The Bulldogs

Who were the young men who made the fall of 1947 so special? "These guys weren't big, but were tough and could knock you on your backside."

Thanks to the Okmulgee Alumni Association and Andy Musgrave, here's what we know about the players today:

John Mueller

He was the All-State fullback in 1947 and in the Bulldogs' double-wing offense, received the snap from center, much like the quarterbacks do today.

Call him "Dr. Mueller" now. After graduating from Duke University, Mueller attended Maryland Dental School and Maryland Medical School.

He served in the Army Dental Corps from 1958 through 1960. Mueller has four children and a proud member of the Harley Owners' Group.

Since, 1978, Mueller has lived in the Dallas area. He said his days at Okmulgee was, "the best life experience a person could ever have; the very best friendships and relationships ever."

Louis James

James was the starting halfback for the Bulldogs and earned All-State honors for his efforts in 1947. He did everything: run, pass, punted, kicked off and booted the extra points. James enrolled at Northeastern State College and briefly played football there.

James is now deceased.

John Moffitt

Moffitt was a left tackle on the offense, a reserve for most of the 1947 season. Moffitt lives in Ft. Gibson and is a retired attorney. After graduating from Okmulgee, he attended, Tulsa University, Oklahoma State and Northeastern State University.

Moffitt has four children and four grandchildren. Recently he wrote that his fondest remembrances of OHS were playing for the Bulldogs and Rosalie Long's math class. Ms. Long-Dunham is now in her 90's and recently attended a OHS reunion.

Dick Hull

Hull was the starting center and middle linebacker and the team captain of the 1947 team. He attended Oklahoma State after graduating from Okmulgee and served two years as a lieutenant in the Air Force.

Hull was a computer development manager for many years with ATT and lived the last 36 years of his life in Shreveport, LA. He passed away April 19, 2011 from the affects of COPD and Parkinson's Disease. He is survived by his wife, Shirley, three children, four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Clell Warriner

Warriner was a right end on the 1947 team. He attended Oklahoma State and later earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees and the University of Oklahoma. He was a clinical psychologist for many years in Panama City, Fla.

He and wife Jean Ann have four children and 10 grandchildren. His father, Clell Sr., was the principal of Okmulgee High School. Clell, Jr. is now deceased.

Robert Holleman

Holleman played starting right guard for the Bulldogs. He lives in Sapulpa where he was an electrician for many years. His wife, Patricia, passed away in April, 2012.

David Watson

Watson, the starting left tackle, attended medical school at Duke and was a pediatrician. He lived for many years in Muskogee.

Watson wrote a few years ago that his memories of OHS included,"obeying Coach Brady, ooglying our beautiful coeds, envying that Lothario, Bill Johnson, drinking beer, looking cool in my Essex and being shy."

He is now deceased.

James Ludwick

Ludwick attended Oklahoma State University and became an engineer. He was a reserve halfback on the 1947 team.

He and wife, Jimmie, live in Chickasha and have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Andy Musgrave

Musgrave and wife Georgia now live in Bartlesville. He attended Northeastern AandM and Southeastern State College and spent many years working for Phillips Petroleum. Musgrave has four children, one foster son and five grandchildren and two foster grandchildren.

He served 3 1/2 years in the Navy as a lieutenant-junior grade.

Musgrave has lots of memories of his days in Okmulgee such as going with the entire OHS baseball team to Tulsa to watched an exhibition game with the Brooklyn Dodgers and they saw Jackie Robinson play.

He wrote, "Those riding in my Model-A were Bob Duncan, Isaac McGrew, George Grissom, Bernard Laub and Bob Goins. We all got 10 detentions…Bob Duncan traded four detentions for swats. His bottom looked like hamburger at practice that day."

Musgrave was the starting left end for the Bulldogs.

Duard McDonald

Duard and wife Sue lived in Marietta, GA., where he practiced law. He passed away just a few years ago.

McDonald attended Duke, University of Missouri and Emery University.

Carl Murphy

Carl was the starting left tackle for the Bulldogs. He spent many years living in Show Low, Ariz., where he owned two hardware stores and the South Fork Guest Ranch. He retired in 2001. Carl passed away May 17, 2011 and is survived by his wife, Rosemary, six children and 16 grandchildren.

Robert Duncan

McDonald was the Bulldogs' reserve right halfback. He majored in chemistry and zoology at Oklahoma AandM and served in the Army.

He met wife Myrna while attending law school at the University of Oklahoma. He was an attorney in Perry. McDonald had two sons.

He passed away in 1974 at the age of 43.

Gerald Mastin

Mastin was a junior in 1947. He did call all the plays (usually sent in by Coach Brady) and played an important part in the success of the team.

He lives in Shawnee where he attended Oklahoma Baptist University and played basketball, baseball and golf. After he received his MS degree at the University of Oklahoma, he coached in Okmulgee and Stillwater for several years. While he was in Okmulgee, he found the films of the 3 play-off games and has VHS recordings in his possession.

Isaac "Ike" McGrew

Ike was a starting guard as a sophomore in 1947. Following the 1949 season, McGrew was a unanimous selection for the Oklahoma All-State Football team. He also received accolades as an honorable mention High School All-American. He was a very good basketball and baseball player, as well. He was the starting catcher on the baseball squad.

Sadly, McGrew passed away at the age of 20 in the Henryetta hospital while awaiting transport to Oklahoma City for an emergency surgical procedure.

Frank Dalton

In an era where many war veterans returned from overseas to complete their high school education, Dalton was the only vet on the Okmulgee squad. Dalton was a reserve running back. He is now deceased.

Jiles Shrum

Shrum was a sophomore and was brought up to varsity for the playoffs. He was the heaviest player on the roster and also possessed good speed. He got a football scholarship to Tulsa University but became an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman. He is deceased.

If you know anything about other members of the 1947 Bulldogs, please email the author for inclusion in this page.

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