins State Championship in 1928
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In 1928, the Oakdale girls' basketball team brought home a
state championship. Of course, that was when girls'
basketball was played half court or six on six. Each team
had three forwards (who did the scoring) and three guards
(who tried to prevent the other team from scoring),
Members of that championship team were: Gertrude Snow,
Bertie McGill Leopper, Jean Goldston Stansberry, Coach
Louis Schubert, Hazel Langley Sweet, Ailene S. Goldston,
and Demple Tipps Thomas.*
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Football Team Takes the Field in 1945
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1948 Oakdale Eagles
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September 1945 is a significant time in U.S. History. World War II had
just ended as the Japanese signed a formal surrender on September 1.
Nearly four years of bitter fighting in the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the
Atlantic had taken a toll on a generation of young men. To fulfill their
patriotic duty, many of these men left high school just months, weeks,
and even days of receiving a high school diploma. Some of those men
returned home and even reentered high school.
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During that same month, a significant event occurred in
Oakdale as the Eagles first took the field in football.
The Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association
sanctioned the team and agreed to let the sport
progress with a limited schedule and no official playing
field.
The school furnished the pads and pants, but each
player had to provide their own sweatshirts for a jersey
and had to sew on their own number.
Home games were played in the field by Ralph
Leopper's house. It was not lined off, nor was it a
regulation field. The first game was apparently with
Sunbright, and the score was 26-0. Some players from
the team later recalled playing Coalfield down by the
creek (where the city park is located).
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1948 Cheerleaders
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The first coach was S.D. Knisley. Although no official
roster exists from 1945, some of the team members in
1948 were also members of that 1945 team. Team
members included: Mickey Angel, Bill Hall, Harvey
Reynolds, Hollis Eble, Wayne Honeycutt, Cecil Byrge,
Jim Eble, Bill Moore, C.G. Sexton, David Byrd, Leland
Grace, Gene Scarbrough, Norman Long, Bob Bunch,
Bob Ferguson and others.
When Mr. Knisley became principal, John May took over
as coach. Other coaches included: Hollis Eble, Garland
Mathis, Mickey Bingham, Bill Winstead, Larry Cannon,
David Stevens, Travis Tapp, Willie Childers, Chip
Stickland, and current head coach Randy Miller.**
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*Photos and information came from the book, Oakdale: 1880 To the
Present edited by Vera Scarbrough, 1989.
**Photos and information came from the book, The Legend
Continues Oakdale, Tennessee Its Past and People: A Further Look
Into the Town That Cincinnati Built edited by Vera Scarbrough, story
by Paul Scarbrough, 2001.
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