Beverly Severance, former middle linebacker for the Toledo Troopers during their 1974 and 1975 seasons, recently loaned her personal collection to the Local History and Genealogy Department for digitization. The first item of her collection is a 1975 photograph of Toledo Troopers Coach Bill Stout driving a convertible with five players in an East Toledo Parade. The players include, from left to right, Pam Schwartz, Mitchi Collette, Sheila Browne, Beverly Severance and Dorothy Parma. Two of the additional items are visible in the photograph. The vintage t-shirt is nearly identical to the one she is wearing in the photo. A mini souvenir football, like the ones the players were throwing to the crowd, is another item. Her collection also includes her portrait in uniform, number 53.
Samples from Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s Toledo Troopers Online Exhibit
Beverly Severance photograph, 1970s
This colored photograph belongs to Beverly Severance. It is her portrait taken during the time she played middle linebacker for the Toledo Troopers, number 53, during the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
Toledo Troopers souvenir football, 1970s
This miniature, souvenir football belongs to Beverly Severance. It is yellow with green lettering, and “Toledo Troopers; League Champions, National Women’s Football” is printed on it. Footballs like this one were thrown to the crowd in the parade in which Beverly, some of her teammates, and her coach were photographed in. The footballs are also visible in the photograph that is a part of Beverly’s collection. She played middle linebacker, number 53, for the Toledo Troopers for the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
Toledo Troopers vintage t-shirt, 1970s
This vintage, Toledo Troopers t-shirt belongs to Beverly Severance. It is white with green print. Beverly played middle linebacker for the Toledo Troopers during the 1974 and 1975 seasons as number 53. The t-shirt is similar to the one in which she was photographed with her teammates and coach in a 1975 parade in East Toledo.
Beverly’s loan enriches the Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s digital collection that several other Toledo Troopers have also generously loaned their items to, in order to record their incredible history. They include: Guy Stout (former waterboy and son of Coach Bill Stout), and former players Mitchi Collette, Pam Hardy Fisher, Linda Jefferson, Gloria Jimenez, and Eunice White. The entire collection can be viewed at Ohio Memory.
Toledo Troopers Movie and More
If you haven’t heard of the Toledo Troopers yet, get ready to hear a lot more about them! During their nine-year existence from 1971 through 1979, they won seven national championships and held an impressive record that boasted only four games lost out of sixty-eight played. They were recognized in 1983 as the “Winningest Pro Football Team Ever” by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Be on the lookout for …
A book by Steve Guinan, titled “Perfect Season.”
The Ohio History Connection in Columbus, Ohio, is planning an exhibit highlighting Ohio’s contributions to sports that will open on March 16, 2019, which will include the Toledo Troopers.
A documentary is also in the works, by Communica – check out the trailer.
Originally posted by Gayle H. on ToledoLibrary.org/blog/our-online-toledo-troopers-exhibit-is-growing