1957: Fire Stalls Physical Ed and Athletic Program

This story originally appeared in the March 4, 1957, edition of The Yuma Daily Sun.

The disastrous fire that engulfed the Yuma Union High School athletic department this morning, has brought a temporary standstill to the athletic program.

This includes all forthcoming home athletic contests, due to the complete destruction of the dressing and shower facilities that were housed in the gymnasium.

An estimated $35,000 of YUHS athletic equipment, in addition to students' personal belongings, such as baseball gloves, tennis racquets, etc., were completely destroyed. Of this amount, about $12,000 to $15,000 was invested in football gear, according to Jim Moore, Director of Athletics at YUHS.

A professional library estimated at $300, much of which was Moore's personal property, was destroyed along with all YUHS team and individual records and statistics covering the past seven years, with the exception of the track records and statistics which Coach Jack BeDillon kept on file in his office in the school shop.

All the new basketball, track and baseball uniforms purchased this season, were destroyed. However, the wrestling teams' tournament uniforms were sent to the dry cleaners in preparation for the forthcoming state tourney in Tempe.

In the meantime, wrestling mats will be borrowed to keep the wrestling team sharp for the tourney.

Approximately one-half of the student body, which includes about 425 girls and 475 boys, was involved in the athletic and physical education program.

For the present time, all physical education classes will be held on the stone bleachers of the athletic field, unless inclement weather is foreseen, at which time all these classes will be held in the school cafeteria.

The baseball game between the Crims and the El Centro Spartans, slated for tomorrow afternoon at Yuma, has been cancelled. Track Coach BeDillon, whose team has a dual meet with West High Friday in Phoenix, stated, "if we can get the equipment and the school authorities will let us go, we'll go."

Meanwhile, an athletic department meeting has been scheduled for this afternoon at 3, to determine what will be done about all home athletic contests for the remainder of the year. However, the YUHS administration will have the final say on this policy.