Reflections of a Flintstone by Joe Eufinger
My family moved to Flint from Illinois in 1950 when I was five years old, just as I was ready to start school. I spent the next 10 years at Longfellow (kindergarten through ninth grade), then became a Flint Central Indian. After four years at Purdue University, I returned to Central as a teacher and coach, where I worked for the next 39 years. Obviously Flint and the Flint Community Schools have been a very big part of my life. So many memories!
When I think of Longfellow, I think of Mr. Gaviglio and the Whiteman’s. Don Gaviglio was our coach for just about everything. Longfellow was not a hotbed of athletic excellence in those days, but we had our moments. I remember making a basket in overtime to beat McKinley for our only win in eighth grade. I also remember walking off the floor after a loss to Bryant to end the season. I heard Don say to the other coach, “Can you believe I have to make TWO teams out of these guys next year?” Junior Highs had 7th, 8th, 9A and 9B teams to develop high school talent. Don was no fool; he loaded up the 9B squad and won that championship! Sad to report, I was on the 9A team…ouch! The Whiteman’s were both English teachers with no kids of their own so they could totally focus on harassing us. They were both intimidating and amazing.
Off to Central in 1960 where I met a whole host of amazing people – administrators, coaches, teachers and peers. Assistant Principal Stan O. Broome (a.k.a. SOB) led the tenth graders through a rousing rendition of “On Flint Central” at our first assembly and we were hooked. Coaches like Bob Leach, Dean Ludwig and Tim Bograkos helped shape me into a competent athlete. Teachers Graham Proven, Jack Howe and Clem Rowe brought History alive for me. And I met a whole host of peers who became friends for life. Class reunions have helped to keep those friendships alive for over 50 years. We recall classes, clubs, plays and games. The football players especially cherish replaying our 7-0 victory on Thanksgiving over the hated Vikings from Northern.
It was a strange feeling to return as a first year teacher in 1967, and try (somewhat unsuccessfully) to see my former teachers as my new fellow staff members, but they really helped to make the transition feel a bit more natural. Coaching and teaching at Central was a dream come true. I loved my students and will always remember our Law Day Mock Trial competitions against schools from all over the county, which we usually won. One year we convicted the sleazy perp as the prosecution in one court, and got the poor wrongly accused defendant off as the defense in another court. It was the same case in each trial. We still laugh about that one. The Humanities Magnet Program brought students from all city schools together at Central for those Magnet courses. I got to know some wonderful Vikings, Colts and Wildcats teaching in that program over the years.
Sports in Flint were always intense. So many football, basketball and baseball games come to mind. Big football games at Atwood Stadium were the norm. Basketball, in particular, brought an incredible run of state titles to Flint. Track also dominated at the state level. City, valley and state track championships at Houston Stadium were the place to be for outstanding track in Michigan. The list of athletic greats who got their start in Flint is literally endless, and I had the honor to coach some, the challenge to compete against others, and the pleasure to watch many more.
Many “Flintstones” have similar memories to mine from their years in the schools in this town. The intense competition between Indians, Vikings, Colts, Knights, Wildcats and Phoenix made us all better in the end. Now we have to rethink things regarding Flint. All us Flintstones from “back in the day” can hang on to our histories related to our particular schools, but we must become one as Jaguars at the same time. We must pull together if the kids in Flint are going to have a realistic chance to create the kinds of positive memories we have from our Flint public school years.
Joe Eufinger
Flint Central, 1963
