Valley Girl Views: The 1935 Team Of Destiny

Milton's 1935 Team of Destiny

(Names of all the players in the photo are listed below)

In the 1935 Football Season, Milton outscored its opponents 148-33, completely shutting out six opponents. Two of the team players went on to play for the 1943 Steagles. At least 7 played in college, and 3 went on to play professionally. One had been drafted by the Yankees before playing professional football. Tom Miller is in the hall of fame for his management role with the Greenbay Packers. Harold Hinkle went on to create the recreation program for the Allenwood Prison Camp. Bo Johnson is in the Guiness Book Of World Records for returning his own kick-off back for a touchdown. Many of the team served in World War II, between high school and their later accomplishments. They truly were a Team Of Destiny.

When a team accomplished a feat or feats never before achieved, sports historians like to call it a "Team Of Destiny". In 1935, reporters were bestowing that title on the Milton High School "Eleven".

The Team defeated Lock Haven, Danville, The Sunbury IOOF Orphanage, Montgomery, South Williamsport, Shamokin, and Northumberland. They are thought to be the only Milton team to ever beat Williamsport, according to a 1981 article. Their only loss that season was at Bloomsburg, with a score of 13-6.

On November 14 1935, The Shamokin News reported that Milton's Team Of Destiny, "which has been knocking traditional opponents helter-skelter", was about to get near bleacher seats at Island field, thanks to a contribution from a wealthy New Yorker.

In those years, Milton's Football field was on the island. Their practice field was over by the old Armory Building in town.

While visiting Williamsport, the fans there had wagered $200 that the Millionaires would beat Milton. Iverson covered that bet - certain that Milton would win. Then if the committee raising funds for new bleachers could raise $135, he'd contribute $150. The committee raised $158.12, and "not to be outdone" Iverson donated $158.13. "Just to be one better" he said.

Additionally, he said that if Milton won the game against Williamsport, he'd donate the the difference between his first gift and the winning bet. The Milton bleacher fund gained another $41.87 after that game.

H.A. Iverson was a close friend of Dr. D. R. Rothrock of Milton.

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"The Steagles"

Two Of Milton's Team Of Destiny Played on the 1943 combined Pennsylvania Team

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Jack Hinkle #43

Jack Hinkle and Tommy Miller both went on, after military service, to play for the "Steagles", the Eagle-Steeler National Professional Grid Team.

In 1943, both of Pennsylvania's professional football teams, having lost so many players to military service during the war, combined to form one team.

The team split their home games between Shibe Park in Philadelphia and Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

Both Hinkle and Miller, as well as almost every other player on the team, had been sent home from the service with some medical issue. For many, it was punctured eardrums and loss of hearing. The leading receiver on the team, Tony Bova, was legally blind. The team only practiced in the evenings, as most of the men still held war time jobs.

Officially recorded as the "Phil-Pitt Combine" team, they were unofficially known as the "Steagles".

The Steagles 1943 season was the Philadelphia franchise's first winning season in its history and the second for Pittsburgh's

Wearing #11 in this photo, Hinkle would later switch to #43

Jack Hinkle was #43, Tom Miller was #89.

Jack Hinkle #43 for the 1943 "Steagles" Team

Unlabeled Team Photo of the 1943 Steagles Team

Official Announcement of the Steelers and the Eagles merging to form one team was made on June 19 1943.

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Seven players from the Team Of Destiny went on to play on College Teams, and at least three went on to play professionally.

Tommy Miller - Fork Union Military Academy
Jack Hinkle - Syracuse Univesity
Walter “Bo” Johnson - Alfred University [Inducted into Hall Of Fame]
Bob “Max” Eschbach - Alfred University
Henry “Bus” Longenberger - Lenoir Rhyne
Paul Satteson - Staunton Military Academy
Paul “Dusty” Fulmer - Gettysburg College

Many of these players went on to serve in the military, and several, after serving, went on to play professionally.

Walter "Bo" Johnson lettered in football, basketball, and track while at Alfred University.

He held the indoor high jump record for a number of years, and was inducted into Alfreds Hall of Fame. During WWII, Johnson served as a 1st Lieutenant in the army, where he won a bronze star for gallantry in action during the Rhine River Crossing in 1945.

From there, he went on to play professionally football for the Los Angeles California Dons.

Bo is also in the Guiness Book of World records, for returning his own kick-off back for a touchdown, while at Alfred University. "It was a hard, line drive, kick that bounced off the chest of a front line player of the opponents. The ball spiraled back to him and he caught it at his shoe tops, and before the opponents knew what had happened, he was past them, running for a touchdown."

Jack Hinkle played one game for the Eagles, on December 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor). He enlisted in the Army in 1942 but had a brief stint as he was discharged from the service due to stomach ulcers. He returned and played for the "Steagles" in 1943 and four additional seasons with the Eagles. Originally drafted by the New York Yankees, Hinkle earned rookie of the year in 1943.

Tommy Miller played for the Eagles-Steelers, and also for the Green Bay Packers. He went on to be a co-manager for the Green Bay Packers.

November 1935

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TEAM PHOTO LABELED

First Row: Fred Reed, Smith, James Harpster, Harold Hinkle, Warren Harpster, Weidenhamer, Charles Enterline, William Bingaman, Paul Satteson, Keiser, and Charles Brown.

Second row: Robert Burns, William Koch, Reynolds Keefer, David Hans, James Croft, Jack Hinkle, Walter “Bo” Johnson, Thomas Miller, Henry Longenberger, Fred Neyhard, Homer Snyder, and Monroe Young.

Back row, from left, assistant coach P. Richard Fisher, Carideo, James Botto, Lengle, Russell Rothermel, Simons, McCollin, Daniel Hughes, David Rothrock, Ralph Smith, Harold Hauck,and head coach “Lefty” Danks.

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Harold "Hobby" Hinkle was assigned to the Allenwood Prison Camp in 1954, where he immediately began to build the first athletic program there.

Prior to his arrival, there as no recreation program at all at the prison. WIth no budget, he obtained second hand equipment, some of ut coming from the Lewisburg Penitentiary.

Through his efforts, a softball Prison Team was the first prison team in the area to be permitted to play softball outside of the camp.

"Hobby has devoted much time with the prisoners, attempting to teach them sportsmanship above everything."

Harold's brother Jack was "one of the finest players to ever graduate from Milton High School". Jack went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Bo Johnson

1940

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Tom Miller

Miller was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1999 for his work as an executive and general manager for the team

Miller spent 32 years working in various capacities in the Packers' front office, including 10 as a valued advisor to Vince Lombardi in his role as general manager. Hired in 1956 as sales promotional director and unofficial publicity director, Miller rose to the position of assistant to the president – business. In that position, he oversaw the maintenance of Lambeau Field, planning and construction of new facilities, preseason broadcast rights and team travel. Previously, Miller worked in sales and public relations, and supervised the ticket office. Lombardi named Miller his assistant to the general manager in 1966.

"I think his greatest contribution was the fact that he was just very loyal and dedicated to what he did," said Bob Harlan, who shared administrative duties with Miller for 17 years.

Miller first joined the Packers in 1946 when he appeared in two games as an end. He returned to Green Bay in 1954 to become assistant operations manager for the H.C. Prange Co. His positions with the Packers included sales promotional director (1956-59), publicity director (1959-66), assistant to the general manager (1966-75), business general manager (1975-81) and assistant to the president –business (1981-88). Miller retired June 1, 1988. In January 1981, less than a week after Bart Starr had been stripped of his title as general manager, the Packers announced that Harlan and Miller would split the duties, but their jobs really didn't change.

Born May 23, 1918, in Milton, Pa. Given name Thomas Marshall Miller. Died Dec. 2, 2005, at age 87.