Roster has been updated to show all honorees. Please click on the link in the header.
2013 honorees will be announced on April 25th.
The Champion 1936
The Champion 1936 now posted. Click on The Champions in the Header, and then click on 1936 link.
Ray Moss
By Charlie Sedman: Raymond Earl Moss Jr. was killed in a small plane crash on October 7, 1976, two days shy of his 40th birthday. His son, Ray (Trey) Moss III was probably a year old when he died.
Ray’s father was a major league pitcher for the Brooklyn Robins (later to become the Dodgers) from 1926-30 and Boston Braves (1931). His dad lived to be 96 years old, passing in 1998, and his mother lived to be 101, passing in 2007. Ray, his father, and brother-in-law started a very successful chain of convenience stores – The Golden Gallon – in 1959 as an outgrowth of the family dairy, and Ray Jr. was returning from a trip for that business when his private plane crashed near Dalton, GA.
If you saw the recent hit by Jadeveon Clowney for South Carolina in the Outback Bowl that probably allowed his team to win, Ray Moss Jr. made a similar hit on a punt return against Baylor Prep in 1954, with his team trailing 7-6, and picked up the ball, returning it for a touchdown and an eventual 18-7 win; in effect clinching Central’s fourth straight state football championship, and him a scholarship to UT. I, as an 8-year old, saw and heard it, and it was the most electrifying moment I ever witnessed at a live sporting event.
Social Clubs in 1959
Article provided by Jerry Summers:
A Standard Met by Few
In Memory of Bob McCoy, “The Wauhatchie Express”
Research Information Provided by Charlie Sedman
In his first game as a freshman in 1944, he scored 4 touchdowns and kicked extra point in 31-7 win over Stevenson, AL. In his second game, he scored on 56-yard punt return and on a 33-yard run against Red Bank. Later in season, he scored 3 touchdowns against Rome, GA , 3 against Tyner & threw a touchdown pass against Baylor. He ended freshman year with at least 13 touchdowns and was selected All-City. He also played basketball and was selected All-City in baseball.
In the Fall of 1945 (not listed as a sophomore or junior), in his first game against Asheville NC, he returned an interception for 60-yard touchdown. In his second game against Rhea County he returned 2 interceptions for 69 yards and 71 yards. Went on to score 2 touchdowns against Shelbyville, an 80-yard touchdown against Kingsport, 2 touchdowns against Red Bank and Columbia Military Academy, a touchdown against MBAQ, 3 touchdowns against Soddy Daisy, a 99-yard touchdown against Birmingham Ensley, a touchdown against Baylor, 3 touchdowns against Tyner, and 4 touchdowns against City. His season total was 24 touchdowns and 6 extra points–150 points was an all-time record locally. He was also on the baseball and boxing team that year.
In his 3rd year in Fall 1946 (listed as Senior), in his first game he scored 2 touchdowns against Asheville and 5 touchdowns in the second against Spring City (4, 40, 45, 52, and 80 yards). Against Louisville Male, he scored a touchdown, and against Kingsport on September 27th, he injured ribs in the 1st quarter. He missed the next 3 games against Red Bank, CMA, and MBA. After returning on October 26th, he scored twice against Soddy-Daisy and once against Ensley. Injured again, he played sparingly the rest of the season, finishing the season with 11 touchdowns. He did not box or play basketball due to injury, but was All-City again in baseball.
Charlie Sedman’s research indicates he ended his career at Central with 48 touchdowns and was All-City in football and baseball 3 times.
1952 Champion Now Available
In Memory of Janette Castle Crawley
1944 Photo Courtesy of Grace Pfitzer
Visitors to Our Central Historical Marker
Grace Ehmler Dalton, Class of 1965, visits our Central Historical Marker with her aunt, Grace Pfitzer, Class of 1944:
PRINCIPAL ZIEGLER STOPS DANCE AFTER JUNIOR FEED – 1919
Here is a wonderful example of Central lore that we are uncovering in our research. Please add your reflections into the human side of the Purple and Gold.
PRINCIPAL ZIEGLER STOPS DANCE AFTER JUNIOR FEED
-Chattanooga Times, May 15th, 1919
Fair weather prefaced a storm and a tranquil and sweet beginning preceded a bitter end last night when at the Junior-Senior banquet and entertainment of Central High school Principal J. S. Ziegler, with stern and emphatic language, declared against a dance planned by the boys and girls of the Junior class.
At the end of the dinner program last night, when the Juniors had planned to clear the Patton (Hotel) ballroom and end the evening with a dance. Mr. Ziegler ordered the room cleared; staying some forty-five minutes to see that the lingering banqueters did not indulge their terpsichorean fancies.
After a number of those in both classes had decided to disregard his admonitions and run the last part of the program to suit themselves, they found the ballroom locked and as Manager John Lovell was nowhere to be found, they left the hotel with a bitter taste and rebellious trend of reflection, to go to their homes.
The banquet went off with exquisite smoothness until George J. Heron, the president of the Junior class, announced the dance, when as one present remarked, “Turmoil broke loose.”
Not only did the principal announce that they must not dance but he declared that he would suspend all who stayed in the hotel.
A representative number of Central boys last night declared that knowing their principal’s objections to dances; they made the dance a separate part of the program. The principal was not to be in charge of this feature and, according to some of the youngsters, was not even invited.
Mr. Lovell, they said, agreed to let them use the ballroom for dancing when the banquet was over. The orchestra was furnished by them and the dance; they said was to be a “private” affair. They doubted the principal’s right to interfere, but as they found the ballroom closed they were forced to go away disappointed, not however, without budding plans for a continuation of the program in the future to be held without his supervision.
P. P. Celzer (probably W. P. Selcer) and Mrs. L. M. Russell were two other members of the faculty present. They advised the youngsters to go home without crossing the will of the principal.
Tell Your Stories
Charlie Sedman and others like Buffy Hoge are diligently pursuing documented history of fellow Purple Pounders who are no longer with us–their continuing efforts will be documented on this site.
So much of Central history is undocumented, and only you can tell those stories. Perhaps you can document events with photos, newspaper clippings, Central publications you have, etc.
Please help us capture the rich Central history.
Class of ’65 History
This was a great day at Central for me. We need to hear more from you about your days at Central.
Don’t think there was ever such difference in height between Mr. & Miss Central in all of Central’s history–correct me if I’m wrong.
Note Judi Downer Hoell singing–she sang again on another important day in Central history, August 4, 2012.
Class of ’55 History
David Bell and the Varsity
I remember going to Bill’s Varsity when it was across the side street from Central. I was not even going to Central at that time. My brother was (class of ’58), and after going to the Varsity the first time, I knew that I had to go to become a “PURPLE POUNDER”. Fall of 1959 I started Central, and stayed, (if I could have it would have been forever). It was mentioned about Bill being “shunned” by the powers at Central. The reason, I heard one time was that the school had this notion that Bill sold “drugs” and such. Of course, Bill was way ahead of his time the same as others that promoted, that thing that was to be the “RUIN OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE”………..ROCK AND ROLL. As most of us can witness, when we see one another, especially at the Connection Luncheons, we turned out pretty good. The day after I graduated in 1962, I went to work for Bill at the Hamilton County Park, “flippin burgers”, worked there all summer, till I was “old enough to get a “real job”, I turned 18 in September. I then went on to bigger and better things. And as they say, “the rest is history”. How I loved those wood floors in the Varsity, and always a greeting from Bill and all the other “kids” when you entered. Memories are wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Preservation of Chattanooga Central History 