The Rogers High School practice field is named after Henry Frnka Jr., who, as a Rogers fullback in 1946, died after sustaining a brain injury during a game against Central. That game was played on the same University of Tulsa field on which Tulane's Devon Walker was injured last Saturday.
Photo by DAVE RADER, Rogers graduate and former TU football coach
On Saturday, while watching the Tulane-University of Tulsa football game from a club-level seat at H.A. Chapman, former Golden Hurricane coach Dave Rader was chilled by the sight of doctors frantically working to stabilize injured Green Wave safety Devon Walker.
While attempting to make a tackle, Walker sustained what Tulane officials described as a “cervical spine fracture.” On Sunday, he underwent a three-hour surgery at St. Francis Hospital.
As Walker was motionless at the north end of the field. Rader was reminded of a tragedy that occurred on the same field 66 years ago.
From an Associated Press report, dated Sunday, Oct. 6, 1946: “Henry Frnka Jr., 17-year-old son of Henry Frnka, Tulane University coach, died early today of a brain injury suffered Friday night in the last two minutes of play of the Tulsa Will Rogers High School-Tulsa Central High School football game. The husky backfield star never regained consciousness. His football-famous father and his mother were at his bedside when he died shortly after midnight.”
Frnka Jr. was injured in a game played at TU’s Skelly Stadium – now known as H.A. Chapman Stadium. Before taking the Tulane job in 1946, Frnka Sr. was a spectacularly successful coach at Tulsa. He directed the Golden Hurricane to a five-year record of 40-9-1 and five bowl appearances (including two appearances in the Sugar Bowl and one in the Orange Bowl). Frnka Sr.’s 1942 Hurricane team finished at No. 4 in the AP poll.
When Frnka Sr. left for Tulane, Frnka Jr. stayed in Tulsa so that he could attend Rogers High School as a senior. Rader attended Rogers High School during the ‘70s. When the Ropers convene for football practice – when Rader was a Roper and still today – it happens on Henry Frnka Jr. Memorial Field.
Near the Rogers practice field is a plaque that memorializes Frnka Jr.: “This athletic field is affectionately dedicated by Will Rogers High School and his friends; lovable character, fine student and exceptional athlete.”
On Sunday, with the Walker situation still fresh in his memory, Rader drove to the Rogers campus and photographed the Frnka Jr. plaque with his iPhone.
“When we working out or running around the track, we were always aware of the plaque,” recalls Rader, who after graduating from Rogers was a University of Tulsa quarterback. “We were just kids. We would look at the plaque and think, ‘Man, that happened a long time ago.’ ”
From another news account of the Frnka Jr. tragedy: “Young Frnka, a fullback for Will Rogers High School, was bucking the line against Tulsa Central. He was tackled by two linebackers and carried from the field. An operation to remove a blood clot was performed Saturday.”
Devon Walker benefited from the immediate and apparently effective response of TU and Tulane medical personnel.
“There have been so many advancements in medicine,” Rader said. “If (the Frnka Jr. injury) had happened today, maybe it would have turned out differently.”
-- Bill Haisten
