VHS Yellow Jacket 1962 KHSAA CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONS
In 1962, 33 Versailles Yellow Jacket football players, coached by John Snowden, did the unthinkable by winning 3 games (district, region and state) over teams that were heavily favored to beat them to win the only Kentucky State Football Championship Versailles (Woodford County) has ever won. To get to the State Championship game the Yellow Jackets first had to beat an undefeated Shelbyville team that Versailles had not beaten in 9 years. With time running out All-State Linebacker George Withers kick a game winning field goal to beat Shelbyville 17 -14. They then had to drive 300 miles to play a powerful Murray High School football team who were the reigning State Champs at that time. Murray was picked to beat VHS by two touchdowns. The Boys of 62 upset them 21 – 13 to earn a berth against Lynch East Main High School in the State Championship game on Thanksgiving Day on University of Kentucky’s Stoll Field in Lexington. Powerful Lynch had won State Championship in 1959 and 1960 and had lost by only 1 point to Murray in the 1961 Championship Game. Lynch was anchored by a 3 time All-State and High School All America Running Back that many considered the best player in the state. The Boys of 62 shut him and the powerful Lynch offense down holding them to only 84 total yards and beat them 21-0 to bring home the State Championship Trophy.
1962 STATE CHAMPIONS VERSAILLES HIGH SCHOOL YELLOW JACKETS – FOOTBALL TEAM
PLAYERS: (32) Danny Dawson, (56) David Green, (77) David Roberts, (76) Harold Dunsmore, (70) Bob Grady, (44) George Withers, (45) Joe Raider, (55) Bill Gregory, (31) Dickie Brandenburg, (26) Robert “Bo” Joseph, (30) Kenny Ward, (22) Davis Watts, (16) Gary Bartlett, (17) Torchy King. (37) Jim Foster, (85) Ronnie McDonald, (58) Joe Adams, (80) Larry Mitchell, 75) Tommy Binford, (40) Charlie Million, (33) Ray Clifton, (38) Jerry Horn, (81) Charlie Brown, (61) Jim Donnell, (10) Herbie Ward, (83) John Echman, (27) Jennings Edwards, (60) Paul Updike, (62) Wally Howard, (15) Dan McHatton, (20) Ken Ward, (57) Jerry Harrod, (72) Donnie Huffman.
Coaches: Head Coach: John Snowden; Assistant Coach: Bill Wilson; Assistant Coach: Ray Hager
Trainers: Jackie McCray, Maurice Denton
Managers: Terry Smith, David Hartley, Curt Raisor, Buddy Blackburn
Cheerleaders: Patti Lane, Nancy Lewis, Karen Shipp, Evelyn Shellenberger, Sonya Shipp, Judy Adams, Sarann Shepherd
PLAYERS: (32) Danny Dawson, (56) David Green, (77) David Roberts, (76) Harold Dunsmore, (70) Bob Grady, (44) George Withers, (45) Joe Raider, (55) Bill Gregory, (31) Dickie Brandenburg, (26) Robert “Bo” Joseph, (30) Kenny Ward, (22) Davis Watts, (16) Gary Bartlett, (17) Torchy King. (37) Jim Foster, (85) Ronnie McDonald, (58) Joe Adams, (80) Larry Mitchell, 75) Tommy Binford, (40) Charlie Million, (33) Ray Clifton, (38) Jerry Horn, (81) Charlie Brown, (61) Jim Donnell, (10) Herbie Ward, (83) John Echman, (27) Jennings Edwards, (60) Paul Updike, (62) Wally Howard, (15) Dan McHatton, (20) Ken Ward, (57) Jerry Harrod, (72) Donnie Huffman.
Coaches: Head Coach: John Snowden; Assistant Coach: Bill Wilson; Assistant Coach: Ray Hager
Trainers: Jackie McCray, Maurice Denton
Managers: Terry Smith, David Hartley, Curt Raisor, Buddy Blackburn
Cheerleaders: Patti Lane, Nancy Lewis, Karen Shipp, Evelyn Shellenberger, Sonya Shipp, Judy Adams, Sarann Shepherd
Photo ID, L to R: Ray Gillaspie KHSAA President, George Withers, Head Coach John Snowden, Carl “Torchy” King, Gary Bartlett
