In 1939, Bohm Townsend, via Townsend Grocery, organized one of the most amazing and colorful basketball teams in Maryville history — made up mostly of former Spoofhounds and Bearcats, and played its home games at Washington School and in the Martindale Gymansium at Northwest.
The team named for Townsend’s Chicago supplier of goods—Chicago’s Leadway Foods —would challenge local teams such as the Tri-Cs at the Conception Seminary Auditorium, become a power in the St. Joseph Metro League, and challenge Kansas City teams, including the Kansas City Police. By 1941, it was ready for its close-up. It took on the two most powerful AAU teams of the era — Phillips 66 and 20th Century Fox of Hollywood/Beverly Hills multiple times during the season.
It had grand plans, including playing at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
Maryville planned home and home games with 20th Century Fox in December 1941, but between the first game at the St. Joseph Auditorium on December 3, a planned game in Hollywood on December 20 had to be canceled after Pearl Harbor, which also messed up other parts of its schedule. Maryville lost to Phillips 66 in the semifinals of the regional AAU Tournament.
Caption on group photo:
Independent Team to Take Trip to West Coast
The Maryville Daily Forum, November 28, 1941, Page 6. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-leadway-1920/198175873/
The Maryville Leadways. An independent basketball team sponsored by and managed by Bohm Townsend will receive its first severe test of the season Saturday night when they play Union Ropes of Kansas City at the St. Joseph auditorium. The next week, they will play on the 20th Century-Fox, national AAU champions at St. Joseph, and they will take a trip to the Pacific coast for a six-game schedule. Shown in the group before trophies they won the last two years. Left to right: Harold Wiseman, Quentin Goslee, John Garrett, Harold Hutcheson. Robert Butherus, Eldon Andrews. Harold Hawk and Robert Alpert.
Formation of the Leadway Foods Teams 1939
Local Independent Cage Team to Be Known as Leadways
The Maryville Daily Forum, December 6, 1939, Page 6. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-leadwood-foods/198183555/
An independent basketball team, to be known as the Leadways, has been formed and has begun practices in preparation for the winter cage season. The club is playing under the coaching of Bill Todd and should fast become one of the best teams of its kind in this section.
Many ex-high school stars compose the team roster. Charles (“Snook”) Wiles, Norman Reital, Eldon Andrews, Arnold Lasley, Roland Cornell, Glenn Breckenridge, Bill Bernau, and Wes McClaren are among the outstanding players on the squad, and several other fine players are being considered for the team. Todd, who is manager of the outfit, which will play under the co-colors of Leadway Foods, Inc., of Chicago, and the Townsend wholesale grocery company of Maryville, said today that they will play all leading independent teams in this territory. All teams that wish to schedule games are asked to call Mr. Todd.
This is Leadway Foods’ package showing the red and orange colors of the brand that would also be used as the color of the uniforms.
Relationship Between Townsends and Leadway Foods
This occurred at a time when Townsends operated a real grocery store (at 4th and Main) and before Townsends went into the wholesale food business for which it is most famous. Here’s an advertisement from 1941 featuring Leadway products sold at the Townsend Store. The advertisement has been truncated and colorized to highlight the Leadway products sold at the store.
Leadway Food Baskets Given Away at Games
Home games, which charged a 25-cent admission fee, were played at both the high school (Washington School) gymnasium and the Northwest Missouri State College gymnasium (Martindale Gym).
Northwest Missouri 1932 AAU National Title Loss in 1932 to Henry’s Clothiers of Wichita
The men’s team in its first national championship appearance in 1932 lost to Henry’s Clothiers in the Amateur Athletic Union title game at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri 15–14 in a last second shot. The Bearcat team was coached by Hank Iba. The featured Bearcat players included Jack McCracken and Wilbur Stalcup.[5] At the time both corporate-sponsored teams and colleges competed in the same tournament.
McCracken’s Denver Legion team beat the Leadways 47-22 on Feb 17, 1942, in Maryville at a fundraiser for the Martindale Gymnasium.
Maryville’s 1941 Season
Leadway Cage Team to Play the Best Teams of the Nation; Scheduled With Union Wire Ropes This Saturday
The Maryville Daily Forum, November 26, 1941, Page 4. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-leadway-schedu/198215384/
An auspicious schedule. Games with the national AAU champions and the national intercollegiate champions have been arranged for the Maryville Leadways by Bohm Townsend. manager. The schedule already includes seventeen games, seven to be played on the Pacific coast during December and a game in Denver later in the season.
The Leadways have two victories under their belts, College of Commerce of Kansas City and Peru, Neb., Teachers, and the next big test will be Saturday night. The auditorium at St. Joseph, where the local Independents will clash with the national champions, the 20th Century-Fox of Hollywood.
Leave Next Week Next week, the Leadways will leave in two automobiles and an especially built trailer to play at San Francisco and Los Angeles. Stockton. Long Beach and San Diego. At the latter city, the Leadways play San Diego State, winners of the National Intercollegiate Basketball tournament last March at Kansas City.
Games on the St. Joseph auditorium floor also feature high-caliber teams. Phillips 66 of Bartlesville and Jack McCracken’s Denver Legion club, formerly under the colors of the Denver Pigs.
It is a conscientious group of local lads who are preparing for the grueling season. They are training the same as a college crew no smoking. drinking or late hours, and their diet is being watched.
Win 71 Out of 90
They have 2 big reputations at stake, as in the two years the club has played under the red and orange colors, they have won 74 out of 90 games. captured the district and state YMCA titles last year and, in 1939, won the Metro League of St. Joseph and the district AAU title at Emerson, Iowa. Also, two years ago, the Leadways were semifinalists in the Midwest AAU in Omaha.
Last year, their victims included top-notch teams of the fast Naismith league of Kansas City–College of Commerce. Union Wire Ropes. Faultless Laundry and Cicreland Chiros. This season, fewer games will be played than in the past 2 years. But the team will cover territory to the Pacific coast and has a promise of games at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
In 1939, the Leadways played 48 games, and last season looked at 42 opponents. Last year, the team scored 1.731 points for an average of 41.31 points, to opponents 1.214. average of 28.19.
Townsend is arranging for an 8 home-and-home schedule with the Denver Legion and San Diego State and is now negotiating with a team in Chicago.
Following the regular schedule, the Leadways are promised to be placed in the bracket of the National AAU at Denver. The teams that the Leadways play in California are either powerful college clubs or AAU members.
Former Bearcats
Members of the Leadways are former college or high school stars.
Former Maryville Bearcats are Harold Hutcheson. MIAA all-star center last year; Quinton. Goslee, who played: with the ‘Cats two years ago. and Bob Alpert, Sedalia. who played. with the Cats last year. Hutcheson is from Hopkins and Goslee from Skidmore. Other members of the squad are Harold Wiseman, Burlington Junction: Eldon Andrews. Hopkins: Bob Butherus, Maryville: Harold Hawk. Ravenwood and John Garrett. Union: Star.
The Leadways range from 5 feet 11 to 6 feet 5 inches. Their height is: a; follows: Hutchinson, 6 feet 5; Gosley, 6 feet 3; Andrews,6 feet 3; Butherus, 6 feet; Howk, 5 feet 11; Garrett. 6: teet: Alpert, 6 feet 4, and Wiseman, 6 feet 3.
Garrett is the hotshot of the Union Star team, which has been at the top of the St. Joseph Metro league for the last two years. The boys all starred in basketball in high! school and Wiseman, Andrews, and Hawk have had experience as freshmen at the Maryville Teachers College. Their schedule, still somewhat incomplete. is as follows:
- Nov. 21-Leadways 53. College of Commerce 25.
- Nov. 25 – Leadways 48. Peru Teachers
- 26. Nov. 29–At St. Joseph, Union: Wire Ropes.
- Dec. 3–A: St. Joseph. 20th Century-Fox of Hollywood.
- Dec. 15-St. Mary’s at Kezar Stadium. San Francisco.
- Dec. 16-College of the Pacific. Stockton.
- Dec. 20–20th -Fox, at Los Angeles
- Dec. 22-23-San Diego State. in San Diego
- Dec. 26-Clark Clothiers in Los Angeles, tentative.
- Dec. 28-Crosby Lions at Long Beach
- Jan. 11-Union Wire Ropes at Rockhurst gym. Kansas City.
- Jan. 14-Phillips 66 of Bartlesville at St. Joseph.
- Jan. 22-Denver Legion, at. Denver tentative
- Feb. 10–Phillips 66, at Bartlesville.
- Second week in March. National AAU tournament at. Denver.
- Home and home arrangement with Denver Legion is being arranged.
- Negotiating with San Diego State before the National Intercollegiate tournament in March. to be played at St. Joseph.
20th Century Fox Promotions
The 20th Century Fox AAU team had huge star power, and their press photos reflected that. Actresses were frequently used to pose with the team.
In this image, the team is shown dunking actress Linda Darnell at the West Side YMCA in New York City in 1941.
Promotion for 20th Century Fox before 1941 season.
December 3 Game Vs 20th Century Fox at St. Joseph Auditorium
Above is AI of what Poster might have looked like. Here’s the account of the game from the St. Joseph Gazette.
Maryville Leadways Hold National Champions to 55 to 46 Victory
HUTCHESON HAS BIG NIGHT AND PACES SCORERS
20th Century-Fox Trails at Half but Stages Spurt to -Top Younger Club
St. Joseph Gazette, December 4, 1941, Page 8. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-joseph-gazette-maryville-vs-beverly/198203956/
Playing a champion means’ nothing to the Maryvillé Leadways, and they made the 20th Century-Fox basketball team of Beverly Hills, Cal., prove on the Auditorium court last night that it was of National AAU championship quality.
The national champs came back, after trailing in the first half, to beat the Leadways, 55 to 46, in a game that had the comparatively small crowd on its toes most of the way.
The Californians started with a bang, but the Leadways began clicking and moved out: into. a ten-point lead with less than eight minutes to go. The younger club hit a wild streak, and the national champions pulled up only to trail, 23 to 25, at halftime.
The 20th Century club began clicking at the start of the second period and opened up a 10 -point- lead and, although the Leadways whittied the margin to three points at one time, they were unable to’ stop a late rally.
Harold Hutcheson, all-MIAA. Center for the Maryville Bears last season, was the big gun in the Leadway attack, outscoring and at least holding his own in court play against bulky Frank Lubin, all-America center. for the 20th Century-Fox. Lubin potted the first Basket after the teams had felt each other. out for two and a half evened minutes.” Harold Wiseman and the teams swapped baskets until the score was knotted at 10-all.
Quentin Goslee hit a fielder, and Hutcheson and Wiseman picked up singles on charity tosses. Hutcheson rolled in two buckets, and Eldon Andrews one, and the Leadways were ahead, 20 to 10. The national champions came to life with Carl Mollner and Les O’Gara. Lubin and Frank. Sears was doing the hitting, while Goslee picked up five points for the Leadways. It•was Sears, then Lubin, then Sears again as the champions put the pressure on at the start of the second half, and they rolled to a 39 to 29 lead with eleven minutes to go.
Hutcheson refused to be bottled up, however. and aided by some shots by Bob Alpert carried the battle to the Californians and it was 45 to 42, 20th Century, with less than three minutes to go. Mollner and O’Gara took over the firing and the champions pulled away to win by nine points
Shamateurism Payments to Player Independent League Players
Basketball players were not paid directly for playing in AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) games in 1941, as the organization strictly enforced amateur rules. However, many top players were indirectly compensated through “shamateurism” by securing full-time jobs at large sponsoring corporations that formed these teams.
How the System Worked in 1941:
- Corporate Sponsorship: Major industrial companies like Phillips Petroleum (Phillips 66), Caterpillar Inc., and 20th Century Fox sponsored premier AAU basketball teams.
- The “Job” Loophole: Players technically did not receive money for playing the game. Instead, they were hired as full-time employees at the sponsoring companies. This provided them with a regular salary, benefits, and time off to practice and travel for tournaments.
- Professional Alternatives: For players who wanted to be paid explicitly and directly for playing basketball, the alternative was to join fully professional leagues like the National Basketball League. The NBL eventually merged with the BAA to form the NBA.
Why Did Phillips 66 and 20th Century Fox Sponsor AAU Games in 1941
Corporations like Phillips 66 and 20th Century Fox sponsored Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball teams in 1941 for marketing and to secure top athletic talent while maintaining their amateur status. Because a viable professional league (like the NBA) did not yet exist, these company “industrial” teams offered players stable, full-time jobs and the ability to compete in the Olympics.
The specific goals and context for these sponsorships include:
- Phillips Petroleum (Phillips 66ers): Based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Phillips utilized their team to expand their brand recognition nationally. The highly visible AAU squad generated immense “free publicity” across the country, while giving former college stars secure corporate careers.
- 20th Century Fox (Hollywood 20th Century-Fox): The studio used its team to promote Hollywood films, generate massive local and national publicity, and build a high-profile “Hollywood” sports brand that attracted A-list celebrities and local filmgoers to the games.
Because of the early, unstable state of professional basketball, these companies were able to attract the era’s premier collegiate players by trading the promise of a basketball uniform for corporate employment.
Why Did Colleges Play AAU Teams in the Early 20th Century?
Colleges played against AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) teams in the early 20th century because the AAU was the dominant governing body for amateur sports in the U.S. and practically ran the only national basketball tournaments. Before the NCAA and NAIA grew to prominence, playing AAU squads provided elite competition, national exposure, and a direct pathway to the Olympic Games.
The AAU was a major force in college basketball history for several key reasons: [1]
- The Path to the Olympics: The AAU managed the U.S. Olympic basketball team selection. Colleges wanted their players and coaches competing against top AAU teams (like the Phillips 66ers or Peoria Caterpillars) because it was the best way to get noticed by Olympic selectors.
- National Championships: Before the NCAA established its national tournament in 1939 and the NAIA (originally the NAIB) was formed in 1937, the AAU National Tournament was essentially the highest level of competitive basketball in the country. Colleges and athletic clubs played in the same brackets.
- Lack of Formal Organizations: In the early days of the sport, there were no centralized divisions, regional conferences, or established collegiate championships. Colleges often had to schedule games against local AAU teams, industrial/corporate teams, and athletic clubs just to fill their schedules and find worthy opponents.
Over time, college basketball expanded, and the NCAA and NAIA took over the role of governing collegiate athletics. While colleges no longer play AAU teams as their primary competition, the AAU transitioned to focus on youth basketball and remains the primary grassroots circuit for high school athletes to develop skills and gain college recruiting exposure.
Jokes About Maryville Leadway Foods vs. Hollywood/Beverly Hills 20th Century Fox AAU Basketball Game
- “Beverly Hills staged a rally so dramatic the auditorium asked for a rewrite.”
- “Maryville packed sandwiches; Hollywood packed stunt doubles — the audience couldn’t tell which was which.”
- “After Beverly Hills’ comeback, Maryville demanded a retake. The ref said, ‘No edits today.’”
- “They were supposed to play a rematch on Dec. 20 — the war canceled it, but Hollywood still insisted on charging for a sequel.”
- “Beverly Hills’ rally had more plot twists than a studio script — and fewer commercial breaks.”
- “Maryville brought Leadway Foods efficiency; Hollywood brought awkward pauses for dramatic effect.”
- “The crowd thought the comeback was staged — Beverly Hills sold it so well they got an Oscar nomination.”
- “Maryville blamed the loss on bad lighting. Hollywood blamed it on lack of close-ups.”
- “The final minutes were so Hollywood the PA played swell strings — Maryville called them emotional interference.”
- “When Beverly Hills rallied, the scoreboard looked like a box office cliffhanger.”
- “Maryville said they were robbed; Hollywood offered to dramatize it for free.”
- “They tried to schedule the rematch in Hollywood — but the world had other plans and the studio lost its location fee.”
- “After that comeback, Hollywood scouts asked Maryville if they accepted contracts or just deliveries.”
- “Beverly Hills’ bench celebrated like it was wrap party night.”
- “Maryville’s game plan: fundamentals. Hollywood’s flair. Result: one team with a script, one with a grocery list.”
- “The only thing more sudden than Beverly Hills’ rally was how quickly the rematch turned into a historical footnote.”
- “Maryville practiced plays; Hollywood practiced entrances. On Dec. 3, only one group nailed their timing.”
- “The war canceled the rematch — Hollywood still tried to market the highlight reel as propaganda.”