By Thomas Palmer
The setting was a rally taking place the afternoon before a 1931 basketball game between Galion and Mansfield, which took place in the then-new Junior High Gymnasium. Games often took place there until a new facility was constructed in the 1960s.
The local newspaper revealed that overzealous Mansfield fans had played a prank of sorts on the Galion High School Band that day. It shared:
“The band experienced difficulties in the playing of its second number so Student Director Whitttridge called a halt to investigate matters and discovered in the bass horn a scroll upon which was inscribed in red letters the words, “Mansfield Tigers.” This disposed of, the musicians proceeded to play “Stand Up and Cheer,” the Inquirer shared.
Apparently the “Y” had not yet snuck into the mascot name for Mansfield High School.
The Mansfield News Journal story conveniently left out that discovery, but did mention that the pep rally included a recitation of ten years of Galion-Mansfield basketball scores as well as a speech by Principal W.L. Swick on sportsmanship.
Each Saturday, we post about local history. We call this series “Galion History Corner,” and we will be sharing not only stories about our shared heritage but also updates on history news here in southeast Crawford County.
This series is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Bernard M. Mansfield, whose “Your Historical Galion” was a fixture in weekend editions of the Galion Inquirer. Dr. Mansfield was a friend and family physician, and he inspired the current generation of Galion historians to continue his work.
