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Three Stories About McKinley Tech

We dug up three stories about McKinley Tech in Washington DC: their football dynasty, star athlete "Snookie" Kernan, and a tragic auto accident involving a graduate. Enjoy this post on the history of McKinley Tech!
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We received the following tweet the other day from GoDCer @HaroldPettigrew, and thought it was a good idea to dig up some stories on McKinley Tech.

So, here are three quick stories we could dig up about McKinley Tech.

1. McKinley high school’s football dynasty goes down

McKinley v. Central
McKinley v. Central

McKinley was the dominant football team in the District of the 1930s. Below is an interesting article we came across in the Washington Post, printed on November 4th, 1933.

McKinley Tech’s high school football dynasty toppled yesterday before the determined bid of a Central team that inflicted the first defeat suffered by the Manual trainers in six years of play in the scholastic series. Eight thousand fans at Central Stadium saw Tech’s unbeaten record and its championship hopes fall by a 7-0 score in a battle that saw the winning touchdown scored in the last five minutes of play.

Central thus advances to the top of the series standing, the only team to beat a Tech eleven of the series since the Central team of 1927 turned th trick. Series laurels will be definitely determined next Friday when Tech meets Eastern, which held Central to a tie.

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2. Snookie is a star

McKinley v. Anacostia box score
McKinley v. Anacostia box score

That’s right … D.C. had a Snookie before the trainwreck one showed up on Jersey Shore (minus an “e”).

Here’s an article highlighting the athletic superstar Stan “Snookie” Kernan from October 13th, 1951.

Stan (Snookie) Kernan, McKinley Tech’s breakaway runner, scampered for touchdown runs of 7 and 75 yards yesterday in leading Tech’s Trainers to a 19-0 victory over Anacostia in an interhigh game at Anacostia.

Kernan also set up the final Tech marker with his passes and runs, and had a touchdown heave nullified by a penalty. But it was his second period run of 75 yards that applied the crushck [sic] to the Indians.

Ray Murray and Kernan accounted for most of the yardage in Tech’s first period 62-yard drive, with Kernan barrelling over from 7 yards out. Kernan’s long sprint came right after the Trainers had turned back an Anacostia drive at the 28.

Again it was Kernan, throwing and running the ends, who spearheaded a third-quarter Trainer surge from midfield to the seven, where Ray Murray legged it over to end the scoring.

Pass interceptions and fumbles halted Anacostia’s efforts until late in the game. Then, led by Pip Fraser and Roger James, the Indians moved downfield to the three-yard line before losing the ball on downs.

3. McKinley graduate dies after auto crash

Here’s a sad story that we dug up from 1950.

Frank Baumann, jr., 22, whose car struck a tree early Wednesday morning on Rhode Island ave. ne., died of injured at 2 p. m. yesterday at Gallinger Hospital.

The youth, who lived at 1805 Lawrence st. ne., suffered a fractured skull and internal injuries.

According to police, Baumann was trying to negotiate a turn at the intersection of 28th st., Monroe st. and Rhode Island ave. ne. His car, they said, hit a stop sign, swerved, then struck the tree.

Baumann, who was driving with a learner’s permit, was trapped in the wreckage for 30 minutes before No. 2 Rescue Squad could free him.

Coroner A. Magruder MacDonald announced that an autopsy will be performed today.

A native of the District, Baumann attended McKinley (Tech) High School. At 17, he enlisted in the Navy. After his hitch in the Navy, he went to a television school in Kansas City and was graduated last month as a television engineer. He was employed by Phillip’s Radio & Appliances.

The youth is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Baumann, sr., and a sister, Jane Marie Baumann.

McKinley Tech
McKinley Tech

Hopefully you enjoyed this post about McKinley Tech. If you have any ideas for “Three Things…” topics, send us an email.

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