Data source is Douglas Mumma, 2123 Farmington Place, Livermore, CA 94550, email = doug@mumma.org
Stiver's High School Athletic Hall of fame (Dayton, Ohio) 2008 inductee
Mumma, Clarence W., "Athletics and their Control in the Chicago Public High Schools" : In Candidacy for the Degree of Bachelor of Physical Education, 1923. Thesis of Clarence W. Mumma
Clarence William "Bill" Mumma
1897 - 1973
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Clarence was born on October 27, 1897 in Montgomery Co., OH. He was the second oldest of five children born to Albert and Mary Miller Mumma. In his early childhood, the family lived and farmed on the 160 acre homestead of his great grandparents, David and Mary Ullery Cripe, located on Free Pike Road in Madison township. He and his siblings attended the local public school until his father built a new home at 3200 Salem Avenue, near Hillcrest Avenue in Harrison township. Many years later, the "Miracle Lane" Shopping Center "called Miricle Lane" was built on their father's property in 1946, but it is has been torn down.
My father told me that he and another classmate were fascinated with the characters in a cartoon strip and they began calling each other by the character's names. His favorite character was named "Bill" and soon his friends began calling him "Bill". As time went on, he assumed the name of "Bill", but found it confusing to people because his birth name was Clarence Elliot Mumma. To solve this dilemma, he simply dropped his middle name of Elliot and informally replaced it with William. This solved the problem of his nickname and his use of "Bill" now became logical. He began formally using this name when he graduated from the YMCA College in Chicago. This informal name change proved to be a problem when he retired as he had to "prove" his name and date of birth by having the family bible taken to court. His son, Douglas, currently has this bible.
He and his siblings had a wonderful childhood, especially after the family moved to Salem Avenue in his teenage years. The boys, Art, Bill and Lawson, all had "Indian" motorcycles and they were the terror of Harrison township, much to the annoyance of the local police. His mother was a strict follower of the German Baptist religion, so her tolerance with their behavior is surprising. The boys were always in trouble.
Bill loved life and sports of all types became important to him. He and his siblings initially attended Fairview High School where the boys played on the same basketball team, as well as baseball and track. This high school was located on the north west corner of Catalpa and Fairview, not far from their family farm and near where the Fairview Grammar school is currently located. Later, around 1914-1915, they attended Stivers High on 5th Street in downtown Dayton. It is unclear why they transferred unless it was because of the manual training curriculum that was offered by Stivers. While at Stivers, Bill played all four major sports including basketball under coach Willard Marquardt. His athletic skills were amazing since he was always the shortest man on the team. In 1917 and 1918, Bill served as the captain of the basketball team which brought Stivers High School the Ohio State Basketball Championship. The team also defeated an undefeated team coached by Adolph Rupp's notorious Springfield Warriors (35 – 21). In 1918, Bill excelled in track and was the Ohio's State champion in the 880 and mile run. He earned letters in 12 major sports during his high school days.
Following graduation from high school in 1918, Bill became the assistant coach under Willard Marquardt at Stivers for one year (1918-1919). His 1918 draft registration show that he was still using his formal name of Clarence Elliot Mumma. He listed his occupation as an "assembler" with the Dayton Wright Aeroplane Company. In 1920, Bill enrolled in the YMCA College in Chicago, a school dedicated to producing athletic directors and coaches. He participated in all major sports, including football, basketball, track and baseball in college. In those days, the Chicago YMCA teams competed with many smaller universities. In one series of games, the YMCA basketball team played games as far away as Birmingham, Alabama and Nashville, Tennessee, piling up an impressive road trip of 5 out of 8 wins. In the fall of 1921, the football team scored 159 points to their opponents 10. That season they also defeated De Paul University, 50 to 0. Bill kept extensive scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings about his sports successes in both high school and college. He was the only student to make a letter in each of the four major sports every year. In addition, during his time at YMCA College, Bill also acted as coach of the Chicago College of Osteopathy in football, basketball and baseball. He served as the athletic director at the Chicago Normal School of Physical Education, a private girls school which trained future female teachers. Of an interesting note, Bill was even required to take a class anatomy which even included the dissection of cadavers. Seems a little extreme for a "first aid" class or as a way to learn about sports injuries. Bill graduated from YMCA College in 1923 with a Bachelor degree in Physical Education. In 1923, the Chicago YMCA College changed its name to George Williams College in honor of the founder of the YMCA movement. In 1992, George Williams College merged with Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois.
Following graduation in 1923, Bill joined his parents on a driving tour of the western United States as their chauffer, visiting Yellowstone Park and then on to Bellingham, Washington. They continued their trip down the Pacific Coast, visiting many points of interest along the way. Often they simply used an "automobile tent" for sleeping accommodations. In a note to the Chicago Normal School of Physical Education where he taught, he said the following in a letter from Oakland, CA, "they had travelled four thousand miles with only four blowouts". While in California, they stopped in Riverside and Bill visited with an old school chum from Chicago, Carl Steele. Carl had obtained a position as the director of the Riverside YMCA. When he heard that Bill did not have a job as yet, he suggested that he should inquire at the local high school / junior college as they were desperate for and athletic director. He inquired about the job and was asked if he could start immediately. Since he had no other commitments, he accepted the position and announced his decision to his parents. They were not pleased as they had expected him to chauffer them back to Ohio. With that, they placed their automobile on the train and took that mode of transportation to return to Dayton.
In his new position, Bill coached basketball at the Riverside Polytechnic (Poly) High School as well as football, baseball and track at Riverside Junior College. This was an exciting time for him to be able to apply his college training and skills. There is one newspaper article that discusses a Thanksgiving day football game between the Sherman Indians held the American Legion eleven to a 13-13 score that first November. The article speaks of "Foxy Mumma" making both touchdowns for the "Yankees". Amazing that they would play football without much padding or proper equipment as we know it today. Bill's energy seemed boundless. Being an eligible bachelor, he often attended the public dances that were held locally. In early part of 1924, he attended a dance and met a young girl by the name of Dorothy Jane Yeager from Bellingham, Washington. She was traveling with her parents and visiting her brother who had recently moved to Riverside. Bill was so taken with Dorothy that he took her dance card and filled his name in every blank square. Within four weeks, they were married on May 15, 1924 in Riverside where they setup housekeeping. Bill was always energetic and passionate about everything he did, both on and off the athletic field! Bill was never shy in showing his athletic prowess. Even on his honeymoon, he had to perform a handstand on a tree stump and a log to impress his new bride. He performed a similar stunt on "balancing rock" which overlooks the Yosemite Valley from on top of Glacier Point.
That next school year, his Junior College football team set a record with a score of (130 – 0) against El Centro Junior College on November 22, 1924. The team scored more than two touchdowns per minute. The game was stopped because of darkness. Dr. Alden Bordwell, a prominent figure in Riverside, played center on that team, and later became the school doctor for Riverside athletic contests. In 1925 and 1926 Mumma's college teams included players; Jesse Hill and Jess Mortenson, who both became famous players and coaches for USC. His teams won Southern California Championships in the four major sports, a feat that has not since been repeated at Riverside City College. On February 25, 1925, Bill and Dorothy had their first child, a boy named William Leland Mumma who was the light of their life.
In the fall of 1926, Bill's career took an abrupt change. Apparently a school from a neighboring town was so taken by his coaching successes and skills that they verbally offered him a position as athletic director, replacing the current person who was planning to leave at the end of the school year. Bill resigned his current job in Riverside, expecting to move to the new town and school in the fall. Much to his surprise and dismay, the job never materialized because the current athletic director changed his mind and decided to not leave. Unfortunately, Bill never received or signed a written offer of employment. By this time, his old job in Riverside had been filled and he was suddenly unemployed. With a wife and young son to support so he was desperate to find employment. Fortunately, a position opened up, but it was in Denver, Colorado as the athletic director of the junior high school system. So, reluctantly, they packed the car and moved to Denver. He was not particularly happy in Denver. He was no longer actively coaching high school or college sports. He kept extensive scrapbooks about his exploits at Fairview and Stivers High Schools, the YMCA College in Chicago and his first two years in Riverside. His scrapbooks contain no newspaper articles about any of his activities in Denver which they found to be cold and the job certainly didn't challenge him nor stir his passion for winning. In the summer of 1927, Bill and family returned to Riverside for a visit. Fortunately for him, a position opened up at Poly High School athletic department which he immediately accepted. That next fall, the newspaper articles again began to fill his scrapbook.
On October 27, 1929, Bill and Dorothy had their second child named Lawrence Alan Mumma. It is interesting and unusual that this was also Bill's birth date. During this time period, he coached the football, basketball and track teams. He won the grid titles in 1933 and 1935, breaking great win streaks held by Pomona High School in both years. In 1933 Poly High, for the first time, became Citrus Belt League (CBL) Champs and entered the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs, winning their first round playoff game. November 2, 1935 Riverside Poly High School chalked up their 2nd championship in 20 years of CBL football since 1915.
Another blessed event occurred on October 27, 1935 when their 3rd son, Douglas Marion Mumma, was born. Again, this child was born on Bill's birthday and to his dying day, Bill claimed all the credit for this highly unusual coincidence. So these were the golden years for Bill. As athletic director, he had other coaches working for him and he was able to concentrate on coaching just a few sports, in addition to teaching the standard physical education classes. There were several special activities for which Bill won special acknowledgements, especially in the area of track and field. One of the most interesting and most popular programs he created was the Annual Sports Carnival. In this event, hundreds of boys took part and it became so popular that the entire student body was let out to attended the event. Ribbons and trophies awarded to winners of the various events.
On June 8 & 9, 1956, the US Air Force held its "World Wide Air Force Track Meet" at Poly High School's Wheelock Stadium. This was the first one ever held on the West Coast and it was just prior to the Olympic trials. This was a major sporting event for the US Air Force with participants attending from all over the world. Bill served as the meet manager and was responsible for preparing the field and conducting all of the events, using a large staff of volunteers. He was given high acclaim and praise for the precision with which he organized and conducted this event. The letters from the Air Force lauded him for his organizational skills and enthusiasm. It proved to be very successful.
In his later years at Poly, Bill concentrated on coaching cross county as his competitive sport. The Poly High School Cross Country teams that Mumma coached won seven straight C.B.L. championships from 1949 to 1956.
Capping off his long and illustrious career, Bill was honored by being elected to the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame in 1959, which consisted of a select group of coaches and administrators. In 2008, Bill was inducted into the Stivers High School Athletic Hall of Fame, joining his much revered coach at Stivers, Willard Marquardt.
http://stivershof.org/clarence-w-mumma-1918/
In May of 1962, Bill retired from the Riverside school system, finishing an illustrious coaching career spanning 39 years. In retirement, Bill enjoyed travelling and fishing. He also took up the sport of lawn bowls in which he immediately excelled and won many local and national tournaments. He served as the president of the Riverside Lawn Bowling Club. On July 13, 1973, at age 75, coach "Bill" Mumma died of cancer in Riverside, California and was buried in the Olivewood Cemetery.
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1900 Census OH, Montgomery Co., Madison Twp., 12 Jun, ED71, dwelling 174 (note: Harry C. Mumma is the enumerator)
Mumma, Albert M., head, b: June 1872 @ age 27, m: 5 yrs, b: OH/OH/OH farmer
" , Mary C., wife, b: Aug 1876 @ age 24, m: 5 yrs: b: OH/OH/OH
" , Arthur R., son, Apr 1896, 4, single, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Clarence E., son, Oct 1897, 2, single, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Lawson E., son, Dec 1898, 1, single, b: OH/OH/OH
1910 Census, OH, Montgomery Co., Madison twp., 28 Apr, ED 137, dwelling 95, (note: H. C. Mumma is the enumerator)
Mumma, Albert M., head, 33, m1 15 yrs, b: OH/OH/OH, occ: own income
" , Mary C., wife, 34, m1 15 yrs, 5 children 5 living, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Arthur R., son, 14, single, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Clarence E., son, 13, single, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Lawson E., son 11, single, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Naomi M., dau, 10, single, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Ruth I., dau, 7, single, b: OH/OH/OH
1920 Census, OH, Montgomery Co., Harrison Twp., North C pct. 16 Jan, Salem Ave, dwelling 388
Mumma, Albert M., head, owns, 47, b: OH/OH/OH no occupation
" , Mary C., wife, 43, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Arthur R., son, 23, single, b: OH/OH/OH, tool maker, airplane plant
" , Clarence E., son, 22, single, b: OH/OH/OH, student, college
" , Lawson E., son, 21, single, b: OH/OH/OH, pattern maker, lighting plant Co.
" , Naomi, dau, 19, single, b: OH/OH/OH, no occ.
" , Ruth, dau, 16, single, b: OH/OH/OH, no occ:
1920 Census, IL, Cook Co., Chicago, 5747 Drexel Ave, Apt 3
Clarence is one of 5 lodgers in this house, all of whom are students at the University.
Muma, Clarence, lodger, 23, single, b: OH/OH/OH, student, university
1930 Census, CA, Riverside Co., Riverside City, Ward 5, ED 33-44
3751 Linwood, dwelling 259
Mumma, Clarence W., head, owns $4000, has radio 32, 1st m: age 26, b: OH/OH/OH occ: teacher, public school
" , Dorothy, wife, 26, 1st m: @ age 20, b: IN/IN/IN
" , William, son, 5, b: CA/OH/IN
" , Lawrence, son, 5/12, b: CA/OH/IN
1940 Census, CA, Riverside County, Riverside City, ED 33-60, image 40, May 2 1940,
5695 Grand Avenue, owns, $10,000,
Mumma, Clarence W., head, age 42, college 6 yrs, b: OH, lived same place 1935, 50 hrs worked during week March, coach football
" , Dorothy, wife, 38, high school 4 yrs, b: IN, lived same place 1935, no occupation ****
" , William, son, 15, single, high school 1 yr, b: CA, lived same place 1935, 12 hrs worked during week March, paper delivery, Press
" , Lawrence, son, 10, single, 4 yrs school, b: CA, lived same place 1935
" , Douglas, son, 4, single, 0, b: CA, -,
*** Extra question
Mumma, Dorothy, Father born-Indiana, Mother born-Indiana, English, veteran=no, housewife, age 20 1st marriage, 3 children
Per a letter written by Dr. William Navigato, MD, the following was stated by him regarding the health of Clarence Mumma
1) in 1969 he had carcinoma of the prostate which was treated with transurethral resection and later castration.
2) was seen in December of 1972 with stiffness in the neck, aching of spine and limited motion - diagnosis cervical arthritis
3) admitted to hospital Feb 6-18, 1973 but nothing found.
