October 1966

Memphis, Tennessee

In an empty football locker room, undisturbed stools sat idly. Clothes hung up in lockers, gym bags laid open, and unused water bottles sat on shelves. The only sounds were that of a drip which came from a leaking faucet in the bathroom.

Slowly, a faint sound could be heard.

It wasn’t coming from inside the locker room, but rather from the hallway outside it.

It sounded like someone was hollering. No, not someone. There was more than one person making this noise.

The sound was loud, and it was if it was a mix of cheering and celebration. The noise made its way closer, and it became louder as it did. There was now pounding and thuds accompanying it.

This sound is somewhat familiar to the Memphis High School Mustangs football stadium. It was the sound of winning, though this time it was much louder than normal.

The doors to the locker room burst open as several football players skipped through, followed by the rest of their teammates. The first through the door was the gigantic teenaged Glen Miller.

Glen was team captain and proudly wore his black jersey with blue trim. The number on his jersey read 66, and his smile read jubilation. The players that followed were Marco Ruoco, Jim Thany, Evan Marksman, and Bryan Griggsby, as well as the rest of the Memphis Mustangs varsity football team.

The shouts of joy at the top of their lungs were staggering.

“STATE CHAMPIONS!”

“NUMBER ONE!”

Everyone crowded around Glen and patted him on the back and shoulders as he obviously was the resident hero. At the end of the fourth quarter, Glen alone had held the opposing Chattanooga Cavaliers from scoring and winning the game.

After the big play, the crowd had begun to chant his name and he became the focus of the celebration.

Glen, a junior in high school, was becoming the most popular man in Memphis.

February 1969

Memphis, Tennessee

The hometown fans cheered exuberantly as the Nashville High School wrestler Pete Porter was lifted and brought down. The Memphis High School crowd didn’t let up their happiness as Glen held on and suplexed Porter twice more. The referee called the number of points earned and the crowd watched the scoreboard read a lop-sided tally.

15:0

Glen seemed untouchable in the Memphis State High School Heavyweight Wrestling Finals, and he was making a mockery of the Nashville High School wrestling team’s pride.

As Glen and Porter squared back up, both teams’ coaches screamed at Glen to just finish this match.

Glen obliged them and reversed Porter’s opening move into a clean roll up.

1… 2… 3!!!

The referee brought the two competitors up to their feet and raised Glen’s hand. The Memphis High School wrestling coaches ran to him and congratulated him for his state championship.

Glen’s smile was astonishing, his pride was bursting, and his popularity was soaring. It seemed as if Glen was meant for success and to be on the tip of everyone’s tongues.