1933 'Iron Men'

Back in the day when ties were allowed in football, OSU and USC ended four four games with identical scores. One of these, played Oct. 21, 1933, at Portland's historic Multnomah Stadium, remains among the most memorable in school history.

Using but 11 players the full 60 minutes, Oregon State College (as OSU was known then) held two-time defending national champion and No. 1-ranked USC to a scoreless tie, thus ending the nation's longest winning streak at 25.

It is believed this is the only time in NCAA history that a defending national champion and No. 1-ranked school was toppled from the ranks by a team using only 11 men the entire game.

The young men who played that day are known to us now, most affectionately, as the "Iron Men," although the name first used to describe what they did on that hazy October day 67 years ago was "Iron Immortals," penned by sports writer L.H. Gregory in his Oregonian sports column the day after the game.

So, what became of the 11 "Iron Immortals?" Here's a summary, listed in the order in which they died:

1. Back...Norman Clifford "Red" Franklin: A franchise player who did it all for Lon Stiner's "Iron Immortals." Had a career year in '33. First-team All America. Majored in education. Was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. In Dec., 1937, became co-owner of a service station in Corvallis, later moving to Lacomb, Oregon. Died May, 1947.

2. Tackle...Harry Montague Field: From Hawaii. Majored in business administration. Became head football coach at Punahou Academy in Honolulu. In 1963 was elected to the Hawaii state senate. Died on May 23, 1964.

3. Back...Harold James Pangle: Education major. Professional football player, Chicago Cardinals, 1935-37. Spent most of his career in the military, rising to the rank of Lt. Col. Was Assistant Chief of Staff of the Japan Logistical Command in the early 1950s. Dies of a heart attack in Costa Mesa, Calif., Dec. 31, 1967.

4. Guard...Vernon Elsworth Wedin: Majored in education and became a teacher. Was a member of Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity. Taught at Newberg High in Newberg, Ore., until 1939, moving to Chehalis, Wash., in 1940 to teach and coach. He remained there until his death Feb. 28, 1971.

5. Tackle...Adolf J. "Tar" Schwammel: Franchise player. First-team All-American. Education major and member of Phi Delta Theta. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. Played for the Green Bay Packers in 1936, then moved to Porterville, Calif., to enter the clothing business. In 1940, took a job with the Coca Cola company in San Francisco. Then moved to Hillsboro after the war as co-owner of H.A. Dryer Co., a company selling Quonset buildings. Lived in Honolulu for last 31 years of his life, retiring as a Tupperware distributor. Died Nov. 18, 1979 in Honolulu. 

6. End...Charles Woodrow "Woody" Joslin: Majored in education. His house was Sigma Nu. Originally from Spokane, Wash., were he returned after graduation. Occupation unknown. Moved to Corvallis and then becomes owner of a beverage distribution (Nehi) company in Coos Bay. Died May 14, 1983, in North Bend, Ore.

7. Back...Harold W. Joslin: Majored in education. In 1940 was an employee of the Columbia Steel Company in Redding, Calif. No other career information available through historic records of the Alumni Association. Died three days after his brother Woody on May 17, 1983, in Marin County, Calif.

8. End...Vic Curtin: Another education major. Became one of the best-known detectives with the Portland Police Department for 29 years. Stationed mostly with the East Precinct. Retired as security supervisor for Northwest Textbook Repository in Portland. Died 12/17/87.

9. Tackle...Clyde Devine: At six feet, six inches tall, Devine was the "centerpiece" of Lon Stiner's Pyramid Play, used twice during the 1933 season to block extra points and field goals and later outlawed by the NCAA, making Oregon State's Ironmen the only team in college football history to attempt the play in a real game situation. He became a professional swimming and diving coach for most of his life, both at Stanford University (where he was diving coach) and in private business. He was a high school coach and teacher for 40 years and gave private swimming and diving lessons in Reno during his retirement. For three years he was on the coaching staff at Nevada-Reno. He died of cancer on June 22, 1990.

10. Back...James Pierre Bowman: A native of Hawaii, he worked as Industrial Relations Director for the Kohala Sugar Company. Born in Hilo, Hawaii on June 19, 1909, and attended the Kamehameha Schools and the Punahou School before enrolling at OSC. He died on Feb. 6, 1995 at Kapaau, Hawaii. He was 85.

11. Guard...William "Bill" Tomsheck: The last surviving Ironman, Bill was a long-time resident of Corvallis. He worked the majority of his career for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in various locations throughout the West. He was a native of Illinois and was fluent in German. Known for his warm and engaging personality, the grip of his handshake would make your eyes water.

--George Edmonston, Jr.