From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 8/1/1942, p. 10, c. 3

U. R. Gridders Keeping Fit In Defense Job

Five members of the University of Richmond’s 1942 football team have been keeping “in shape” this summer by working in a national defense plant right here in Richmond.

Headed by Cocaptain-Elect Max Katz, the other Spider footballers who are working these hot days at Tredegar Iron Works include Charlie Bellis, 190-pound tackle from Apollo, Pa.; Jack Wilbourne, 180-pound back from Salem; Ulysses (Doc) Savage, 180-pound end from Hampton, and Houston Sizer, 175-pound end from Roanoke.

This Richmond group is part of the employees who recently brought a War Department “E” to the Richmond war-production plant, denoting efficiency. Tredegar was recently inspected by War Department officials and the highly prized “E” was awarded the company.

Katz, probably, is doing double duty. Recently Max has received a commission in the communications branch of the Army Air Corps, but will not be called until June, 1943, when he is graduated from the Westhampton institution.

“It’s been plenty hot down there on Sixth Street,” Katz remarked yesterday, “But we’re not only keeping in shape – for the work is hard – but we’re helping out in national defense.”

The boys all live on Franklin Street at a boarding house, sharing several rooms. They go in and out at all times during the day. The morning shift pulls out early in the morning and it’s late at night before Jack Wilbourne, who works the night shift, finally gets in. Wilbourne goes to work at 3 P. M. in the afternoon just at the time when the rest of the boys are getting off.

What type of work they’re doing is a military secret. What products Tredegar is turning out also is guarded, but whatever they are, Richmond has a hand – very definitely – in national defense.

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