Name/Title
Print, PhotographicEntry/Object ID
2003.06.3Description
Lorne Merkle, who was wearing a California Florists jersey in this black-and-white photo, was active in Tacoma recreation sports during the 1950s and played on championship teams in basketball and fastpitch. In 1594, Merkle played catcher for Ben's Truck Parts, which became the first Metro Tacoma championship team to compete in the Pacific Northwest regional fastpitch tournament. Merkle also played catcher for the Western State Hospital baseball team. Merkle graduated from Bellarmine High School in 1934 and he was an all-around athlete, playing football, basketball, baseball and tennis. He was a city champ in tennis and was the No. 1 player on Bellarmine's first-ever tennis team. He continued to play tennis into his 80s. Merkle, who was born in 1916 and died in 2009, spent 21 years as a district manager for the Tacoma News Tribune and then another 10 yeas as the newspaper's circulation manager. He was one of the area's top high school and college basketball officials and retired from officiating in 1976 after 40 years.Lexicon
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Basketball, Recreational, College, PhogoraphyRelationships
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Merkle, LornePerson or Organization
California FloristsPerson or Organization
Ben's Truck PartsPerson or Organization
Tacoma News Tribune