Reitz's First Team Captain

Ralph Wood - Football and Basketball
team Captain in 1921-22

Ralph Wood was the first team captain of the Reitz High School football and basketball team.  The son of William Wood, a pottery worker on the west side of Evansville IN, he lived with his family on West Delaware St.  Wood made history on October 4, 1919 when he score the first touchdown ever for Reitz High School.  He scored on a 10 yard end run against Central High School reserve team at the end of the first half.  Reitz went on to win the game 6 - 0 and finish its first season 4 -3.  Only four years later, in 1923, Reitz would win its first city championship.  In 1922, Wood graduated from Reitz.  He worked at Mead Johnson Pharmaceuticals for 25 years until his untimely death at the age of 49 on June 10, 1952.  He was survived by his wife Julia.