Breakfast with the Ancient Warriors

By Nancy Covert

The Ancient Warriors are a proud, supportive bunch of folks. According to a hand-out provided at a recent breakfast gathering at Carr’s Restaurant:

“Anyone who attended or taught at Clover Park High School more than 50 years ago is ancient enough to be a member of the organization, and shall receive all of the following rights and privileges:

Buy his/her own breakfast (fairly reasonable); Arrive at breakfast (if at all) as early or as late as he/she cares to without consequences on the dates noted below (Ancient Warriors meet around 8:30 a.m. every other Tuesday), and, finally, refer to (or not) the words “Ancient Warrior” in his/her obituary.

Ancient Warriors, says its “founder” Jack Avril, CPHS ’50, (John Fitzpatrick and Bob Brewer) “is a no-frills organization with no membership cards, or dues, no attendance records or secret handshake.” Warrior “business” focuses on reminiscing about the good old days. The guys and gals have a good time, swapping ‘war stories’ from their school and post-school days, when they huddle in Carr’s banquet room.

 

The Warriors began meeting around 1999, Avril said. The group is composed of CPHS classmates who graduated between 1947-50. Many of them, such as Jim Taylor, Marvin Campeau, Parley Applegate, Alice Peeples and Harold Feaster, live in the Lakewood area; others are from further away.

Almost two-dozen of these ancients—at least two wearing green and white “Warrior” T-shirts—met on Oct. 23 to talk about—among other things—the upcoming pigskin match between CPHS Warriors and SHS Sentinels, set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Harry Lang Stadium.

Not surprising, several of these “Ancient Warriors” are former players—a lot of them in their late 70s-early 80s, and, as might be expected, a good bit of the conversation revolved around their days on the field.

“Remember the time you fell face down in the mud? asked one former teammate.

“That’s because my knee locked up!” the other replied. About 10 years ago he “finally” got around to having knee surgery.

These “Warriors”—“support the school,” said Don Ellingson, Class of 1950 and the Warriors’ “boss” by attending the games, voting for the levies…” and many planned to be at the game Friday night.

Although there was no formal count as to how many would show up at Harry Lang Stadium—Lang was a former CPHS Coach, Ellingson added—“they’re enthusiastic about the idea.”

If it rains the Warriors likely will remain in the stands instead of going onto the field.

After all—it’s their presence that matters.

“Warriors for Life because it was good.”

Avril can be reached at 253-582-1505.

Category: Clover Park HS, Events, Lakewood