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 Termite History |
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Prospect Park Termites founded in 1948.
Frank & Peg Witmer
(Photo taken Fall 1999)
In September 1948, Frank P. Witmer, Jr. invited about 25 boys (age 12-13 years) into his backyard at 738 Pennsylvania Avenue to play football. The group had been playing in front of his house and Frank Witmer decided to teach the boys as well as give them a place to play. At the time Prospect Park High School had no Junior High football team and plenty of boys came to the Witmer house to play. Bob Moffatt, then coach of football at Prospect Park High School, heard of Witmers team and lent them equipment for practice. The team was named the Termites due to a termite problem in the Witmer garage. At that time it just seemed to fit the team (From an interview with Frank P. Witmer, Jr., 1977). The Termites played three games in 1948 and won all three. The Termites increased their schedule each year until by 1951 they were playing 11 games a season.
The Termites were invited to the Coatesville Steel Bowl in 1952 and won the title by playing two games in 1 day. They beat Coatesville and York. York won the National Championship in 1951. The Delco Boys Football Conference was formed in 1953 and the Termites won championships in 1953, 1954, 1959, 1962 and 1965. The Termites had fundraisers, a tag day and a yearly banquet beginning in 1955 when jackets and trophies were awarded. The Termites continued to practice in Witmers backyard through 1967. In 1968 the Bert Bell Conference offered membership and the Termites joined, but had to split their team in two (95 and 115 pounds). In 1968 they left Witmers backyard to practice at the Municipal Field and on a lot at 11th and Madison owned by Leo Crenza, coach of the 95lb. team.
On March 31, 1968, Frank P. Witmer was honored at a testimonial dinner at Widener Colleges MacMorland Center. Over 300 people attended the affair. In honor of his outstanding contribution to the boys of Prospect Park, the borough officially renamed the Municipal Field at 4th and Lafayette Avenues, The Frank P. Witmer, Jr. Athletic Field.
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The First Team of the Prospect Park Termites in 1948
(shown left to right)
Top Row: Gene Fegely, Assistant Coach, Leo Cerenzia, Frank Witmer, Head Coach, Fred Touchstone, Bill Worrell, Janet Reis, Cheerleader, Peggy Witmer, Trainer, Joe Mayo, Audrey Schartner, Cheerleader.
Middle Row: Clem Calder, Wayne Schartner, Bill Patterson, Harold Taylor, Tom Hawke, and Lawton Howard.
Bottom Row: Bob Calder, Marvin Adams, Bill Bradford, John Van Wyk, Mike Murtaugh, Joe Clark.
On the Ground: Alan Finlayson, Charles Lowe.
How The Termites Got Their Name
In 1948, members of Frank Witmer's first football team were sitting in his garage
trying to think of a name for the team.
The garage had termites. Frank realized that the termites had a lot of similarities to a football team.
The termites work as a team, charging forward, chewing up everything in their way and building mud tunnels to fake out the defense, same as an end around play.
In order to stop a termite you have to kill him. Frank and his boys knew this was the perfect name for the team.
2004 Youth League Award
Congratulations! The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Inc., Philadelphia Chapter, will be honoring Mr. & Mrs. Witmer and the Prospect Park Termites with their 2004 Youth League Award. The Termites have been chosen in recognition of their outstanding career and contribution to the youth whom they have worked throughout their football career.
The award will be presented at their annual banquet that will be held on Wednesday May 5, 2004 in the Connelly Center on the Villanova University Campus.
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