19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

We think Bud Wilkinson has done a pretty fabulous job of teaching football at Oklahoma, but in addition the boys seem to be learning good sportsmanship from a master at the art.
ETHEL SCHOTTMAN
Oklahoma City

FOOTBALL: WHERE THERE'S A WILL...
Sirs:
The boys of Adamsville ( Tenn.) High School—the boys who disclaim defeatism (A Cotton-pickin' Team with Heart, SI, Oct. 12)—can take heart from the saga of a small crossroads school in Lander, Pa.: "The Little Miracle of Northern Area."

Northern Area was known as Sugar Grove High when it decided to field a football team back in 1951—at the time it looked like a horrible mistake. Sugar Grove lost 10 straight.

The records in 1952 and 1953 were equally bad—the school picked up 15 more consecutive losses—and it looked as if the streak would go on forever when the club opened the 1954 season by losing three-more, running the total to 28.

On Oct. 1, 1954, Northern Area won. It didn't lose again until Nov. 4, 1955. Since then it has played 43 and lost six. Where there's a will there's a way—and Northern Area, somehow, has found it.
DOUGLAS M. SMITH
Jamestown, N.Y.

RETRIEVERS: THE IMMORTAL RIP
Sirs:
An ardent retriever owner and field trial enthusiast, I was pleased to read your recent articles on sporting dogs (SI, June 15, et seq.). I have heard mentioned an immortal golden retriever by name of Rip, who performed in the late '30s. Most of today's retriever owners are Labrador enthusiasts, but I have seen that faraway look gleam in an oldtimer's eye at mention of this dog. I wonder if you could supply me with some information on the accomplishments of this great dog.
CHARLES H. LA FRANCHI
LIEUT. (J.G.) USN
USS Halsey Powell

?F.T. Ch. Rip, owned by Paul Bakewell III, of St. Louis, became in 1939 the first golden retriever to win the open all-age stake in all-breed competition at an American Kennel Club licensed trial; brought favorable acclaim for goldens, first recognized in the U.S. as a separate breed in 1932, by winning the Field & Stream Trophy (equivalent to the National Retriever Championship) in 1939 and 1940; in all, won a then-record total of 63 points in field trial competition before his death in 1941.—ED.

ROWING: CANADIAN STORY
Sirs:
Contrary to the opinion of the Philadelphia Bulletin (" Philadelphia Story," EVENTS & DISCOVERIES, Oct. 19), there was a notable oarsman, other than Noah's coxswain, not on hand for Jack Kelly's anniversary dinner.

My grandfather, Hilton A. Belyea, 74, now of St. Petersburg, Fla., Canadian single sculls and speed skating champion, was not present to honor and be honored.

Mr. Belyea rowed in the Diamond Sculls in 1924 while suffering from neuritis, was carried into his shell for the trials in the 1924 Paris Olympics. He won a citation for his sportsmanship.