Franklin & Marshall fielded some top-notch football teams in the mid-to-late-’50s, led by the likes of running back George Darrah ’59, quarterback Dale Ritter ’55 and wide receiver/defensive back Henry “Hank’’ Eberle ’55.
Those three players are in F&M’s Hall of Fame.
Now, they are joined by someone who opened up holes for the running backs and blocked to aid the Diplomats’ passing game - lineman Charley Havens III ’58.
“Charley was the best player I ever saw at F&M,’’ said Kent “Sandy’’ Weaver, a center who played alongside Havens, a guard, during the 1957 season. “He was a very smart football player and a tremendous football player.’’
Havens arrived at F&M after a stellar career at Westminster (Md.) High School, where he was a two-time captain and was selected to the All-Maryland and All-America High School teams after his senior season.
Havens played three seasons for the Diplomats, 1955-57, and he made an impact right away. In his first varsity game, a 14-7 win over Johns Hopkins, Havens was named Player of the Game for his all-around play in the middle of the F&M line. That game marked the first of two Player of the Game awards he won in his sophomore season.
At season’s end, he earned the team’s Apple Outstanding Player Award.
Along with his play at guard, Havens, competing at 5-10, 191 pounds, could affect a game on defense, too. In a 15-0 victory over Dickinson, while Havens was a junior in ’56, he played on a defensive line that held the Red Devils to just 45 yards rushing. He also blocked a punt in that game, resulting in a Dickinson safety.
“Charley was a leader and everyone knew it,’’ said Weaver, who recalled that Havens passed up a full-ride scholarship to the University of Maryland because he wanted a smaller-school experience. “Whatever Charlie said was it. Whatever Charley did, we tried to follow.’’
The Diplomats opened Havens’ junior season with a 7-7 tie against Johns Hopkins and then reeled off five straight wins. Havens’ however, missed several games during the streak due to an injured thumb. One of the games he missed was a 12-6 victory over what was then Western Maryland (now McDaniel). At the time, Charles Havens II, Charley’s father, was the Green Terror’s head coach.
Havens returned to the lineup against Muhlenberg. Despite F&M suffering its first loss of the season, 13-0 to the Mules, F&M’s Student Weekly newspaper wrote, “Haven’s play after a three-week absence from the gridiron was about the only bright spot on an otherwise dark day for F&M football.’’
Havens’ leadership skills resulted in him being named a co-captain along with Dick Wright in his senior season.
After the Diplomats went 5-2-1 in Havens’ junior season, F&M was 4-2-1 when he was a senior. In his final home game, Havens’ blocking enabled F&M to rush for 370 yards in a 41-20 win over Muhlenberg.
In his final game at the College, Havens was one of the starting 11 who stayed on the field for nearly the entire game, with Coach Woody Sponaugle choosing to use only two subs the entire game. F&M and Gettysburg fought to a 6-6 tie.
Havens practiced law from 1961-2015 and was president of Reinsurance Association of America, 1970-81. He is retired, living with his spouse of 61 years in Indian River Estates, Fla.
