• Article Photo. The members of the 1959 Vinton team that shared WaMaC title reunite at Vinton football field.
    The members of the 1959 Vinton team that shared WaMaC title reunite at Vinton football field.
  • Article Photo. 1959 captains Jack Mitchell and Major Boddicker joined current Viking captains for coin toss.
    1959 captains Jack Mitchell and Major Boddicker joined current Viking captains for coin toss.
  • Article Photo. One more time, the 1959 Vikings stand in honor of the National Anthem before a high school game.
    One more time, the 1959 Vikings stand in honor of the National Anthem before a high school game.

They stood along the sidelines, watching the players in red and white prepare to compete against their team. They could vividly remember their last season, and even the last time they played Maquoketa.

"We beat them 13-0," one player recalled.

They even remembered the names of some of the opponents they had faced.

But these players have not worn shoulder pads or helmets for more than 50 years. They are the members of the Vinton Class of 1960, whose 1959 team shared the WaMaC title with Marion, while winning six, losing one and tying one game. They had the identical record the year before, but did not earn a conference title in 1958.

But 50 years after they graduated from high school, more than a dozen players, along with some managers and cheerleaders. returned to Vinton. They marveled at the changes they could see on and around the field.

"That was not there 50 years ago," said one 1960 alum, pointing to the new Vinton-Shellsburg High School.

The all-weather track -- or any track, for that matter -- did not take shape around the field. The bleachers are different; the press box and score board, too.

Most of the players even recognized each other as they met before the game. They shared memories of their years as Viking football players, recalling the touchdowns they scored, the rain that fell on them virtually every Friday night that year, the accomplishments they achieved.

The players watched the football game, after joining the current Vikings on the sidelines during pre-game ceremonies that included the introduction of the 1959 team members in attendance. The 1959 captains, Jack Mitchell and Major Boddicker, joined the 2010 captains at midfield for the coin toss.

The players plan to meet again Saturday at the residence of team member Mike Hibbs, and then again Saturday night for the class reunion.

Pictured in the photo that accompanies this story are: 

From left: Front row: Mike Hibbs, Jim Smock, Dave Henkle (manager), Butch Tilson.

Back row: Major Boddicker, Cheerleaders Marcia Moody Hite and Judy Pollock Carpenter, Ron Geiger, Ken Gregory, Gary Anderson, Bob Smith, Ron Selken, Arlie “Mac” Mcneal (manager), Lyle “Butch” Schieb, Roger Rinderknect, Jack Mitchell, Barry Lefstad (manager).