Tacoma-Pierce County SPORTS SPOTLITE Newsletter of the Shanaman Sports Museum June 2021 | Vol.2 No.2 County back in 1888. But by 1908, at the young age of 20, Lee had already become the heavyweight champ of the Pacific Coast. He had an impressive record. In the 54 fights of his career, Lee won 52 by knockouts, two by draws and no losses. By 1910, local sportswriters from the Tacoma News Tribune picked Lee to be one of the ring's greatest heavyweights and instead he turned out to be a successful hotel man. In 1910, Lee defeated the great Jack Lester in 10 rounds and Lee was projected to be the world heavyweight champ within the year. But with his parents saying no to boxing, he stopped boxing and made a career change. His family thought boxing was “uncouth.” Eventually, after working as a lumberjack and after prospecting for gold in Alaska, Lee got into the hotel business and bought a hotel in 1914 at 1919 Pacific Avenue in downtown Father and son boxers, Lee and Bliss Croft Photo courtesy of Melanie Croft Dempsey Tacoma. He called it the Croft Hotel. It had 124 rooms and it became very popular and was Like Father, Like son filled nearly every night. It opened in 1914 and closed in 1955. They shared a common interest, a common (article continued on page 3) passion. The Crofts – father Lee and son Bliss – both knew how to throw a hard, knockout punch. They were both great boxers and both CONTENTS came out of Tacoma. About Us 2 With the guiding hand of his supportive father, Join the Team 2 a young Bliss followed in the footsteps of his New Members/Donors 2 dad as a hard-hitting heavyweight boxer. By Dori Kovanen blazes the trail 5 1948, a 27-year-old Bliss was among the top 10 The Locker Room Chat 7 ranked heavyweight boxers in the world, Dick Hassan Retires 8 Pitcher Harry Nygard 9 matching what his father did 38 years earlier. The Day I met Mickey Mantle 10 Lee had a simple beginning, a modest start. He Giving Guide 11 was born in Washington in a log cabin in Lewis JOIN THE TEAM The Shanaman Sports Museum honors the history of sports and the rich culture of athletics in Tacoma-Pierce County. To maintain that tradition, the board of directors is pleased to invite the public The mission of the Shanaman Sports Museum of Tacoma- Pierce County is to recreate the history of sports in the to show their support by becoming a member. community by chronicling the evolution of various sports through written, visual and audio mediums and to educate For more information, please visit our website: the public about our sports heritage. www.tacomasportsmuseum.com/membership Board of Directors Marc Blau, President Colleen Barta, Vice President John Wohn, Secretary WELCOME NEW Terry Ziegler, Treasurer MEMBERS Tom Bona Gary Brooks TEAM Brad Cheney, Emeritus Frank Colarusso Jack Connelly Kyle Crews Marvin S. (Tom) Tommervik Jr. Steve Finnigan Orv Harrelson Vince Goldsmith Don Gustafson Dave Lawson PLAYER Doug McArthur, Emeritus Terry Trowbridge Chelle Miller Jim Merritt Gregory Plancich, Emeritus Ralph and Doris Heritage Earl Powell Terry Rice Kate Rue Aubrey Shelton Willie Stewart THANK YOU Bob Young RECENT DONORS Leonard Zarelli, Emeritus Ed and Chris Menotti Staff Megan French, Museum Curator Harry and Marge Nygard Julia Auve, Assistant Curator Steve and Mary Sand Katherine Kidwell, Assistant Curator Brian Zacharias Adrian Ann Cufley, Membership & Website Manager Kim Davenport, Communications Manager/Newsletter Editor Contact Us Attn: Museum Members www.tacomasportsmuseum.com [email protected] Dominos coupons (253) 677-2872 remaining from your Follow Us membership are valid Facebook & Instagram: TacomaSportsMuseum through September 30, Twitter: SportsMuseumTPC 2021 at most Pierce County locations. - 2 - Like Father Like Son, cont. from page 1 school, Bliss went on to play tackle on the football team at Pacific Lutheran College. In a newspaper story, Lee was called the “greatest fighter who turned out to be a With World War II in full action, Bliss joined the champion hotel man.” And he didn't stop there Army in April 1942 with another Tacoman/Pacific with his career. Lee made his first entry into Lutheran College teammate, Hugo Swanson, who politics when he ran for office and was elected was later killed in a pilot training accident in sheriff. He served as a Pierce County Sheriff from Florida. While stationed in the U.S., he started 1943-1951 and he died in Tacoma in December boxing while in the Army. 1951. His wife, Pearl, sold the Croft Hotel in 1955. During World War II while stationed in the U.S. on the east coast, he became a paratrooper. During that time he made it to the Golden Gloves semi-finals but lost his fight to Salvador Mirabito on March 15, 1944. As a paratrooper and as a sergeant, he was also a heavyweight boxer and he said he went into the book of Jack Dempsey for his plan of battle in the ring. In a newspaper story during that time, it said the former Stadium High and Pacific Lutheran College athlete at 23 years of age “is an outstanding youthful ring prospect.” In a story written by Elliott Metcalf, he called Bliss “a prospect.” After the war, Bliss, already married with one child and in need of money, started to box professionally. He won his first fight by a H. W. Lee Croft served as the Pierce County Sheriff from knockout and won $50, which was a lot of money 1943-1951. Photo courtesy of Melanie Croft Dempsey. back then. He won his next fight by a knockout again and his desire was to become rated in the In a 1946 story in the Tacoma newspaper, Bliss top 10 heavyweights in the world. was called “the hardest punching youngster to be uncovered in Tacoma in many years.” He had “To the pursuit of my boxing career, I'm just a fought two of his first 16 fights in Tacoma, green novice,” Bliss was quoted as saying in a winning both fights by knockouts. In April 1945, newspaper story. “So, there's a lot about boxing Bliss knocked out a 273 pounder, a fighter who that I must learn before I can reach my goal. But was 93 pounds heavier than Bliss. I'm going to work hard.” Bliss' awards weren't earned only in the boxing He did work hard and he did climb to be ranked ring. He was a talented and versatile athlete. among the top 10 heavyweights in the world. Bliss, a 1940 graduate from Stadium High School, Bliss, who was born June 16, 1921, got off to an also played football, wrestled and was a talented impressive start in his pro boxing career. He won diver. He won a YMCA state championship in 10 of his first 14 fights by knockouts and lost only diving, showing his skills in that sport. From high two, one in a close verdict in England and the - 3 - other a technical KO at the hands of Johnny As a professional boxer, Bliss was rated in the Denson. world's top 10 by 1948. At one point during that While he had giant knockout power with his time, he knocked out eight opponents in a row. punches, Bliss wasn't a giant in the ring. He was Then he re-entered the U.S. Army for the Korean only 6-feet tall and only weighed 180 pounds War and stayed in the Army through three tours when he was 24 years old. in Vietnam, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. A much- decorated combat veteran of three wars, Bliss But as a heavyweight boxer he was a winner in Croft was one of the original "Green Berets." He the boxing ring. died in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on February 12, 2009 at age 87 after a long fight with In his last nine fights against men who, in most Parkinson's disease. instances, towered over him or outweighed him, Bliss battled well and won by knockouts. Fred And with the support of his father, who hadn't Bruny was Bliss's trainer and Jack Connor was his gotten that support from his father, Bliss had a manager. great boxing career. Just like his father. They were the boxing buddies. By Gail Wood, contributing writer for the Shanaman Sports Museum Save the Date: August 23 Tribute to Champions Join us for a special evening as we induct individuals into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame. Presentations will also be made to recipients of the Dick Hannula Female & Male Amateur Athlete of the Year Award, the Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award, the Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award, the First Family of Sports Award, and the Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award. Visit the event website for complete details: https://tributetochampions.org/ Bliss Croft in the ring. Photo courtesy Melanie Croft Dempsey. In a 1945 fight, Bliss won by a second round knockout in a pro heavyweight fight, beating “Tiny” Taylor, who was 6-6 and weighed 260 pound. That was 80 pounds more than Bliss. Before the fight, Bliss had written his dad, saying “I'm going to fight him just like Dempsey did Willard.” Bliss did just that. - 4 - Dori Kovanen Blazes the to attend to give her exposure to more diversity, Trail for Girls’ Soccer Dori was capable of playing baseball, basketball and football with the boys. If you think the popularity of soccer for girls and By the time she earned her diploma from women has exploded in the last 50 years, you’re Stadium High School in 1981, she had tasted right.