My brother, Gene, was 3 years and 3 months younger than me. As we were growing up it was my lot to get him to help me do chores and run our 15 acre farm. He was Big for his age and could run a lot faster than me. We both got tough always fighting over who was going to do what.
Gene was 4 years behind me in school because the school cut off date used to be January first. Gene and cousin Normand Hancock had January birthdays. Gene went back up to Pima to play High School football and stay with Lawrence and Lelia Hancock his freshman year.
The Wheaties chose the Mesa team to make a documentary film to be used for the training of football officials. Years later as an Arizona football official I watched this film. Gene had broken a finger and played with his hand in a cast. In the film he was shown intercepting a pass with his casted hand and of course the other hand.
Gene played football at Mesa High his next 3 years. Wilford Whizzer White was a grade ahead of Gene and was Mesa's main ball carrier. I was there for every game of 1946, 1947, and 1948 to see Gene play tackle on the state champion football team. Gene played both offense and defense. He was a great blocker for "Whizzer" White. The Mesa High School still won state the year after "Whizzer" White graduated. A big full back Don McClintock was their main offensive weapon.
Wilford Whizzer Waite went to Arizona State College in my Junior year. An old friend and neighbor from Bryce, Roy Beach, had played two years at Gila College in Thatcher, Arizona had moved to mesa to attend
Arizona State College. I went out for football with Roy under a new coach, Ed Doughty. We both played guard. Some other Mesa guys tried out for them too. Doughty had been coaching at Boston College and he had bought a whole team with him from back east putting them on scholarships. Roy and I could out play the guards he had brought but guess who got to play in the games! We were both married and had a son so we decided against wasting our time so we quit.
My son Daniel L. Johnston was born December 6, 1947. He was a real joy, a real great child. We used to take him to a football games and he would pur on quite a show. We taught him to root for Whizzer White.
Our best frinds in Mesa were Bob and Betty Medril in our ward at First. Wilford White married Bob's sister Shirley Merril. Shirley and Wilford played cards with us at B0b and Betty's often and Danny would demonstrate his cheers for the "Whizzer". They named their first son, Danny.
White played for the Chicago Bears for the 1951 and '52 seasons but became injured ending his NFL career. Former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Danny White was the son of Wilford White. Danny lead the Cowboys to three consecutive NFC championship games (1980-1982)
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