Participants in Jaycee Marble Tourney
The Maryville Daily Forum, June 5, 1956, Page 1. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-marble-tournam/196367012/
And it’s keen competition all the way in the Jaycee-sponsored marble tourney held at Eugene Field school Saturday, but the two Poppa brothers- Terry and Fred came out on top with high honors. Some of the other entrants are shown in the picture.
First row, kneeling, Terry Poppa, Larry Dew, Stephen Whitney, Richard Rowlett, Kirk Shaduck, Ronald Wiederholt, Jim Vawter, and Greg Walkup.
Second row standing: Gary Dew, Michael Burgett, Bob Tonnies. Standing at right is the marble committee chairman, Ronald Wray, and Jaycee president Jim Smith. Marble tournament committee chairman, Ronald Wray, First row, kneeling: Terry Poppa, Larry Dew, and Jaycee president Jim Smith.
Two Brothers Win Annual Jaycee Marble Tourney
The Maryville Daily Forum, June 5, 1956, Page 1. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-poppas-win-mar/196370838/
The winners of the second annual Jaycee Marble Tournament came from the same family. Fred Poppa, winner of the 10-13 year group, and Terry Poppa, winner of the 7-9 year age group, are both sons of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Poppa, who live at the north edge of Maryville. Second-place winner in the older group was Mike Burgett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wendall Burgett, and Bob Tonnies, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henderson Tonnies, was the third-place winner.
In the younger group, Terry Dew, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Dew, Maryville rural route, took second place, and the third-place winner was Alan Whitney, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. R.Whitney, Maryville. All winners received trophies, besides treats. Some 20 boys participated in the tourney, which was held Saturday morning at Eugene Field School under the direction of Ronnie Wray, Harold Job, and Bud Jones, all members of the Jaycee committee.
The participants were also given a tour of Maryville following the session, which had been postponed from May 28 due to rain. Prizes were furnished by Fisher’s D-X station, Western Auto, and Corner Drug.
- The Poppa brothers didn’t just win the marble tournament — they left the competition asking, “Was that skill or sorcery?” (Answer: 50% aim, 50% bragging rights.)
- After 1956, Maryville renamed one street “Poppa Lane.” The other was “Where’d My Marble Go?”
- The Jaycees handed the Poppa brothers the trophy and a map — apparently it was needed to find all the marbles they’d knocked out of the park.
- Winning both age categories? The Poppa brothers proved talent skips generations… and pockets.
- They asked the Poppa brothers for their secret. They said, “Practice.” Then they winked and added, “Also, stealing grandma’s lucky marble.”
- Word is the Poppa brothers kept winning until someone challenged them to a game of checkers. That’s when the town found out their victory speech was mostly marble-shaped confidence.
- The Eugene Field scoreboard read: Poppa — 2 categories. Everyone else — check your pockets.
- After the Jaycees sponsored that tournament, every kid in Maryville practiced marble etiquette: look intimidating, then flick.
- The Poppa brothers didn’t just play marbles — they taught physics a lesson: momentum, aim, and a little bit of hometown swagger.
- They took home two trophies and still had room in their pockets for extra marbles — and extra modesty.
Nano banana AI painting of photo
