William "Mandy" Gillis (1919-1921)
"Mandy" Gillis was a member of the 1919 football squad under Coach Edward Pidgeon, which won 7, lost 5 and tied 2. In Coach Pidgeon's final game, in his 3rd season at MHS, the team beat Proviso High School of Maywood, IL 6-3 in a post season game.
In 1920, Gillis was a two-way regular starter as an offensive tackle and as a defensive tackle and end, on Coach Ray Pendleton's first team, at 5'8" and 130 lbs. The squad had a 5-2-5 record, losing a return match with Proviso 14-7. The 1921 team is recognized as one of Marblehead's finest, winning nine games and losing only three, scoring 235 points and giving up only 60. The team was the North Shore champion after beating Salem 10-7 in a post season game. "Mandy" Gillis was the star defensive lineman on that team, which was led offensively by Joe Tansey's 96 points scored. One "old timer" remembers Gillis leaping over the offensive lineman trying to block him, to stop plays before they even got started. He was also credited with scoring one touchdown. "Mandy" Gillis also played baseball and basketball in High School. He was remembered by the late Tremaine Robarts as an outstanding third baseman.
Following graduation from MHS, "Mandy" Gillis worked for the Water Department and the Post Office, before opening "Mandy's" store across from the Gerry School. His untimely death was in 1947. (see gallery below)
Lindsey Brackett (1931-1933)
Lindsey Brackett made his MHS debut as a sophomore running bac) under second year coach Charlie McGuinness. The season's opening garile was a 73-0 victory over Rockport Late in the game Brackett was on his way for another Marblehead touchdown, when a dog ran onto the field, knocking him down. Thus, he is the only MHS running back ever tackled by a dog.
In the middle of the 1932 season, Brackett moved into the starting lineup and was a key factor in the team's winning of three of its last four games to finish 4-5-2. Brackett with three touchdowns was second to Mitt Glover in scoring for the season.
Lindsey Brackett was the star running back of the (7-3-0) 1933 team, leading the team in scoring with 8 touchdowns and one PAT. At 5'11" and 144 lbs., he was an elusive running back. After scoring two TD's and throwing for another in a 33-2 victory over Saugus prior to the Thanksgiving game, the Lynn Item described his season as follows: "Lindsey Brackett recorded an average gain of nine yards per rush, and although using no orthodox style, carrying the ball is hard to stop."
Despite Swampscott "mapping out a perfect defense against Lindsey Brackett" for most of the game, he scored the winning touchdown in a 13-6 MHS victory. The 4 yard run around left end in the final period in his final game for MRS provided the highlight of the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Reynolds Park on Thanksgiving Day 1933.
David Bartlett (1946-1948)
Dave Bartlett broke into the starting lineup under Coach Dave Morey as a 14 year old, 155 lb. fullback in 1946. Several injuries weakened a MHS team which finished 3-6-0, playing all its games on the road after the final game at Reynolds Playground on Thanksgiving Day 1945. Bartlett scored two touchdowns. He was used primarily at end but also in the backfield on the 1947 team which was 4-5-1, but finished tied for first with Winthrop for the Northeastern Conference title at 3-0-1.
Dave Bartlett was Captain of the 1948 team. He was a fine running back and an excellent pass catcher on Coach Herman Hussey's first MHS team which compiled a 6-2-2 record, losing only to Class A Champion Beverly and Lynn English and tying Salem (the "fifth" down game) and Gloucester. The team was the Northeastern Conference champion at 4-0-0 and was unscored upon in Conference games. Bartlett scored five touchdowns for the season, three on pass receptions, and threw a ID pass to Harry Palmer in a 19-0 victory over Newburyport in the first home game in three years at the new United Spanish War Veterans Memorial Stadium.
In a memorable game on Monday, November 15, 1948, MHS rallied late in the game after trailing Saugus and the Nicolo brothers 13-6, on two long TD passes from Gar Hamlen to Dave Bartlett. The first was for 53 yards to narrow the score to 13-12 and on the next-to-last play of the game - for 65 yards - to win 19-13.
Dave Bartlett was a fine all-around athlete at MHS, playing two years of hockey, one of basketball and was Captain of the baseball team in 1948. He went to Worcester Academy and graduated from Dartmouth College.
Mandy Gillis (2nd row, third from left)
Mandy Gillis (2nd row, third from left)