Athens High Golden Eagles

By: Keith Dunnavant

The Beginning: 1936

In an article taken from the 1990 Football Program, famed sportswriter and Athens High School Graduate, Keith Dunnavant writes:

No evidence can be found that the Earth trembled the first time that Athens High School lost a football game, although many Golden Eagle supporters would insist otherwise.

Yes, Athens football has always been popular; even more. It has been a source of immense pride for the entire community. The first organized football team is believed to have popped up around the turn of the century, and by the 1930's it had become a rallying point for citizens of the town founded more than a century earlier by Robert Beasley and John D. Carroll.

Two high schools-the State Secondary Agriculture School, run by the state; and Athens High School, administered by the City Board Of Education- gave locals an alternative in educational opportunities. in 1936, the state legislature turned over the Agriculture School to the City Board Of Education, which it merged with Athens High School.

Melvin L. Vines, the highly successful coach of the Agriculture School's "Aggie's", became the first coach of the Golden Eagles. A rich tradition was in the making.

The Aggie's had experienced some immensely successful seasons in the 1930's, but the cupboard was left a bit dry for the first edition of the Golden Eagles. For the record, Athens High's first football game ended in a 14-0 defeat of Morgan County High of Hartselle; a week late, the Golden Eagles won their first game, 18-6 over Faulkville.

Quarterback "Chigger" Todd scored the first touchdown ever for Athens High against Faulkville, with end Harry Richter later scoring twice on jaunts of 30 and 20 yards.

Athens finished that first season, under Vines' guidance, with a 2-7 record.

Athens Line-Up vs Hartselle in 1936

End-Henderson, B.

End-Richter

Tackle-Whitt

Tackle-Pepper

Guard-Henderson, T.

Center-Green

QB-Todd

Halfback

Halfback-Green haw

Halfback-Condo

Special thanks to Keith Dunnavant for his tremendous help in compiling a great deal of the history information and to Jason "Hobo" Dement for his continuous work on the history and yearly stat data.