Articles from the Historical Society in Josephine County Oregon

Touchdown Willie Heston

5/11

from his summer's work. It was not quite enough for his train ticket to San Jose, so he hopped a freight train. Martin finally arrived in San Jose and went to his Uncle Bert Gray's house.

Uncle Bert arranged for him to work for his room and board with a Mr. Valpay, a shoe storeowner. His work consisted of taking care of the horse that pulled the delivery wagon and caring for half an acre of lawn. Martin's sleeping quarters was in an empty granary on a single bed. His meals were eaten in the kitchen, which was the only room in the Gray household that he ever saw.

Martin was a very likeable person and soon made friends with a Fred Estes who was a junior and the captain of the San Jose football team. Martin asked his friend the price of the entrance fee and the textbooks that were required for his freshman year. Martin had eleven dollars left after the entrance fee and could not cover the cost of all the textbooks. Fred and his sister found and gave to Martin three of the necessary books. With this help Martin had enough to buy the other three. Fred asked Martin to go out for the football team, but Martin felt he was not qualified as he had never played the game and had never laid eyes upon a football. Besides, he had his lawn work to do on Saturdays, the day of the games. Estes over-rode Martin's objection by offering him a chance at guard position on the team and also worked out a plan to free him from work on Saturdays.

During early training, the coach, Jesse Woods, became aware of Heston's speed (less than 11 seconds in full gear) and planned a football play using Martin as halfback. As a result, with his speed and maneuverability, Heston scored more touchdowns than any of the regulars. Martin was elected captain of the team for the following season.

Martin would work during the summer period in the Harvest fields to earn enough money to pay for his tuition at college. He was a sack bucker earning $1.75 per day. Martin with his co-worker would follow behind the grain harvester and pick up 120 lb. bags of wheat and load them on the two wagons behind the four-horse team. Martin, with his partner would load and unload up to 500 bags of wheat ... Continued - Page 6

• The Back of the Beyond:
- A Story about Lewis & Clark

• The Story of Sacajawea:
- Guide to Lewis & Clark
• Sacagawea Dollar Coin
- Sacagawea Coins & Coin Sets

• Oregon Trail Games
- Oregon Trail - Africa Trail Games

• Trail of Tears:
- The Rise & Fall of the Cherokee Nation

• The Dominguez-Escalante Expeditions Journal:

Through Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in 1776

• I Walked to Zion:
- Young Pioneers on the Mormon Trail

• The Gathering of Zion:
- The Story of the Mormon Trail

• National Geographic's Guide to:
- Lewis and Clark Trail

• Hiking Historic Trails
- Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails

• Scenic Driving - Travel guides
- Scenic Driving in Utah

• Historical reading
- The Old Spanish Trail

---