Oil City High Football - 1928

Pictured below is the 1928 Oil City High School football team with coach William F. Bozeman (back center left) and school principal Lafe W. Ferguson (back center right).

1967 Oil City Jr. High Bengal (yearbook)

Only three of the players have been so far identified. At lower left in the light jersey is Willie Walker Waldron (1911-1987), while third from the left in front is Fred John Arabe (1911-1991). Seated at the right end is Emmett Eugene Pickle (1910-1990). All are known members of the 1928 squad. Willie and Emmett graduated in the spring of 1929.

Willie Waldron as a student at LSU (top) and from the team pic

Mr. Emmett Pickle (right) as a Texaco employee
 in the early 1950s

The 1928-1929 school year was the first at Oil City for Coach Bozeman, who had recently graduated from Centenary College. Read about his life and 40 year relationship with the school at William Franklin "Bill" Bozeman (1903-1994). 

Mr. Ferguson, who came to Oil City from Ida High, moved to Haynesville in 1931; and went on to be in school administration at the state level for many years. Read about him and other OC faculty in School Days - Teachers. LSU football fans will be interested to know that his son, John, an elementary student at the time, became the "Voice of the Tigers," announcing games on the radio from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Here is the season recap.

Oil City 19, St. Johns* (H) 6

Quarterback Collins (no first name provided) of OC ran for two touchdowns and passed to (likely Frankie) Smith for another in the win. Collins also kicked an extra point. The lineup is provided, however in that time most sports article rarely provided first names.

Times 27-Oct-1928, Page 15

Plain Dealing (H) 14, Oil City 6

Quarterback (Preston) Smith scored the Oilers lone touchdown late in a loss. The extra point failed.

Times 04-Nov-1928, Page 15


Byrd "B" (H) 19, Oil City 0

Over the years it was common for small Shreveport area high schools to play the junior varsity squads of the much larger city schools. Despite outstanding play from (Preston) Smith, who had a 60 yard run, the OC crew was shut out by the Yellow Jacket "b" team. The play of Frankie Smith (brother of Preston) and Womack (no first name provided) was also mentioned.

Times 10-Nov-1928, Page 15


Vivian (H) 7, Oil City 0

After three scoreless quarters, Oil City had a chance to take the lead in the fourth when a blocked punt was recovered on Vivian's one yard line. The Warriors held on downs and then punted the ball out of scoring range. The home team scored a touchdown and extra point in the final five minutes for the win. Brothers Frankie and Preston Smith were noted to have played well for the visitors.

Note the OC team was referred to as the "Golden Cyclone." Interestingly, the team was similarly identified as the "Golden Hurricane" when playing Atlanta, TX in 1940. The most familiar school nickname "Tigers" apparently did not start until sometime in the early/mid 1940s.

Times 19-Nov-1928, Page 10


Oil City (H) 47, Doyline 0

The aforementioned Emmett Pickle blocked a punt, picked it up and ran for a touchdown in an easy win over Doyline. Note OC is referred to here as the "Oilers."

Times 26-Nov-1928, Page 10


Oil City (H) 7, Mooringsport 7

Played Thanksgiving Day. On the fourth play of Oil City's first possession in the game, quarterback Preston Smith ran 40 yards for a touchdown. Mooringsport came back to tie in the third quarter and the game ended in a deadlock. Other OC players mentioned were Frankie Smith and Womack..

Times 03-Dec-1928, Page 10


(H) - Home Team

* Later renamed Jesuit, and currently Loyola College Prep.

Members of the team per lineups appearing in paper:

Aiken, John Foster (right end/ right tackle)

Arabe, Fred (right tackle/ left end)

Bateman (center)

Byrd (fullback/left halfback)

Carroll, Barnett Franklin (left guard/right guard)

Carroll, John C. (left end)

Christman (left guard)

Collins, James (quarterback/right end)

McKay, Lawyel O'Dell (left guard)

Pickle, Emmett Eugene (left tackle/center)

Rape, Paul B. (right guard)

Smith, Frankie (right halfback/fullback) Captain

Smith, Preston (left halfback/quarterback)

Waldron, Willie Walker (right end)

Womack (right halfback)

Note in 1927 Frankie and Preston Smith played for Mooringsport High.


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