By Terry Trautman, CHS ‘56
Back in the fall of 1971 when Max Andress was the Columbus High School football coach he was also running for mayor of Columbus. One of the star players on that team was none other than local attorney Pete King (who is also a co-founder and current President of the Bull Dog Alumni Association.)
That 1971 Bull Dog team did not get off to a great start — losing four of its first five games. An unhappy Andress “addressed” the team after the fourth loss stating, “If you guys don’t start winning some games, you’re going to cost me an election!” Well, the team got the message. The Dogs won the remaining games on their schedule – and, inspirational plea notwithstanding, Andress won the election!
The mayoral election victory was known by the time the team played their last game against New Albany on a muddy, rainy night. The Bull Dogs won 21 to 12. At the end of the game Pete wanted the game ball for two reasons: one, Andress was retiring as head football coach; and two, as a congratulatory gift for winning the election.
The referee was unsympathetic and told Pete he couldn’t keep the ball. Undaunted, but brave and perhaps a bit foolhardy, Pete grabbed the ball and took off like a shot toward the sidelines. The young football player was much faster than the old ref. As Pete related it later and in his best legal jargon, he had decided to purloin the pigskin for a greater purpose!
As far as we know, there have been no legal ramifications in the 54 years since the “incident.” All’s well that ends well…