“I’m the World’s Worst Loser:” Coach John Ravenscrof

Posted on by hchm-curator
Originally published Thursday, March 20, 2014 The World’s Worst Loser.
by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

This post concludes our series on Newton High basketball. Click for Part 1 and Part 2.
“I’m the world’s worst loser 
and that’s why I don’t lose very often.” 
-Coach John Ravenscroft in Buller, p. 41.
Coach John Ravenscroft
NHS Basketball Coarch 1946-1958

Born in Newton on January 13, 1915, to Mason and Lucile A. Ravenscroft, John Ravenscroft had a difficult childhood.  By age seven he was fatherless and frequently in trouble.  However, he was “crazy about basketball.”

He played on the YMCA teams and was known to shoot baskets for eight hours a day “till my hands swelled up.”  Ravenscroft credited Frank Lindley for straightening him up.

“He got me back in high school.  He insisted I clean myself up; he took me to a clothing store and bought me a new suit for $10.”

Ravenscroft won a position on Newton’s  varsity team as a junior in 1932/33.  He was on the team that lost at the state finals in 1934.

Later he recalled,

“Basketball was the vehicle I rode out of the poorest section of town, the wrong side of the tracks.  We were poor.”  -Ravenscroft in Buller, p. 38

After graduating from Newton High School in 1934, he attended University of Colorado and was a member of Colorado’s 1940 Big Seven championship team.  He graduated from Colorado in 1940 with a BS in Science and Mathematics.  In 1958, he received his Masters in Education from University of Wichita (Wichita State). Throughout his career as a coach and teacher, he stressed the value of education.

Former player Ken Schlup recalled;

Ravenscroft always preached to us . . . when you graduate from Newton High School, you’re expected to  go to college and get a degree.”  -Ken Schlup in Buller, p. 40

Meanwhile, Coach Lindley was searching for a successor and someone who could continue the winning tradition at Newton High. In addition to playing under Lindley, Ravenscroft had served as assistant coach for two seasons. He was an excellent choice to succeed Coach Lindley.

Basketball was a very important part of the Newton community and a strong team was expected.

Former NHS Basketball player Ken Franz recalled;

Lindley Hall where we played at was sold out every game. Almost the whole place was reserved seats. I can remember getting out of school at 3:15 and there would be people lined up for blocks trying to get tickets for the few seats that we still had. I think we were kind of heralded as heroes, I guess.”  (Elliott)

 As coach, Ravenscroft “added his touches to Newton basketball, and kept the famous basketball tradition . . . sailing along at a  faster clip than ever before.” (Buller p. 38)  One early change he made was in the way a player shot the ball. He encouraged his players to use the “one-handed, pronated shot (the modern shot).”  Most teams were still shooting the ball with two hands in the 1940s.
His team won the state championship the very first year he coached in 1946.  The tradition continued from there.
“The tallest team in the state . . . “
NHS Basketball Team, 1948
(lt-rt) Fred Schroeder, Harold Hauck, Bill Lienhard,
Coach John Ravenscroft,Clay Gray, Lanoy Loganbill, Gordon Byler
HCHM Photo Archives

“The Basketball team the year we were seniors [1948]  . . . had an aura of celebrity about them, even when they were separated, walking down the stairs or sitting in class.  Maybe it was their height (after all they were the tallest team in the state) or their undenied success that removed them from the rest of us, buffered by some mystique of camaraderie or fate.” –Norma Werner Wilson, Our Journey: 1948-1998, p. 67.

The 1948 team was undefeated until the last game, winning 25 consecutive games before losing to Lawrence in the state finals by three points.

Newton returned to the State Championship a year later and won.

NHS Basketball Team, State Champions, 1949
Celebration after NHS beat Wichita East
for the State Championship, 1949
HCHM Photo Archives
NHS Basketball Trophies, 1949
HCHM Photo Archives

However, there was a darker side to the success. Not all students were allowed to try out for the basketball team. Perhaps Ravenscroft was able to make his most significant contribution to the community by insisting on the integration of the basketball team.

“I told him (Lindley) that I would take the job only if all kids got to play and we would do away with the separate Colored and Mexican teams.” –John Ravenscroft in Buller, p. 41

Until  late 1940s, young men of color were not allowed to play on the High School basketball team.  No matter how well they played. There were separate teams for the black and Hispanic students.

Newton Mexican-American Basketball Team
1938-1939
Front: Alex Tafolla, Fran (Curly) Rodriguez
Center: Henry Rodriguez, Trino Camargo, Nick Jaso
Back: Salvador Monarez, Angel Rodriguez, Elmer Vega,
Frank Florez, Bacho Rodriguez

“Unable to . . . play for the Railroaders we formed our own Mexican team with a lot of support from our church and minority community. . . . We won three consecutive state championship held in Wichita in March.  We competed against other Mexican teams from all over the state of Kansas, such as Wichita, Kansas City, Hutchinson, Topeka, Chanute.  We were known as Wiley and McCall.  Mr. McCall was our sponsor.  He furnished us with brand new green and gold uniforms. -Ralph Perez, “’49er Memories . . . To Be a Minority,” Along the Golden Trail: 1949-1999, p. 95

Page from the 1944-1945 NHS Railroader
“After 50 Years – the scars are still here.“
At the 50th reunion for the classes 1948 and 1949, the painful issue of racism at Newton High was addressed. Discussed in the Memories booklet under a section labeled “The Black Basketball Team” people were encouraged to share their stories. The question, “Do you remember any incidents that clearly showed bigotry or racial callousness?” in the book, “Our Journey, 1948 – 1998“, revealed an interesting dichotomy. The majority of white respondents to the question noted “I did not know we had such a thing” as a Black basketball team and “I sure didn’t know that these guys were not allowed on the team.” One of the respondents was a varsity player on the basketball team.  The Black respondents reported that while they were allowed to play football or be on the track team, basketball was off-limits.
Clayton Garnett recalled:

“He (Lindley) let us use the old outdated basketball uniforms of the White team. Our coach was Jack Smith and he got permission to play one game in Lindley Hall because we were playing Tulsa and we knew the junior high gym would not accommodate the number of spectators we would have for that game.” –Clayton Garnett, Our Journey: 1948-1998, p. 82

Games were played in the Junior High Gym and spectators had to stand to watch.
“The 1952 team led by the brilliant point guard Bernie Castro”
When he took the job, Coach John Ravenscroft changed the policy, but it took a few years for the results to be visible.
NHS Basketball Team, 1953
Asst Coach Francis Markham, John Gonzalez, Don Bafus, Jim Rafferty, Gary Ewert, Vic Ewy,
 Bob Boumgartner, Bill Embry, Jim Cadle, Don Peterson, Pete Charlton, Victor McCall,
 Jach Bannon, John Reese, Bob Mellott, Raymond Hernandez, Bernie Castro,
 Manger Lewis Bartel, and Coach John Ravenscroft
Starting in Junior High, minority students needed to learn the skills taught to the white students to be competitive on the court.  In 1952, Bernie Castro, a sophomore, became the first minority student to play on NHS varsity team.

Just knowing that Bernie was out there on the court made the family so proud.  Our proudest moment was in 1952 when Newton won the state championship.  The next day the newspaper headline read, “The 1952 team led by the brilliant point guard Bernie Castro claimed the elusive title.” -Yolanda E. Gracia in Buller, p.40.

Bernie Castro
The first minority student to play
on the varsity team at NHS, 1952
1953-54 Team
Back (lt-rt): Gary Ewert, Bernie Castro, Don Peterson, Willis Dyck, Jerry Nickel,
Bob Baumgartner, Pete Charlton, Dennis Walker, Coach Ravenscroft.
Front: Loren Newberry, manage John Gonzalez, Jim Rafferty, Raymond Hernandez,
Victor Ewy, Alan Newberry, Bill Embry, Jim Allen, Asst. Coach Clifford Yarnell.
Ray Hernandez
Slowly, Ravenscroft was able to integrate his team.  Floyd “Skippy” Garnett made the team in 1955 and K.Wylee Roberts in 1957.  John Smith was on the 1956 state championship team.

“I was proud of all my players, and ever heard a single disparaging word concerning the minority players.  I loved them all.” -Coach John Ravenscroft in Buller, p. 41.

Coach Ravenscroft resigned from the head coach position in Newton in 1958 with a record of 287 wins and 51 losses. Under Ravenscroft, Newton won four state championships in 1946, 1949, 1952, and 1956. He remained involved in the Newton schools for four more years.  He then moved to Yreka, Ca, where he coached high school basketball.  He retired in 1962 with a career record of 306 wins and 55 losses.  He never had a losing season.  He was inducted in to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.  He co-founded United Scholarships, Inc., in Yreka to provide financial aid to high school graduates attend college.
Ravenscroft wanted to be remembered as an educator which is reflected in the number of his players that went on to college.  Of the 84 kids who played basketball for him, 81 earned college degrees.  Two were killed in military service. In a 1998 Kansan editorial, Bill Wilson noted that when asked how he would like to be remembered, Ravenscroft said, “As an educator of kids.”
John Ravenscroft died at the age of 83 in Yreka, CA on March 16, 1998.
For a complete history of Newton High School basketball, Can’t You Hear the Whistle Blowing by Curtis Buller, 1997 is an excellent resource.

Sources:

  • HCHM Photo Archives
  • Railroader NHS Annual for 1944-1945.  HCHM Photo Archives
  • Newton City Directories 1913-1943. HCHM Archives
  • Newton Kansan, 17 March 1998.  “John Ravenscroft was a teacher of men” editorial by Bill Wilson.
  • Kansas Sports Hall of Fame – Ravenscroft, John at http://www/kshof.org.
  • Wilson, Bill.  “The kids mattered the most to John Ravenscroft” The Kansan 19 March 1998, p. 4.
  • Buller, Curtis.  Can’t You Hear the Whistle Blowing?  Hesston, Ks:  Prestige Printing, 1997
  • Elliott, Chris.  “Newton Was Basketball Royalty” at http://www.varsitykansas.com/2011/03/06/18172/newton-was-basketball-royalty.html
  • Wilson, Norma Werner, ed. “Our Journey 50th Reunion Book: NHS 1948-1998“, 1999.  HCHM Archives.
  • “Along the Golden Trail, NHS 1949 50th Anniversary Book of Memories”, 1999. HCHM Archives.
  • Kansas Prep Basketball History, Pt 3 – 5:  Kansas High School Association Consolidation, 1916-1920. http://macfeesports.com/KS%20Prep%20Basketball%20History%20PT3.htm
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3 comments:

  1. Michael McCloudDecember 25, 2016 at 3:59 PM

    A note about Ravenscroft’s remark about teaching the team to shoot one-handed. Leason “Pete” McCloud started the one-handed shot when Ranscroft was in High School. Pete was scolded by Coach Lindley for shooting with one hand. This can be found in “Can’t hear the wistle blowing”. Pete is very well noted for being the one hand trouble.

    Reply

  2. AnonymousMarch 6, 2017 at 12:33 PM

    Coach Ravenscroft was the most underappreciated man in Newton……EXCEPT by his players. Most all of us considered him the most important man in our life after our father. If NHS administration would have supported him in the “education” arena, where he took the most pride, he would have never left Newton.

    Reply

  3. AnonymousJanuary 27, 2018 at 1:55 PM

    I never had Ravenscroft as a coach or teacher but our families were friends. I remember our families going out to Western Kansas pheasant hunting. He was always a great friend to my father who never finished high school

From the Archives: The Jayhawker American – Harvey Co & the Klan

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by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Archivist/Curator

“In the mails this morning many citizens were said to have received copies of the first edition of what purports to be the official Kansas publication of the Klan. Where the paper, which is a small four-page publication, is printed is not revealed.” (Evening Kansan Republican, 13 September 1922.)

In the Archives at the Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives there is one issue of the Jayhawker American from 22 October 1922. This document sheds light on Klan activity in Harvey County in 1922-23.  A previous post, Hundreds of Automobiles Were Assembled, focused on newspaper accounts of Klan activities around the county. At that time, the publisher and editor of the Jayhawker American was unknown, but additional research has provided the answer.

Jayhawker American

As reported by the editor of the Evening Kansan Republican, the first edition of the Jayhawker American appeared September 12-13, 1922;

“in the mails this morning many citizens were said to have received copies of the first edition of what purports to be the official Kansas publication of the Klan. Where the paper, which is a small four-page publication, is printed is not revealed.”

The Jayhawker American was published weekly, first in Newton, later Wichita, in 1922.  To subscribe to the paper, interested men were directed to send $2.00 to Lock Box 112, Newton, Ks. The issue in the Archives dated October 7, 1922 is volume 7.

The paper reported national items of interest, and advertising. The October 19 issue included a lengthy letter from Imperial Klokard, Wm. J. Maloney to a Baptist Minister and an essay by Edward Young Park the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan from 1915 to 1922, entitled “Awakening America!”

There is also a short item from Atlanta, GA warning of the dangers of H.G. Well’s “Outline of History.” The Imperial Klokard of the KKK declared that they “were taking steps to block what he terms ‘an organized effort’ to place the history in public schools and colleges . . . the book was teeming with Socialist doctrines . . . and would poison the minds of our youth with destructive propaganda of the worst kind.”

Jayhawker American, 19 October 1922

Who Published the Jayhawker?

Despite claims of transparency, a publisher or editor is not indicated with the paper. In May 1923, two Harvey County men and one former resident were subpoenaed to testify at the hearing regarding the ouster suit in Topeka. Men listed in the Evening Kansan Republican, included Lyle Norton, who had boldly proclaimed his membership in the Klan, and Bert  Fritz, Newton, former publisher of the Jayhawker American Klan publication. The third person was A. M. Morgan, formerly of Newton, who was also involved with the printing of the Jayhawker American. Morgan had moved the printing of the paper to Wichita by May 1923.

The three men were asked to bring any records regarding the Klan to Topeka with them. They all, however “denied that they have any records.”

Newton Kansan, 18 May 1923

Newton Klansman Testified 

“A Newton klansman testified he had led 16 kluxers into a church, where he had made a speech. He said he didn’t know the names of the kluxers. An organizer testified he had ‘lost’ all of the records two days before he was subpoenaed to testify . . . he admitted he had told the county attorney he had ‘disposed of’ the records and the state’s attorney Captain Rhodes ordered the witness held until the county attorney could be called to the stand.” (Emporia Gazette 18 May 1923)

The Newton man testifying was Lyle Norton who had dramatically removed his Klan hood at the church.

Evening Kansan Republican, 18 May 1923

The Printer: Bert Fritz

In the 1922 50th Anniversary Ed of the Newton Kansan, Bert Fritz was praised as a “wide awake hustler, and a consistent booster for Newton, cheerfully supporting all worthy enterprises in a public spirited, conscientious manner.” Fritz started out working at the Newton Kansan Republican as a “printer’s devil” and slowly worked his way up. He worked in various shops in Newton until August 1899 when he “entered the printing business for himself.”   In 1904, he purchased a lot at 114 E 4th and built a new print shop.

Evening Kansan Republican, 22 August 1922

A, M. Morgan also assisted with printing the Jayhawker American and later moved to Wichita, taking the printing of the newspaper with him.

” A Klan Organization in Every Town in Kansas”

During questioning during the “ouster” hearings, Noble T. McCall, former secretary of the Arkansas City Klan  observed that he “supposed there was a klan organization in every town in Kansas.” During the court proceedings evidence was presented that there were about 400 Klan members in Newton

Several of the men that were involved in other fraternal and civic organizations like the Masons and Lions Club were also involved in the Klan. Lyle Norton was heavily involved with the Lions Club and raising money for the Boy Scouts. During the ouster hearings, it became apparent that the Klan had recruited heavily from existing organizations like the Masons and Lions Clubs. On the surface these group had similar concerns for social, moral and civic welfare of the community. Groups like the Lions Club however worked with community groups “looking towards the elimination of class distinction” and integrating immigrants into American society, the opposite of the Klan’s purpose. (Evening Kansan Republican 18 May 1921)

Jayhawker American, 19 October 1922.

Mixed Feelings

There were mixed feeling in Harvey County about the Klan. There were local leaders and businessmen that were members of theKlan, but no one knew who. One local pastor spoke out against the Klan. Dr. J.R. Caffyn of the 1st Methodist Episcopal church spoke for an hour and a half on the subject of the Modern Ku Klux Klan.” (Evening Kansan Republican 9 October 1922) Dr. Caffyn’s speech was reprinted in the October 21, 1922 edition of the Evening Kansan Republican.

The editor of the Evening Kansan Republican was also a frequent critic of the Klan in Harvey County.

On the other hand, some Newton pastors felt the organization was a positive one. In April 1923, Rev. Arthur Brooks gave a speech entitled “Americanism” in ElDorado in which he “lauded the principles of the Ku Klux Klan.”  In an interview with the Evening Kansan Republican a pastor in Hesston, Rev. Tarvin “seemed to be impressed more favorably  . . . and indicated that he believed the organization might be doing a good work.” (Evening Kansan Republican, 20 February 1923). Tarvin had received a donation from the Klan earlier.

Who Were the Members?

Other than Lyle Norton, Bert Fritz and A.M. Morgan there are few clues on who other members might have been. In the testimony during the “ouster hearings”  in spring 1923, it was stated that Newton had a membership of 400.  There are perhaps clues in the  names of the advertisers in the Jayhawker American.  Many of these men were also involved in other civic and fraternal organizations. The original members of the Lions Club, established in 1921 in Harvey County, included several men who were advertisers in the Jayhawker including, Lyle Norton, C.V. McDaniel, N.R. Daugherty.

The list of advertisers in the Jayhawker included: E.W. Skidmore – Little Gem Cafe, Palmores Confectionary, B.H. Downs – Merchant Delivery, C.R. Miller – Tailor, Holman & Daughtery – Barbers ,  E.M. van Aken – Auditorium Cafe, Earl I Schaefer, O.S. Finch, Spear & Munro – owners of a clothing store.

After the Ouster

Even with the “ouster” of the Klan in Kansas, small groups remained somewhat active. In the Sedgwick Pantagraph, September 11, 1924, there was a cryptic note asking about the whereabouts of two men and two women in a Sedan, “no questions asked.”

Sedgwick Pantagraph, 11 September 1924

Meetings continued.

Sedgwick Pantagraph 2 October 1924

One of the last Klan events mentioned as of this writing was a Klan parade was held in Newton the week of August 8, 1927. It included women and children and men in full regalia without the  masks.

Additional Sources

  • Evening Kansan Republican, 22 August 1922.
  • Allerfeldt, Kristopher. “Jayhawker Fraternities: Masons, Klansmen and Kansas in the 1920s.” Journal of American STudies November 2012, Vol. 46, No. 4 (November 2012) pp. 1035-1053.
  • Egan, Timothy. A Fever in the Heartland: the Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them. New York, NY: Viking, 2023.

 

“The Best Evergreen Nursery West of Topeka”

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by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Archivist/Curator

Thanks to Jim Brower for sharing this advertisement card to start us on our search.

Many of us are happy to be able to get out into our gardens again after a long winter.  We have our favorite nursery or Garden Store to go to for supplies, seeds and plants. Just like now, 1880s Harvey County had several nurseries, including the Harvey County Nursery, Halstead, Ks owned by Joseph Cook.

Joseph Cook was born in Indiana in approximately 1825, he first appears in the Halstead paper in 1881 as an agent for Dr Ryder’s American Fruit Dryer or Pneumatic Evaporator which was advertised as being “equal to canned goods and is saving the cost of cans, jars etc.” He had one on his farm 3 1/2 miles north of Halstead in operation and “he would be pleased to have his brother farmers come and see work and test the fruit.” (Halstead Independent 5 August 1881) In the 1875, he is listed with his wife Mary and three children John Jay, 18, Emma, 14, Melona 3.

 

Edward Plat Map Harvey County, 1882, Halstead Township.

By 1882, Joseph Cook had an establish tree stand that included fruit trees. He had 160 acres in section 15 and 80 acres in section 14, Halstead Township, Harvey County, Kansas. In addition to the orchid, the plat indicates a residence and two other buildings. A one room school was also located at the corner of section 15. The map also shows the location of the Friends Church, of which he was a member, and the cemetery.

Harvey County Nursery

Halstead Independent, 17 October 1884.

In 1885 the Halstead Independent reported that they would be publishing a “treatise on “Growing an Orchard in the Arkansas Valley'” written by Joseph Cook. At that time the Harvey County Nursery were known for their Apple, Pear, Soft Maple, Hardy Catalpa and Russian Mulberry trees, grape vines and evergreens. In the spring of 1885 their goal was to be the “best evergreen nursery west of Topeka.” To meet that goal they had several thousand evergreens for sale. He also wrote advice columns on growing various plants occasionally for the Halstead Independent.

In the fall of 1885, Cook made the decision to move his business closer to Halstead. Business had increased over the summer and it was inconvenient to be a distance from town. They purchased 60 acres of land from Frank J. Brown.

By the end of 1886, Cook was advertising to sell the nursery. The editor of the Halstead Independent  noted, “while we should regret to see these parties retire from the business . . .it is a rare opportunity for some enterprising man . . . to invest in a profitable and pleasant business.”

August 5 1887 in an advertisement for his farm Cook describes a two story house with seven bedrooms, close to 60 acres within a half mile of Halstead, and finally a sweet potato farm, 500 bearing apple trees, 300 bearing grape vines, pear, peach, plum and cherry in abundance.

 

Halstead Independent, 5 August 1887

From Halstead to Rialto, CA

October 14, 1887 make their homes not only in Southern California, but at the beautifully located projected town of Rialto.” Among those than made the mover M.V. Sweesy, former editor of the Independent, J.W. Tibbott, dry goods and stock raiser, Joseph Cook, farmer and “influential member of the Quaker church,” J.W. Sweesy,, farmer. Wm Tibbot, merchant, Frank Brown, farmer, and Leroy and Mr. McDonald, “two estimable young men.”

The Halstead Independent kept up with Cook for a few years in the November 11, 1887 issue a letter from Cook in California was published. Then in May 1888, there was a report that Joseph Cook and the Tibbot brothers “were on the outs.” Cook himself felt compelled to answer writing; “there is not the least bit of foundation for the slang about me and Tibbots . . . I look upon it simply as malicious lying, nothing less.”

One final mention of Joseph Cook in the Halstead Independent came from the Rialto Orange-Grower in California. “Mr. Cook and family have returned for Jennings, La to Rialto . . . Mr. Cook has not yet determined definitely as to his future movements. He may remain with us or may move to some point farther north on the coast. We trust he will find it to his advantage to remain and make his home in Rialto.”

“Two Prohibitionists Discussing Prohibition”

In addition to growing his business, Joseph Cook had a passion for temperance.  From 1883 to 1886, Cook’s name appears frequently advocating for temperance and supporting strict enforcement of Kansas’ Constitutional law. He wrote several lengthy articles published in the Newton Kansan and Halstead Independent. 

At the Prohibition Convention in September 1886, Cook was elected president and gave “a short but appropriate speech.”

On October 29, 1886, Cook engaged in a discussion at White’s school house with Hon. T.J. Matlock. The Halstead Independent editor noted that “it was, however, a rather queer discussion. Two prohibitionists discussing prohibition.” While both gentlemen acquitted themselves well, “it was conceded, we believe, that Matlock got the better of the argument and really out Ceasared Ceasar himself.” 

Cook spoke again November 5 1886 at a political meeting featuring the Hon T.J. Matlock, two other men spoke Charles Bucher, of Newton on November 5, 1886 and gave lectures at the Y.M.C.A. in Newton.

It is not known if he continued to be active in the Prohibition movement once in California.

Sources

  • Kansas State Census, 1875.
  • United States Census, 1880.
  • Halstead Independent: 5 June 1885,  30 October 1885, 20 November 1885,10 Sept 1886, 29 October 1886,   3 December 1886, 11 January 1889.