BLAST FROM THE PAST: DEWEY FOOTBALL 1947
By Mike Tupa
Dec. 24, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The year was 1947.
World War II’s storm clouds had dissipated in the bursting sunlight of a renewal of freedom —and new opportunity.
In the spring of that year a battle-tested athlete of character name Jack Roosevelt Robinson — given his middle name in honor of Theodore Roosevelt — became the first Black player in modern baseball to play in the major leagues.
Americans were awakening to new definitions of liberty, compassion, tolerance and making dreams come true. It was as if a new energy had been unleashed from coast to coast and every city, town and community in-between.
One of those municipalities included Dewey, Oklahoma. Rising to almost 700 feet above sea level, the city’s total area covered 2.5 square miles and — back in 1947 — boasted a population of approximately 2,500.
The city was snug and comfy welded together emotionally by community oneness.
It was a special place to live.
Ostensibly, this Blast from the Past is about Dewey High’s state football title of 1947.
But perhaps Dewey’s best moment in high school football — not just the team but the town as a whole — had taken place in 1938 in Sand Springs.
Anne Barajas Harp had a wonderful article published in 2012 chronicling the event.
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Here’s a summary:
Dewey was a state powerhouse then — coach Homer Hill had won 50-of-55 games from the early 30’s into 1938. Henry Kemps was one of Dewey’s most ardent fans.
He was also African-American, but had never been denied entrance into a stadium — at home or on the road — to cheer on his beloved Doggers.
At least not until that November night playoff game in 1938 in Sand Springs.
The gatekeeper refused him admission. The stadium seated at least 4,000 people — yet there apparently wasn’t room enough to seat one Black fan.
The word spread from the Dewey coach like a hurricane blast among the Dewey fans, while Kemps sat out in the parking lot.
Within minutes the entire Dewey football team and coaches walked off the field, charged onto the parking lot and carried Kemps on their shoulders into the stadium and to their bench — where he remained through the rest of the game.
Kemps died just five years later.
Oh yeah, the Dewey-Sand Springs game ended in a 6-6 tie. But there is no scoreboard that’s ever been built that could adequately reflect the victory won that night by the community of Dewey could not.
Unfortunately, Kemps wasn’t able to enjoy Dewey’s championship stampede throughout the 1947 season. How he would have loved it. Regular seats cost only 75 cents. For $1.25 one could stretch out in a box seat.
By this time, L.D. Bash had replaced Hill as the Doggers’ head coach.
“Handy Andy” — last name Smith — was the mammoth talent at only 140 pounds that led Dewey’s offensive attack in 1947.
Others on the main roster included Glenn McCartlen and Phil Sprague at left end, Everett Hunt at left tackle, Lloyd Drum at left guard, Melvin Lemmons at center, Bob Clairborne at right guard, Jimmy Toalson at right tackle, Frank Magana at right end, Orville Webber at right halfback, Dean Williams at left halfback and Jimmy Webber at fullback.
Amazingly, the only two returning starters from the 7-3 team in 1946 were Davis and Claibourne
Some Dewey players injured in preseason practice and not available for the first game in 1947 were guard Clyde Gray (broken leg), first-string left end Johnny Barger (broken finger), Kenneth Delozier (broken wrist) and Frank Thomison (back injury).
The campaign didn’t start out well. Bartlesville College High downed the Doggers, 12-0, in front of 5,000 pigskin-crazy spectators at the Dewey Fairgrounds.
But, Dewey would romp through its next 13 games with an 11-1-1 record.
Following is a closer look.
DEWEY 27, SHIDLER 6
Dean Williams’ pick-six set up a touchdown run by Andy Davis. Adams later connected with Claibourne on an 80-yard touchdown aerial play.
DEWEY 13, BROKEN ARROW 6
On just two days' rest, Dewey tamed the Tigers. The Doggers drove the ball 68 yards on their first possession to the end zone. Orville Webber finished it off on a six-yard burst. Ferrell McClure later scored on another short run.
DEWEY 33, YALE 0
McClure opened the scoring on a five-yard dive. Davis also ran in a score. Dewey outgained Yale, 375-45.
DEWEY 38, OILTON 6Davis recorded a seven-yard scoring run.
DEWEY 21, CLEVELAND 0
This game basically clinched the district title. Jimmy Webber and Orville Webber shared ball carrying duties on the first scoring march. Adams found Frank Magana for a long touchdown pass. Dewey extended its streak to five straight games allowing less than 10 points.
DEWEY 14, HOMINY 13
Dewey had surged to a 14-0 lead and held on. Davis opened the scoring on a 85-yard bolt, which began behind left tackle and then went to a reverse cut while Claibourne and Frank Vargas both threw key blocks. Magana tallied Dewey’s other touchdown.
DEWEY 40, FAIRFAX 0
Lineman Everett Hunt fell on a loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Stanley McWhirt scored on a blocked punt. Davis found Phil Sprague for a 45-yard scoring pass play.
ViNITA 19, DEWEY 13
For the first time since Week One, the Doggers had to chew on defeat.
McClure registered a Dewey touchdown. Vinita produced its winning score off a pass deflection caught by a receiver that sprinted to the end zone.
DEWEY 13, PAWNEE 13
The regular season ended with a yawn. Davis and Magana hooked up on a 30-yard scoring aerial.
PLAYOFF: DEWEY 38, MORRIS 0
Big 255-pound Dewey tackle Bill Bullen carried for one score. The game had been postponed for a day due to a lawsuit that arose out of Davenport charging that Chandler had used an ineligible player. Eventually, the state’s sports association kept both Chandler and Davenport out of the playoffs, opening the door for Morris to play.
PLAYOFF: DEWEY 20, BROKEN ARROW 9
In their second meeting of the season, Handy Andy tossed one touchdown and ran for two others. He also kicked two extra points and recorded a safety. Magana was on the receiving end of the throwing score.
SEMIFINALS: DEWEY 13, FAIRVIEW 6
Davis moved the ball through air with Magana and Orville Webber as his main targets. In the fourth quarter, Davis also slipped into paydirt for the winning touchdown. Dewey was able to make a goal line stand at the three-yard line.
CHAMPIONSHIP: DEWEY 33, ELK CITY !8
Dewey’s defense tightened up in the second half to allow only one touchdown.
For Dewey, Clairborne scored on a 30-yard run to put Dewey ahead, 14-6. Jimmy Webber scored Dewey’s first touchdown (on a one-yard run) after a completion from Davis to Magana set up the score.
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Seventy-eight years have passed since the field lights were turned off on the 1947 season and the players went on to write the script for the rest of their lives.
But there was that shining time in the apex of their youth when they were the Friday night heroes and the pride of their community.
Oh, to treasure the days of yore and to brush back the years and recall those days of endless hours and the brightness they brought those that were there.