History | uniopolisbrowns

Stories of our History

Our Team

In 1958 two fellows in Uniopolis, with somewhat the same interests, watched one of many Lima Midget Football Games one Sunday afternoon. It was then and there such a program for Uniopolis was conceived. These two fellows were Gene Thrush and Fred Shaw.

After much talking and planning, Gene and Fred decided there was no business in Uniopolis large enough financially to sponsor a team and after many hours of talking with individual merchants, found that it was very improbable that enough money could be raised between all of them to sponsor a team.

They took the bull by the horns and made up their minds that they would have to raise the money themselves to buy their equipment, and so they did.

1959 Uniopolis Browns

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Only fourteen players strong, but possessing the energy of one hundred fourteen boys, by sponsoring car washes, square dances, bake sales, etc., they raised enough money together to buy some “it’ll get us buy this year” equipment.

Unfortunately, by the time the money was raised, the football league in the National Midget Football Association was already formed and the season half over. The newly formed Uniopolis team did, however, play four or five scrimmages with teams from the National Midget Football Association.

The team, being green, lost every time they played their first year. The fact was that not one boy on the team had ever played football and most of the kids had never attended any sort of football game in their lives.

In 1966, the Uniopolis Browns joined the Tri-County Midget Football League (TCMFL). The Browns were the Tri-County Division Runner-ups in 1968, Tri-County Division Champs in 1979 & 1981 and they won the Tri-County Midget Football League championship in 1979 and have continued their long and storied journey to where they are today.

Patches given to the 1979 & 1981 Uniopolis Browns Players

for being Division Champions.

Tri-County Midget Football
League Champions List

TCMFL

Facebook Page

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Our Name

The Uniopolis Browns!

The Uniopolis Browns were originally called the “Redskins”.

In the first years (1958 to 1963), most of the boys who played on the team were from Uniopolis and surrounding rural areas. Bill Hardesty was the head Coach at this time. He had also refereed the first games they played.

In 1964, the team drew boys from Cridersville and Waynesfield along with Uniopolis and Wapakoneta. It was during this time that it became apparent a name change was on the horizon. Some of the boys on the team wanted to be called the Rams because that was their High School team in Cridersville. Some boys wanted it to be the Tigers because their school team was the Waynesfield Tigers. Uniopolis and Wapakoneta boys were all Redskins, so they wanted to keep the name as Redskins.

Everyone involved got together and talked things through and decided that no matter where they would be going to high school, they needed to choose a common name that they all would like to be called. That is when the “Browns” name was decided upon and from that day forth, the team has been called The Uniopolis Browns.

Over the years all the way up to the present, the team has consistently drawn boys from all over the local area who want to play for the Browns. Boys from towns like Uniopolis, Wapakoneta, Cridersville, Botkins, Anna, Sidney, Indian Lake, Jackson Center, Waynesfield, Lima, Perry Township, Harrod, & Lafayette. Being a Brown is a tradition to be a part of and be proud of!

1964 Uniopolis Browns

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The Uniopolis Browns Football Field

In the beginning the Uniopolis Browns football team played their first games behind the old Grange Hall in Uniopolis, which had formally been the Uniopolis School. Presently, the Union Township Building stands on this site.

The team then went to Wapakoneta and played on Harmon Field, and continued to play there until the Cridersville Rams joined the Tri-County league. The Browns then moved to Waynesfield to play their games. In September of 1981, the Uniopolis Browns moved to their own football field in Uniopolis and have continued to play their games there ever since.

The first game played on the field was on September 13, 1981. The Uniopolis Browns faced the Cridersville Rams and won the inaugural game on their field 38-0. The first touchdown on the new field was a 30 yard run by Tony Cooper. Brent Flinn took on a 65 yard jaunt to score the second touchdown of the game.

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Click Photo to Enlarge

How it all became possible:

The Uniopolis Fire Department bought the ground in 1968 from Mrs. Belle Webb and Mrs. Effie Frazier. The women wanted the ground to be used as a park. The Fire Department leased the ground to the Village of Uniopolis for $1 a year. Nothing happened until 1975 when a park committee was formed. The park committee worked towards a goal to have a Football Field and a Shelter House.

In 1981, Plasti-Pak of Jackson Center, knew of the community’s desire to have their own park and Midget Football Field. They made a generous memorial contribution in deceased employee and Uniopolis Brown’s head coach of 25 years, Art Bailey. Additional memorial contributions for Art from other area locals enabled the Uniopolis Park and Midget Football Field to become possible.

Many committed members of the park committee, coaches, parents, and many other interested individuals worked towards this goal. Even the Army Corps of Engineers helped with the project by using bulldozers and chainsaws to clear the land.

The team's coaches and parents picked up stones in the field and the Browns used their own money to put down grass for the field. The Uniopolis Browns held many fundraisers to support the project.

Everyone working together made the field possible.

New Field Lights

In 2021, The Uniopolis Browns Board voted to purchase field lights from The Wapakoneta Redskins for the Uniopolis Brown's Field. Adam Ruppet headed up this project and with his crew they worked into the 2021 season to get these lights up and going. This made our Evening Practices, Weekly Pep Rallys, and our Annual Trunk or Treat even more of a sucess.

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Click Photo to Enlarge

The Evolution of Our Scoreboard

The first scoreboard was given in memory of Arthur S. Bailey on September 13, 1981. It was a non-powered board with flip down numbers and no clock.

In September of 1990, the second scoreboard was purchased from the Waynesfield Goshen School. It came out of the New Hampshire School which was being torn down. It was an old basketball scoreboard, which the Browns painted and converted for football. This scoreboard was used until 2008.

In August of 2008, the Uniopolis Browns purchased a new outdoor Football Scoreboard. This was made possible by a donation from the Wapakoneta Foundation and Uniopolis Browns funds. It was installed Sunday, August 17th, 2008, by several parents and friends of the Uniopolis Browns.

Scoreboard Dedicated in 1981

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Current Scoreboard Installed in 2008

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The Addition of Bleachers and Benches

The Uniopolis Browns borrowed bleachers up until 1989. That year, the Browns purchased the equipment to build 3 sets of wooden bleachers. These currently reside on the visitor’s side of the field.

In 2005 two sideline benches for the players and two sets of aluminum bleachers were purchased with funds from a donation from the Wapakoneta Foundation and Uniopolis Browns funds.

In 2014, the Browns used their own funds to purchase an additional two sets of aluminum bleachers from the Knights of Columbus in Wapakoneta.

In 2017, The Browns with the help of Chad and his dad Bert Sidey were able to create a new bleacher pad area.

Chad and Bert Sidey working on prepping the new bleacher pad area to get it ready for a concrete pour!

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Snack Shack 2002

The Snack Shack

The first Uniopolis Browns Concession Stand was the back of a Browns Parents’ car or van.

In 1981, Coke donated a portable Concession stand that was used until 2002.

Funds raised by Browns parents, coaches, friends, and fundraisers enabled the team to build and start using the current concession stand in 2002.

In 2019, with the help of Kiss Seamless Siding the Browns were able to put new siding on the Most recent snack Shack!

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Snack Shack 2019

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The Shelter House

In 2022, we were able to make some awesome needed and wanted upgrades to the park's shelter house with the help of the park grant funds we received from the Wapakoneta Eagles. With these additional funds, Adam Ruppert was able to replace all of the shelter house's old, rotted poles with new poles and hardware, and with the help of Kiss Seamless Siding we were able to add a beautiful maintenance free shelter house ceiling. Now not only is the shelter house sturdier but looking beautiful as well!

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In 2023, Thanks to The Wapakoneta Eagles #691 we were once again able to do some much-needed upgrades to the park's shelter house. The Uniopolis Browns received a park grant from the Wapakoneta Eagles and with the addition of these funds and funds from annual fundraising we were able to have Lyles Excavating remove and replace the old broken asphalt surrounding the shelter house with new Concrete. Now not only does the shelter house look great, but it is also a safer space for everyone in the community to use and enjoy.

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Fund Raising - The Hard Tack Candy Way!

In 1961 the Uniopolis Browns decided that making and selling Hard Tack Candy would be used as a way to raise funds for the organization.

Over the years the making of the candy happened in many different locations. The basement of Perry Thrush of St. Johns was the first place the candy was made. Other locations included Fred Shaw’s garage and then later his basement in Uniopolis, Bill Hardesty’s garage, Verlin Millers Garage in Waynesfield, Tom Tuttle’s garage, Junior Lane’s Machinery Building, Dale Miller’s Garage and finally the Union Township Building in Uniopolis.

Many hours were spent on loading up the equipment to make the candy, set-up, and clean-up. Each year all the parents of the organization got together to support the team by working in shifts to prepare the candy. The parents and even past parents came back to help make this project a success for the organization year after year.

The parents would use 8 propane stoves at one time to make batches of candy in the flavors of lemon, anise, orange, cinnamon, butterrmint, clove, and wintergreen. Once the candy was cooked, cooled, and broken up, they would then be mixed together and scooped up into an 8 ounce container and bagged for sale.

At one point, in the late 70's - early 80's the team worked with Jack Morningstar of Scot Lad foods to get sugar & powdered sugar; Neil Miller to get the corn syrup and flavorings; and Moulton Gas for the propane needed for the stoves.

Candy Making - 1961

The candy sales became the number one fundraiser and number one way to success. This project supported our team for forty-one years. As equipment and necessary supplies continued to increase in cost, other fundraisers became necessary, however, for many years the candy making project was the main support for our organization.

The last year of candy making happened in 2002. It was replaced by our Advertising Book campaign that is still used as our main fundraiser today.

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Celebrating Tradition!

On September 28, 2008, the Uniopolis Browns celebrated at home with a celebration to honor all past and current members of the Uniopolis Browns Family.

A celebration of past and current players and cheerleaders was held on the field, Memorabilia from the Team’s archives was put on display in the Uniopolis Fire House, door prizes were handed out, and of course, a football game was played! It was a wonderful day.

In honor of this momentous year, special jerseys for the football players were made for them to wear during the season.

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In 2018, The Uniopolis Browns celebrated the 60th Anniversary. A celebration of past and current players and cheerleaders was held on the field, memorabilia from the past were displayed in the Fire House, and of course a football game was played!

In honor of this momentous year, a special patch as added to the 2018 Football players Away Jerseys, as well as the 2018 cheerleaders Hoodies.

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Pictures from the 60TH Anniversary.

We've Had Some Memorable Trips

1960 Trip to Pittsburg

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2012 Trip to Cleveland, OH to scrimmage on the field of First Energy (Cleveland Brown) Stadium for 8 minutes during half time v/s The Shawnee Seminoles @ Cleveland Browns v/s Chicago Bears Pre-Season Game 08-30-2012