The Trion Bulldogs earned their 500th win against the LaFayette Ramblers on Friday, September 7, 2012. The Bulldogs are playing in the school’s 79th year of football at Trion High School. The question was asked after the 500th win, “Is there anyone living that witnessed the Trion Bulldogs’ first win and could now celebrate the 500th win?” The answer to that question is “Yes, Mr. R.W. “Dub” Williams.”

     R.W. “Dub” Williams is the great-grandson of Harris Pitsford (1845-1888) and Amanda Jean Freeman Williams (1842-1917). His great-grandfather was a Confederate soldier in the Civil War, and his great-grandparents are buried in the Old Trion Cemetery. His grandparents, Artimus “Artie” (1869-1942) and Martha Eveline “Evie” Howard Williams (1869-1955) are also buried in the Old Trion Cemetery. This particular Williams family moved to Trion in 1878. Mr. Harris P. Williams gained employment as a wagoner with the Trion Factory. Dub Williams’ parents were Roy Franklin (1894-1969) and Margaret Floy Shelton Williams (1896-1982).

     R.W. “Dub” Williams was born on January 22, 1917, in the part of Trion known as “Hot Town.” He was a student in the Trion School system from 1924 to 1934. He is also the last surviving member of Trion High School’s first football team. In 1933, Superintendent Charles E. Bell hired A.G. “Whitey” Urban to be Trion’s first head football coach. The Bulldogs ended the 1933 season with 5 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie.

Dub Williams played the 1933 and 1934 seasons with the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs finished the 1934 season with 9 wins and 3 losses.

     Mr. Williams was the special guest at Sam R. McCain Stadium on Wednesday, September 12, 2012. With assistance from the staff at Oak View Assisted Living, Herbert Dodd, Redmond Emergency Medical Services staff, and the family of Mr. Williams, he was able to join the 2012 Bulldogs at the field house prior to practice. While we were waiting for the football players, I asked Mr. Williams, “Who is your favorite college football team?” He answered, “Georgia Tech.” He mentioned that his high school football coach, Whitey Urban, coached at Georgia Tech after he left Trion in the late 1930s. Coach Whitey Urban was the Line Coach under Head Coach Bobby Dodd at Georgia Tech. He shared his memories of the 1929 Rose Bowl. Coach William Alexander's 1928 team was the first Georgia Tech team to attend a national bowl game. The team had a perfect 9–0 record and was invited to play California in the 1929 Rose Bowl. Tech traveled by train to meet the California Golden Bears. The game was a defensive struggle, but, the first points scored came after a Georgia Tech fumble. The loose ball was picked up by the California center Roy Riegels, and  accidentally returned in the wrong direction. Riegels returned the ball all the way to Georgia Tech's 3-yard line. After Riegels was finally tackled by his own team, the Bears opted to punt from the end zone. The punt was blocked and Georgia Tech converted the California misfortune into a safety giving Georgia Tech a 2–0 lead. Both teams scored one final touchdown, but Georgia Tech won the game 8-7. This victory made Tech the 10–0 undefeated National Champions of 1928. Mr. Williams stated that his favorite football player to watch was former Georgia Tech running back Leon Hardeman. Hardeman attended school in Trion, but graduated from LaFayette High School in 1949. He played for Georgia Tech from 1950 to 1954. Georgia Tech was crowned National Champions again in 1952.

     Mr. Williams spoke to the Bulldogs for about thirty minutes before their practice last Wednesday. He shared his memories of playing football on the first ever Trion team. The Bulldogs defeated the Summerville Indians for the school’s first win. Most of the football practices took place near Park Avenue where the old Trion Hospital once was located. The school was located across the street from the old Trion YMCA, and both were near the Trion River. The games were played in the same location as the stadium today, but it was shared by both the school and textile mill. During the spring and summer months, the field was used for school and textile league baseball. During the fall, the football team used the field for home games. Wayne Parker recalls the first fence placed around the field came around 1963, and the first field house was built around 1965. As Mr. Williams sat in a chair just outside the field house, he looked around the stadium and said, “We did not have all of this.” He told the players that in 1933, there were only 14 players and “I played all the positions.” He stated his favorite position was “center,” but on defense. Today, this position is known as nose guard. He also shared with the team that his team had very little protection on their bodies. There were no facemasks or protective padding. There was only one official/referee to officiate the game. There were no cheerleaders back in the early 1930s. Mr. Williams was named “Most Valuable Player” at the end of the 1934 season.

     After Dub Williams’ career with the Trion Bulldogs ended, he worked in the cotton mill and served his country in the United States Navy. He served between 1944 and 1946 on the USS Destroyer battleship. He was serving in the Philippines when the United States bombed Japan in August 1945. As Wayne Parker introduced Mr. Williams he stated, “Dub Williams is my hero.” He is a hero because of his military service and his contribution on the football field as one of the first Bulldogs in 1933.

     Head Coach Justin Brown thanked Mr. Williams for his service and awarded him with the 500th win game ball. Mr. Williams stated he might just sleep with that football, and he promised not to fumble it. As the ceremony ended, Mr. Williams stood and shook the hands of every Trion Bulldog football player. This was a thrilling sight to witness the last surviving Bulldog of the 1933 team share in the celebration of the team’s 500th win.

     Mr. Williams and his wife, Geneva Powell Williams, were both honored to receive the invitation to speak to the 2012 Trion Bulldogs and the coaching staff. Mr. Williams will turn 96 on January 22, 2013. He still loves the game of football and the greatest gift he gives to others is his many wonderful memories. His life truly shows that “once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog” reigns true.

     The Bulldogs have been busy preparing to make the trip to Kennesaw this Friday, September 21 to take on Mt. Paran Christian in our first region game. The Bulldogs lost to Mt. Paran 31-7 last year, but beat them 20-7 in 2010. This season the Eagles are 0-3 after losing last Friday night to Landmark Christian 28-10. Mount Paran Christian is located at 1275 Stanley Road NW in Kennesaw. The school website gives directions as take I-75 South to Exit 269 (Barrett Parkway). Turn right onto Barrett Parkway and travel west for approximately 3.2 miles. Turn right onto Stilesboro Road. At the first light, turn right onto Stanley Road. The school is located on the right. See you at Mount Paran this Friday night. GO DOGS!