I’ve seen the explanation of how the Purple Warriors became the Purple Pounders in the ’30s.
What is the first reference to Purple Warriors? Charlie, expect you have the answer.
Purple Warriors vs. Purple Pounders
Posted on by Bob Johnson
Author: Bob Johnson
Graduated from Central in 1965. Had the honor of being Mr. Central 1965. Started on the Central Basketball Team for three years and was a member of the Track Team in my senior year. Shared command with Bryant Millsaps of the Central JROTC unit in my senior year. Other activites at Central are documented in the 1963 -1965 Champions. Received an athletic scholarship and played Division I College Basketball for four years. When I graduated from Auburn in 1969, I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Adjutant General Corps and served 25 years on active duty, retiring in 1994. Some of the military awards I earned include the Legion of Merit, one Meritorious Service Medal for Achievement, six Meritorious Service Medals for Service, Joint Service Medal for Achievement, two Army Commendations Medals, and Viet Nam Service Medal. After retirement in 1994, I became a Real Estate Broker until my second retirement in 2010. I am passionate about Central History and am pleased to be Administrator of this Blog/Site. View All Posts
Preservation of Chattanooga Central History 
Not a good answer here. I haven’t searched for the earliest reference to Purple Warriors, but I’m assuming it originated externally as did “Purple Pounders”, coined by sports reporter Springer Gibson in September 1935. Central’s school colors were purple and gold from the beginning, and I’m more curious about how they were chosen. The football team was called “Darrah’s Charges” initially, then “Rikemen” after 1908, until Rike left in 1918. “Purple Warriors” started appearing in newspaper sports articles while Rusty Cornelius was athletic coach (1919-24), more so with the basketball team, but was never embraced by Central in written materials (Digest or Champion) to my knowledge. The Purple Pounder moniker struck a chord during an era when there was little to cheer about and began appearing in the Digests and Champions in 1937-8.
I don’t know all the details, but don’5 take my Pounders away!!!! In 1960-1963, it was met with Pounders=fear.
They have taken our school down, please leave our Pounders.
it was a great school with the best of everything.I still think of those ol oak stairs with grooves wore in them from all the kids that mitrkilated there including me one of the brick’s in the wall.but a proud brick.from 1952 to 1956.with ol Jim Baird we vote in over Oneal the vp son who was a scholar.which Jim was not!!!…a fella in my hood would quit before gad so he could go another year an was 26 yrs old when they kicked him out..i liked that idea..i came over from east side and hp grammer along with Judy Nation.whom me and all boys loved…
great school now all thats left is a small historic plaque!!