1656-11 The Golden age of Miami Beach High School Athletics THE GOLDEN AGE OF MIAMI BEACH HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS
Past, Present and Future
By Dr.Richard L.Schwarz
There was a time in the not too distant past when Miami Beach Athletics and Miami Beach Athletes were a
pride to our city. Some of the outstanding men in this area — politically, professionally and in many, many fields
of endeavor, have been great athletes at Miami Beach High School.
Very few people know, for example, that Beach High athletes went on to win Gold Medal Olympic Game
awards. Mary and Catherine Hoerger were Olympic swimming champions; Marshall Wayne was an Olympic diving
champion; Pete Desjardines, whose son is now an outstanding local golfer, was also a diving winner — all of them
graduates of Miami Beach High School.
Francis Christie, at 130 lbs. was an All City Guard at Beach. Today he's a Circuit Judge. Harold Vann, who
is also a Circuit Court Judge, was a Beachite who made the All City Football team as a tackle. Many others in our
local judiciary and practicing law here were also Beach graduates. Other men like John Orr, former Representative,
presently a local bank president and a top political figure in our area; Bill Wilcox, the local head of the Federal
Housing Administration; Jack Blair, Assistant Director of Gulfstream Racetrack; prominent local engineer, George
Kunde; Al Savage, Beach insurance executive; Frank Buchanan, All City Center and now a bank president; the
Courshon brothers, local bankers and resort operators, all graduated from Miami Beach High School.
From the years 1935 through 1941, Beach High was the athletic terror of the state, not only in football, but
basketball and all other sports. Miami Beach was just a small town in those years, but the parents of the athletes
were vitally interested in everything their youngsters and the Beach school did. As an example, my own parents
sometimes traveled four to five hundred miles to a football game and, in fact, the parents supplied the trans-
portation for Beach teams. As today, many of the top athletes were also leaders of the school, scholastically and in
other extra-curricular efforts. Then, too, the teachers were a vital part of the tremendous school spirit at Beach.
Many of our former great Beach athletes are being honored at half-time here at this Coconut Bowl Football
game, and it is hoped that this will inspire the students and parents who are watching to pick up the grand old
spirit of Miami Beach High School of my day. Never mind that the colors have changed and the name of the team,
too. Let's hope that the wearing of a "B" which represents the best in every boy and girl, will always be some-
thing to strive greatly for.
I have noticed these past few years, with the maturing of the Nor-Isle Optimist Football League a rebirth
of enthusiasm both by students and parents. The future looks brighter now and we believe the present administra-
tion on Miami Beach will stress continuously the importance of youth on Miami Beach and with such fine "arms"
as the Recreation Department helping will launch us on another Golden Age of High School sports here.
Maybe one of our present or future footballers will follow in the steps of Herb Rich who went from Beach High
to Vanderbilt University, where he made All-American and then was an All-Pro selection for four years as a defen-
sive back. Another great example was Bill Levitt, a Beachite who was the first All-American at the University of
Miami. He was Captain of Beach's football and basketball teams.
A great tradition at Beach has been accented by many whole families who participated in athletics. Just a few
examples include the Brooks family, Phil, Harold and Norman; the Drury Family, Jimmy, Sig, Harry and B; the
Nichelson Family, Sy and Charles; the Snedigar Family, Louis and James; the Marcus Family, Bob and Alan;
the Friedson Family, Ed, Belvin and Wilbur; the Tesher Family, Bob, Fred and Howie, and many others. Some of
their children are now helping build further tradition at Miami Beach High School.
Some of our friends are gone. They gave their lives in defense of our country. Former Miami Beach athletes
such as Gordon Stark, Lew Alberts, Lonnie Dixon,Bob Boyle, Jack Spitz, Murray Moscowitz are among this group
from my "era" who were lost to us in World War II.
The successes of a lot of the men mentioned here, many whose pictures grace the page opposite this, should
stand as great encouragement for the kind of spirit that is an integral part of winning athletics.
But winning is not most important. Participating is the most important thing, and although it is a cliche to say,
"When the one great scorer comes to mark against your name, he marks not that you won or lost, but how you played
the game," and whether this game be football, basketball, tennis, swimming or the game of life, how you play the
game is what is really important.
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