Former German Twp. star Ford recalls days of segregation
Former German Township football stars Jim “Happy” Ford and Robert “Buddy” Ward were a dynamic 1-2 punch in the backfield for the Uhlans from 1950-52.
The pair were split up after graduating from high school in 1953, with Ford attending Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, and Ward choosing Notre Dame.
Ford and Ward were fortunate to play at a high school where the football team was integrated, but “Happy,” who is now enshrined in the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame, can remember a time in college when segregation came into play.
“You had a lot of things going on in the country when I was in college and a lot of kids were acting out so we had our hands full,” Ford said. “The decision to integrate schools came in 1954, but prior to that we played Jackson State University in Mississippi for our first football game, and when we got on campus, the state trooper came up and said they wanted to talk to our football coach on the bus.
“The state trooper told our coach that the white players can’t play against the black players in Mississippi. We had to mess up our team for some silly mess. That was the law then, but we played and beat the hell out of them. We didn’t have to do that in Tennessee, Kentucky or Arkansas.”
Ford takes pride in being a pioneer for athletes to play together regardless of color.
“It is an honor to be a trailblazer for players who followed in our footsteps,” the former Uhlans fullback said. “It is great to see these kids being able to play sports together, and using athletics as a way to get to college.”
Ford lost his wife, Iona, in 2005, and still lives in St. Louis but fondly remembers his days in Fayette County and visits when he can.
“I lived and went to elementary school in Edenborn,” Ford said. “The kids from Edenborn did a lot of good things for German Township. Vivian Stringer’s father was really instrumental in helping me succeed. He worked with us and was a great talker. He told me one evening, ‘I’m going to take you to school.’ I also want to thank Purcell Cooper.”
Ford was honored to be selected for the Fayette Sports Hall of Fame with his former backfield mate.
“Buddy (Ward) is a great guy,” Ford said. “We met each other in elementary school on the playground. We played basketball and they always ended up putting me and Buddy on the same team. I was from Edenborn and he was from Lambert.
“All of the elementary schools in German Township had other players together, and when we got to high school, we were the only freshmen chosen to go to football camp. I broke my arm two days into camp, and Buddy had a good year. Buddy and I asked our coach, Lou Rozzi, to change the offense from Single Wing to the T Formation the next year, and it was all over then. We would change picking up five to 10 yards to going all the way for touchdowns.”
The pair were dubbed, the “touchdown twins,” and Ford and Ward helped German Township hand Masontown its only loss in 1950.
“That was a great time and we were able to beat them, 14-6,” Ford said. “Gene Franks was my favorite guy. He always complimented me by cussing me out.”
Ford worked for 43 years in the St. Louis area as a teacher, football coach and administrator before retiring.