Ironton Tanks
100th Anniversary
1919-1930
This season marks the 100th anniversary of the forming of the Ironton Tanks football team in Ironton, Ohio. The Tanks along with other teams in Ohio set some of the groundwork for the professional football as we know it today.
The Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will celebrate this anniversary by recognizing the team’s accomplishments during halftime of Friday’s game between Ironton and Fairland high schools at Tanks Memorial Stadium.
The late Glenn Presnell was a star player for the Tanks and later played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions. Former Ohio State safety William White will represent the Detroit Lions during the Sept. 14 celebration.
White was drafted in the fourth round of the 1988 NFL draft as the 85th overall selection. He played 11 seasons in the NFL from 1988-98.
White was with the Lions from 1988-93, the Kansas City Chiefs from 1994-96 and with the Atlanta Falcons from 1997-98. He started at safety for the Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII.
Southern Ohio was an area in which professional teams evolved. The Ironton Tanks were absorbed by the Portsmouth Spartans which in turn formed the beginnings of the professional team known today as the Detroit Lions.
During the 1930 season, the Tanks had victories over the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants.
Presnell was the oldest living former NFL player at age 99 until his death in 2004 which coincidently was also on Sept. 13.