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Calcasieu Historical Preservation Society

The NFL in Margaret Place

vernon_nflMargaret Place back in the late 1960's and throughout the 1970's was fortunate enough to have its own NFL team affectionately known as the Neighborhood Football League. The league was comprised of several robust teens and perhaps, in retrospect, braver pre-teens. Select members included local luminaries the likes of Robert Tete and brother Greg Tete (Wilson Ave.), Jimmy Gayle and Lee Leibendorfer (Grove St), Douglas Shearman, Christopher Baggett, and myself (Pithon St.....pictured to the right),  Brian Reddin and brother Patrick Reddin (Park Ave.).

Occasionally, other laddos would appear from other areas of the city and would be divided accordingly, usually by age and skill level. Wells Watson was one known to show (Shell Beach Dr) to lend skills at QB.

A popular gathering spot for field of play was the empty west lot of my parents home on Pithon St. where two rather large oak trees marked the endzones. Interestingly the east sideline boundary was the site of a brick bordered rose garden with sharp bricks aligned on the oblique; and numerous incidences of orthopedic trauma occurred here as fate would have it.

The second most popular field of play was the expansive Petitjean grass lot on Harrison Ave. Usually this site was reserved for holiday play or during summer when teams were larger.

In summary, I think the whole lot of players mentioned earlier would agree these times spent in their formative years were some of the most fun entertainment one could experience. And then the sun would fade in the horizon and all would hop on their bikes, skateboards, Big Wheel or go-cart and depart home planning the next game in a never ending schedule.