THE CLASS OF "51" MIDDIES, OPENING THEIR 1950 SEASON AT THE NEW BARNITZ STADIUM PLAYED DAYTON FAIRVIEW AND WON THE GAME 28-0
THE INITIAL SCORE IN THE NEW STADIUM, WAS A PASS FROM QUARTERBACK, KEN FEINTHEL, TO END GEORGE STRODTBECK.
THE BALL IN THE PHOTO ABOVE IS THAT ACTUAL FOOTBALL .
AT THE END OF THAT FIRST FOOTBALL GAME AT BARNITZ, MIDDIES COACH GLENN "TIGER" ELLISON PRESENTED THE ABOVE FOOTBALL TO END GEORGE STRODTBECK WHO KEPT THE FOOTBALL IN HIS POSSESSION FOR 50 YEARS.
DURING THE 50TH REUNION OF BARNITZ STADIUM IN THE YEAR 2000, A REINACTMENT OF THAT FIRST TOUCHDOWN WAS PERFORMED DURING THE HALFTIME CEREMONIES BY A NUMBER OF THE SENIOR CLASS OF 1951'S FOOTBALL TEAM TAKING TO THE FIELD THAT EVENING. MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1951 WERE ALSO ON HAND, SEATED IN THE STANDS THE EVENING OF THE 50TH REUNION CELEBRATION.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE HALFTIME FESTIVITIES, MR. STRODTBECK ALONG WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM PRESENT THAT EVENING, MADE A PRESENTATION OF THE ORIGINAL FOOTBALL TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF MIDDLETOWN SCHOOLS; DR. WAYNE DRISCOLL WHO WILL SEE THAT THE "FIRST TOUCHDOWN FOOTBALL" FINDS IT'S RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL TROPHY CASE
ALSO SHOWN LEFT TO RIGHT; CHARLIE BEE JOHNSON, RON COX, BILL RIGGS,
AND RALPH KAH
