Historic Hood River
Crag Rats
Notes
The Crag Rats posed for a Fun Friday group photo after their basketball game with the Hood River Fire Department. Bill Pattison has provided the following commentary:
In the 1930’s there was a friendly rivalry between the HRFD and Crag Rats. See football photos of that era on the HR Middle School field.
In the winter of 1953 the Crag Rats challenged the FD to a basketball game in the May Street School gym. This became a total rout. The HR Fire Chief Jim Meyer called me a “turn coat” because of my dual membership. ( Another story for a future time)
The lineup starting rear left: Bill Gale, Al Lichens,(Pam’s father), Hal Puddy (City of HR Public works director and former end for the SF 49ers), Next row down: Ross Hukari (Camille’s father), Glenn Marsh, George Sheppard, Dick Duckwall (Duckwall-Pooley Fruit), Next row down: Bill Sheppard, Tony Krivak, Stan Clark. Next row down: Don Marsh, Bob Sheppard, Rob Hukari, Bill Pattison. Bottom row: Bernie Wertgen on top of Norm Hukari.
Lots of home town rivalries in that period. Parkdale, Odell Cascade Locks Mosier and The Dalles.
The sad part of this photo is that there are only three of us still living after fifty years.
Tags: 1950s, basketball, Crag Rats, Fun Friday, Joe Young, Puddy, sports
charlott
All I can say is WOW, what a photo..
l.e.
Does not appear to be a winner or a loser. Just a lot of fun.
Arthur
There is a similar fun picture of the HRFD team which I’ll post another day. Unfortunately you won’t be able to identify any of them, for reasons which will be obvious when you see the picture.
Arthur
Bill’s comment about Hal Puddy led me to do a little research. He played for the 49’ers for one season (1948). After working for the City of Hood River, he became city manager for Bend Oregon, then later Port Angeles Washington. He died at 49 of a heart attack. There is a ball field in Bend named in his honor.
James
Great photo, we really look up to those ‘old timers’, as I call them, full of wisdom and stories……..look here, they are so young and playful!!!
charlott
Definitely Hal Puddy was quite the guy, but then from my perspective they all were.
They were all hard workers in their own orchards, businesses, etc.
This group of guys saved a lot of people on that mountain, who would have other wise perished had it not been for this wonderful organization.
Teresa
I agree with Charlott’s comments above…all good "greatest generation" guys…I showed my Dad this photo and he said he’d just made the game-winning shot, "and they all jumped me!" Hence the happy faces and victorious gestures, even his at the bottom of the heap.
Ginny McNeill
Tony Krivak was my Uncle:)
John Cassedy
Indirectly, my life was touched by the Crag Rats. In 1976, I was intoduced to a world of skiing, on the Eliot Glacier, completely different from any I had known by by Robert’s son Dave and Dave’s friend Robin. That day cemented my endeavor to enage in back-country skiing, at which I was still a neophyte. I had many more days of enjoyment on mountains to some extent because of the Craq Rats. But no day quite like that one.
Pamela Lichens Newman
Thanks all especially Bill Pattison for the history and comments on photo. It’s a great one and so nice to see my dad from way back, and all the other Rats too.
Theresa Puddy Anderson
I’m Hal Puddy’s daughter, and I just found this site. You can imagine how my face might be imitating his in this photo. I’m developing a wall on my cabin at Sunriver to honor the Crag Rats, and this picture is going up, for sure! I can’t believe I’d never seen it before. Thanks to all who said such kind words about my dad.
Clarence & Pat Petterson
We knew Tony from our years as owners of Lost Lake resort! He was a game warden, police office and carg rat!! A very fine fellow!! Lots of good memories of him!!
Clarence & Pat Petterson
We knew tony as a game warden, state policeman and friend. We owned lost lake resort from 1948-1959
Delano V
They had the right stuff. Their stuff made America the country that was.
Delano V
1950 – 1952 Does anyone remember when Harlem Globe Trotters played at the May Street School Gym. Goose Tatum was amazing. Things they did with a basket ball I’ve not seen sense.
Delano V
Yes – these guys and millions like them from the greatest generation was then and many years after were the heart and courage of our America. They made us proud 😉