Years of Operation: 1922 - 1941

Overall Record: 

First Game:

First Win:

Final Game: Nov 23, 1941 vs Seattle Aero Mechanics

League Affiliation:  

Independent (1926, 1931-1933)

Northwest Football League (1926, 1934-1941)

Team Headquarters:

Owner: West Seattle Athletic Club

General Manager: Rodney Graham (1931) Archie Phelps (1935)  "Polly" Parrett (1938)

Coaches: Hal Shidler (1926); Bill Beck (HC 1930); Francis Walterskirchen (1931 HC); Thurle Thornton (Asst 1931); Bob "Matty" Mathews (1931-32) Fanny Hunting (1933-1937) Ted Issacson (1937-interim) Leon Brigham (1938-1942) Frank Windust (Asst 1935) Ralph "Pop" Reed (Asst 1934-1935) Carl "Woody" Ullin (1940) "Diamond" Joe Paglia (1937)

Home Field(s): Hiawatha Field; James Madison, Auditorium Field, Coast League Park

Titles Won: 

1926 Northwest League Championship

1933 Northwest Championship

1934 Northwest League Championship

1935 Northwest League Championship

1936 Northwest League Championship

1938 Northwest League Championship

1941 Northwest League Championship

Honors:

Thurle Thornton - 1950 Best Athlete of the Half Century (U of Wash: 1927-1929)

In 1922 the West Seattle Athletic Club added it's most lasting activity to the basketball and baseball offerings; football.  The Yellowjackets name was applied and stuck although they would be referred to as the "Indians" in a number of news reports, most likely as an homage to the supporters of the West Seattle high school team..

The 1926 season brought a surprise as the upstart Bremerton All-Stars dueled the 'Jackets to a 6-0 victory on a Frank Froulla touchdown, earning the Bremerton bunch an invitation into the Seattle Independent League.  Two losses to the New Mexico battleship squad and the servicemen from the Aberdeen American Legion, was not boding well for the season.  After splitting games with the battleship Arizona, the 'Jackets reeled off four straight wins to capture the Northwest Championship of the major Athletic Club circuit.

1931:

Coach Walterskirchen and Coach Thorton installed the Notre Dame style of football for the season and after the season opening slaughter of Bellingham, decided he would cut his roster down to 28 players. The matchup between The 'Jackets and Gonzaga was attended by an estimated 18,000 fans and Jim Thorpe put on a kicking exhibition at halftime.  Thurle Thornton rifled a 25-yd pass to Ralph Welch in the final minute to tie the game and Oscar Jones kicked the extra point to total 7 points on the day for the 13-12 win.

Added Al Holmes, 1930 captain of the Washington Huskies and "Gob" Wentworth also of UW to the line.  "Pest" Welch was voted by Gonzaga as one of the best players they faced in 1931.

1931 Players included:

QB Jerry Knott

HB B.M. Hoffman (Texas Rangers)

HB "Buck" Smith

FB Walt Stuns (1930 Seattle Community League Star)

OL Al Holmes (Univ Washington)

OL "Gob" Wentworth (Univ Washington)

E Warren "Pest" Welch

QB Thurle Thornton

E Ralph Welch

K Oscar Jones (Washington State)

Charlie Ralls (Gonzaga)

Ken Putnam

Bud McLelland

Al Dean

Del Muller

1933 Players

Gordon Clark (USC)

LE Hank Benier

LT Dick Camp

LG Ed Scotheim

C Jack Arnold

RG Luke Abernathy

RT Dan Hawley

RE Billy Wilson

Q Fanny Hunting

LH Red Tucker

RH Louie Linstead - League Leading scorer 58 pts

F Walt Stuns 2nd leading scorer 46 pts

1934 Lineup:

Thornton, Thurle (U of Wash)
R HB Wolcott, Bill (U of Wash)
L HB Gilbert, Tommy (West Seattle HS)
Callin, Cameron
Stuns, Walt
Fullback Nelson, Bert
R End Logg, Dick
Abernathy, Luke
L End Weiger
L Tackle Skotheim, B
L Guard Johnson, E
Center Arnold
R Guard Erlenmeyer
R Tackle Rauen
Q Back Callin, Ch
Skotheim, E
Lillies
Gray
Baldwin
Smith, Adney
Hayes
L End Ferguson, Jim
Sprague

1935 Lineup:

MGR Archie Phelps
HC/QB Fanny Hunting (Gonzaga)
HB Art Ahonen (Univ Washington)
HB Al Chizmendia (Rutgers)
FB “Spud” Murdock
QB Bill Nugent
Back Louie Linstead
Back Bill Wasmuth
Guard Frank Windust
L Tony Burke
L Phil Poth
Tackle Babe Skotheim
Tackle Luke Abernathy
Guard Phil Buchanan
End Hank Bernier
End Ron Kelly

1936 Lineup:

LE Logg

LT Taylor

LG Companion

C Tucci

RG Collins

RT Walter

RE Maxwell

QB Bond

LHB Ahonen

RHB Muczynski

FB Murdock

Oct 3, 1937:  Jimmy Cain, former UW Husky star took a 48-yard pass from Joe Orlosky scoring the winning TD over Bremerton.  Homer Tipton kicked the PAT.  Leon Brigham formerly of the Italian Athletic Club took over for Fanny Hunting midway through the season.

Center John "The Greek" Tsoutsouvas was voted to the All-Coast team in 1937.

In 1938 Thurle Thornton was tabbed as chairman of the Membership Drive Committee of the Athletic Club.

1938 key players:

Charlie Russell

Sammy Bruce

"Tugs" Riser

Homer Tipton

1940 key players:

George "Pee Wee" Bujan

Joe Dubsky

Rink Bond

Bill Hill

"Big" Ted Lui

Leroy Schuh (End)

Hymie Harris (End)

Bob Creiger

Walt Mussell

Frank Garretson

Al Samuelson

Horsey Edwards

1941: Ingvard "Inky" Boe, star University of Oregon freshman football player declared ineligible by the Coast Conference Commissioner (Edwin Ahterton) signed on to play for the Yellowjackets.  Joining him would be former Ducks FB March Stenstrom and HB Len Isberg. In November Jimmy Mandas was elected athletic club president.

Quarterback Jay Graybeal set a League record returning a kick 96-yards for a touchdown in the 1941 Championship game versus the Aeros.

With the close of the 1941 season came the reorganization of football across the region.  The War Industries League was formed in 1942 and the Yellowjackets became the Seattle Shipbuilders thus ending the use of the Yellowjacket name.

In 1947 Thurle Thornton accepted a job as deputy sheriff in charge of inspecting inmates mail.  Thurle, gradually lost the use of his legs, paralysis at the time attributed to an injury suffered in his athletic career.  Thornton left football for professional wrestling and had an undefeated streak halted in February 1934.

1926 Schedule/Results (6-3):

Nov 1 - USS West Virginia

Nov 15 @ Everett Wildcats

Photos

(logo)

Key Sources:  West Seattle Herald (1933 - )