All the 1947 MHS football starters have been located

Well, we’ve found all the 1947 Monongah High football starters who are still alive.

John Matkovich, who started the search, emailed:

“John,

 

 “Louie DePond at tackle. You have Holloway Williams twice.

 

“Jimmy Jacobin is in Bethesda, MD.

 

“John Matkovich”

Matkovich, who lives in Palm Harbor, Florida with wife Dolores Sweede Matkovich, Class of 1953, was wondering if he’s the only survivor from the 1947 Monongah High football team.     He wondered if Gene Morris and Jimmy Jacobin were still alive. They are, fortunately.     John Matkovich’s original email:

“Good Morning John,   “The picture of the football team looks great. It was taken during the football season in 1947.  I've had this picture for several years and had sent the same picture to Pete Basagic this past December. “Incidentally,  the picture was taken at Traction Park, where we played football and baseball for Coach George Ross. “Eight of the players are now gone.  I'm not sure about Gene Morris and Jimmy Jacobin. “Take Care, John Matkovich” Donna Osbourn and Dolores Edwards both replied that Gene lives at Bingamon Junction in Enterprise.   Donna wrote: “Gene Morris lives on the Marion and Harrison county line in Enterprise. First house after crossing bridge.”   Dolores wrote:   “Gene and Mary Jo (Heldreth) Morris live right past Whitecottons store at Bingamon Junction. Brick house on left after you cross bridge.”   Adam Michna wrote: “Gene Morris worked at Westinghouse/Philips for many years and became a foreman. He lived in Idamay. I remember his son, Gary, graduated from MHS in either 1978 or 79. He also had a daughter, but I don't remember her name. She was a few years behind me in school.”   And John Matkovich found out about  Jimmy Jacobin’s whereabouts. Monongah High alumni make a good team, huh?  Pete Basagic, Class of 1972, son of Richard Basagic, Class of 1948, had cataract eye surgery last year. In the 1947 photo of the Lions’ starting offense, there’s John as an end and the late Bob Fox as a fearsome fullback.     Homer Delovich, the quarterback and one of the top amateur golfers in West Virginia, passed away in 2000. The Lions halfbacks were Pete Condo and Chester Vozniak.     On the offensive line were Matkovich and Joe Argiro at ends, Louie DePond and Gene Morris at tackles, Richard Basagic and Holloway Williams at guards and Jimmy Jacobin at center. John Matkovich, Bob Fox and Homer Delovich also were on the MHS basketball team, playing in the tiny, bandbox gym.   The elder Leo Jacobin, Class of 1933, died in 1998. His parents were Tony and Rose Loss Tropea, who owned the Tropea Grocery on Camden Avenue (U.S. 19), and lived on Bridge Street till they both passed away.    Leo’s siblings are Christine Tropea Jacobin, Class of 1935; Helen Tropea Riggs Bieglecki, who married Edmund Bieglecki and lived in Wolverine, Michigan; Vincent Tropea; Marguerite Tropea Matthews, Class of 1926, who married Simon Matthews, and was the mother of Simon Paul Matthews, Jr., Class of 1956; and Virginia Tropea Neri, Class of 1931, who married Peter Neri. Christine’s son, another Leo Jacobin, Class of 1959, lives in Lakewood, Colorado, with wife Roberta and works in Denver.