Nogales International

Approximately 165 Rotarians, their friends and members of the Nogales and Patagonia High School football teams gathered at the Cavern Gardens last Friday evening to participate in the annual Football Banquet.

The Rotary-sponsored affair was in honor of Coach John Herrera, Assistant Coach Marlow Keith, their N.H.S. Apaches and the Patagonia High School football team.

Rotary President Jake Rochlin in his inimitable way opened the affair with pertinent remarks and then turned the affair over to M. I. "Doc" Fred Merritt who despite heavy and persistent competition managed to get the program running smoothly and to a very successful conclusion.

He opened his remarks by expressing regret over the absence of Rotarians J. C. Tovrea, Wirt G. Bowman, Dr. Charles S. Smith and C. B. Wilde, who could not be present on account of sickness. Each of these men heretofore had been a regular attendant at football banquets.

As Master of Ceremonies "Doc" first introduced and paid tribute to those Rotarians whose efforts and work had made the occasion possible. Among these were Dr. C. S. Smith, Craig Pottinger, F. B. Carroon, C. E. Bellis, J. V. Robins, Dr. O. A. Smith, Robert Marcus and C. B. Wilde.

Coach John Herrera was given the floor and introduced the boys who had participated in football for Nogales High School this year with pointed remarks for each boy which enabled those present to know the boys more intimately.

Among the Nogalians were Eddie Stoller and Ramon Baldenegro who were elected co-captains last Friday afternoon.

As a special tribute to the spirit displayed by the boys from Patagonia who, without a coach, turned out, drilled and placed a team on the field they were invited to attend this year's banquet and received a nice round of applause as they were individually introduced by Mr. O. H. Oldfather, head of the Patagonia schools.

Further entertainment was furnished from the Cavern and without a doubt the Mexican Champion Jitterbugs were the hit of the show. There might be some argument about this since rambling, garrulous and multiloquent Marty Loughman nearly choked the microphone to death for some 10 or 15 minutes as he glibly cracked and crackled new and old jokes.

Representatives of the football team presented gifts to Coach Herrera and his assistant, Marlow Keith. For reasons best known to himself, Coach Herrera was able to express but few words of reply upon receipt of this token of respect and affection from his boys. Unfortunately Mr. Keith had been called to the bedside of his mother and was not present to receive his gift.

Following the banquet which was prepared and served by the Cavern Gardens, those present adjourned long enough to get their lady friends and then danced for the remainder of the evening.

In view of the repeated success of this affair it is puzzling to know why local men, their sons and young friends do not get together oftener. It was a great success and should be an incentive for other local organizations to do something along similar lines for other groups of young people, both boys and girls.