Organized very late in 1926, "Skinny" Burt, former Lincoln High athlete who was struck in September 1924 with infantile polio during his senior year of high school that left him helpless from the shoulders down, put together a squad that claimed the Tacoma Independent title by defeating McKinley Hill in it's first outing and Kay Street in it's next.  A majority of the players were Lincoln High alums.  Burt was a popular two-year letterman at fullback in 1922 and 1923 and elected captain for 1924 before his polio diagnosis confined him to a bed.

Wapato would only play the two games in 1926, but Skinny Burt would leave his mark on Tacoma for the next forty years.

Confined to a wheel chair for nearly 30 years, and bed bound the last ten until his death in 1966, "Skinny" was a sports icon pecking away at his typewriter by means of a metal rod held in his teeth.  Athletes from all around made it a point to stop and visit with the former star QB, bringing autographed items from various teams, and scrapbooks for Burt to view.  In 1947 the Tacoma city prep championship trophy was named in his honor.  Bellarmine was first to receive it.  The "Mr. Hustle" trophy, awarded to a Washington State College spring football player was created by Burt and his western Washington contingent of boosters known as the Washington State Ramblers.

DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION TO CONTRIBUTE?  CONTACT US! (email)