Who was Traz Powell?

[423Hurricane]

My grandfather worked w Meyer Lanskey. Here and in NY, and the casinos in Cuba (before Castro took over). Def heard a lot about rackets, but not a lot about tennis.

My father became friends with Lansky. Being the Orange Bowl Stadium Manager and after the Dolphins came to town, Lansky would call my father to get tickets for the Jets games. My father told me the first time Lansky called him and introduced himself, my dad said who the **** is Meyer Lansky and hung up him. A couple of hours later, he got a call from the city manager who gave my father the low down on Lansky and suggested he play nice. Reluctantly, my father agreed and a friendship grew between the two. They had lunch/dinner about once a month and even after my father retired in '79, they stayed in touch for several years.

In the 50's, several of the art deco hotels on South Beach were owned by Cuban millionaires. My father managed one for a Cuban that also owned a hotel/casino in Cuba. Once a week, the Cuban would send a boat from Cuba to collect the "receipts" from the hotel. All cash. About once a month, my father got a visit from the owner and he never stayed very long - just a few hours at most.

 

[CandideCane]

My father became friends with Lansky. Being the Orange Bowl Stadium Manager and after the Dolphins came to town, Lansky would call my father to get tickets for the Jets games. My father told me the first time Lansky called him and introduced himself, my dad said who the **** is Meyer Lansky and hung up him. A couple of hours later, he got a call from the city manager who gave my father the low down on Lansky and suggested he play nice. Reluctantly, my father agreed and a friendship grew between the two. They had lunch/dinner about once a month and even after my father retired in '79, they stayed in touch for several years.

In the 50's, several of the art deco hotels on South Beach were owned by Cuban millionaires. My father managed one for a Cuban that also owned a hotel/casino in Cuba. Once a week, the Cuban would send a boat from Cuba to collect the "receipts" from the hotel. All cash. About once a month, my father got a visit from the owner and he never stayed very long - just a few hours at most.

This story is way what cool!

 

[RVACane]

I wasn't in one of those clubs, if I understand the question.

Yes, you understand it. I was in one so I thought I'd ask.

 

[RVACane]

It was Peter Kouchalakas. He loved me. We had to run stations with different types of weights--coffee cans filled with concrete and metal pipe. Kouch was a little guy but one **** of an athlete. As I recall he played football at UM.

I think Peter was his older brother. I definitely had Tarsey.

 

[RVACane]

Even better combo, you got a little Count D blood bro! We left after my 3rd grade.

You were from Romania? Vlad the Impaler!

 

[CandideCane]

You were from Romania? Vlad the Impaler!

Does being a romantic guy count lol?

Seeing how you post/write you probably already know that Vlad was Heroic! Saved his people from invasion and the story of blood, etc grew as a legend, in large part, to make future invaders think twice or pick an easier mark.

Obviously, back then people less scientific and more prone to believe that earth flat and night crawlers real lol.

 

[TheMatador]

It was Peter Kouchalakas. He loved me. We had to run stations with different types of weights--coffee cans filled with concrete and metal pipe. Kouch was a little guy but one **** of an athlete. As I recall he played football at UM.

I don't think he ever played at UM at least not a letter winner and/or on scholarship. I'm 99% sure his name was Tarsey, I even remember researching such things back then, long before internet. He was in the phone book and I have a vague recollection of where he lived. Originally from Massachusetts.

 

[RVACane]

I don't think he ever played at UM at least not a letter winner and/or on scholarship. I'm 99% sure his name was Tarsey, I even remember researching such things back then, long before internet. He was in the phone book and I have a vague recollection of where he lived. Originally from Massachusetts.

Kooch was from Lowell, MA. I looked desperately for a photo but there isnt one. Kooch would've been celebrated on here if there were videos of the man doing his routine in PE. The savages on here would love the dude.

 

[TheMatador]

Yes, you understand it. I was in one so I thought I'd ask.

I don't remember the names of any except for Keystone. My friend was in Keystone and said he could give me a bid if I got to know more of the members. I really didn't know any.I moved away shortly after that

I do recall that Beach High"s best football player, Tank Leonard, was in Keystone. He was the only Beach player to make all-city for Miami Herald and Miami News. Offense line on one and DL on the other.

Went to play at Navy, which was much more significant as a major program. They had two Heisman winners in the early '60's, Joe Bellino and Roger Staubach. (Maybe Bellino was '59.)

I never heard of Tank after high school. Have no idea how he did at Navy.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/eugene-leonard-obituary?pid=158601934

I remember "clubs" at Miami High, Gables, Southwest, etc.:

Counts
Chinks (Ching Tang)
Bucks
322 AZA
Gables AZA
Kappa Delt

There were others.

I don't know if HS fraternities were as big in other parts of the city like Edison, Jackson, Central, Hialeah, N. Miami.

Technically, HS fraternities were illegal under state law but that law was not or could not be enforced.

These were some of the other big high schools and all were almost totally white. Probably much more diverse or predominantly Black now. (This was tail end of segregation era).

 

[TheMatador]

Kooch was from Lowell, MA. I looked desperately for a photo but there isnt one. Kooch would've been celebrated on here if there were videos of the man doing his routine in PE. The savages on here would love the dude.

I can't remember his routine. Somehow I survived him. Don't remember him being that bad.

 

[RVACane]

I can't remember his routine. Somehow I survived him. Don't remember him being that bad.

I loved Kooch. He was entertaining.

 

[TheMatador]

Kooch was from Lowell, MA. I looked desperately for a photo but there isnt one. Kooch would've been celebrated on here if there were videos of the man doing his routine in PE. The savages on here would love the dude.

Best I could as far as a picture. No routine. Wonder if he went to UM and played there. He was definitely a star athlete at Lowell. So was his brother Peter, I think, who was older.

 

[TheMatador]

I can't believe I'm doing this.....I would have this guy as a P.E. teacher about 1960. Reminiscing about junior high almost sixty years later.

Miss those Palm trees...Miami Beach....just miss it.

Can't believe I found my relatives' house on Nautilus Drive. Actually found on Google Street view and the Abbott family house next door. Spent many hours at that house.

Did you guys know the old Nautilus where it was an accomplishment to pull (for a lefthander) a ball to right field and hit the band room? Only teachers did it like when they had a faculty-student game.

 

[TheMatador]

My old eyes are really going....scrolled down and there are some buttons with the page numbers and I see one right next to that (on the left) and it says "PERV".....and I'm thinking, what are they trying to tell me???

Then I look again and it says "PREV"....and I breathe a sigh of relief.

 

[Pixelated bukake]

Shout out to yous guys. Great thread. I grew up in the Bronx and went to H.S. in Fairfield County, Connecticut. My freshman year in Coral Gables was 1983 so I was never privy to the history of the area. Fascinating stuff.

 

[CandideCane]

I don't remember the names of any except for Keystone. My friend was in Keystone and said he could give me a bid if I got to know more of the members. I really didn't know any.I moved away shortly after that

I do recall that Beach High"s best football player, Tank Leonard, was in Keystone. He was the only Beach player to make all-city for Miami Herald and Miami News. Offense line on one and SL on the other.

Went to play at Navy, which was a much more significant as a major program. They had two Heismsnan winners in the early '60's, Joe Bellini and Roger Staubach. (Maybe Bellini was '59.)

I never heard of Tank after high school. Have no idea how he did at Navy.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/eugene-leonard-obituary?pid=158601934

I remember "clubs" at Miami High, Gables, Southwest, etc.:

Counts
Chinks (Ching Tang)
Bucks
322 AZA
Gables AZA
Kappa Delt

There were others.

I don't know if HS fraternities were as big in other parts of the city like Edison, Jackson, Central, Hialeah, N. Miami.

These were some of the other big high schools and all were almost totally white. Probably much more diverse or predominantly Black now. (This was tail end of segregation era).

Did you ever hear of Dukes and Saxons?

 

[CandideCane]

Shout out to yous guys. Great thread. I grew up in the Bronx and went to H.S. in Fairfield County, Connecticut. My freshman year in Coral Gables was 1983 so I was never privy to the history of the area. Fascinating stuff.

Yankees forever! #7 from Main St Flushing all the way through!!

 

[simplycanes]

My father became friends with Lansky. Being the Orange Bowl Stadium Manager and after the Dolphins came to town, Lansky would call my father to get tickets for the Jets games. My father told me the first time Lansky called him and introduced himself, my dad said who the **** is Meyer Lansky and hung up him. A couple of hours later, he got a call from the city manager who gave my father the low down on Lansky and suggested he play nice. Reluctantly, my father agreed and a friendship grew between the two. They had lunch/dinner about once a month and even after my father retired in '79, they stayed in touch for several years.

In the 50's, several of the art deco hotels on South Beach were owned by Cuban millionaires. My father managed one for a Cuban that also owned a hotel/casino in Cuba. Once a week, the Cuban would send a boat from Cuba to collect the "receipts" from the hotel. All cash. About once a month, my father got a visit from the owner and he never stayed very long - just a few hours at most.

Crazy the type of real "OGs" we had down here, yet it took the WOAT Paccino movie to capture the imaginations of all these clowns.

 

[TheMatador]

Did you ever hear of Dukes and Saxons?

No. Then again, I'm not sure I remember other than Keystone, maybe because of my friend and they had the best football player at the time, Tank.

 

[Pentagon Cane]

I don't think he ever played at UM at least not a letter winner and/or on scholarship. I'm 99% sure his name was Tarsey, I even remember researching such things back then, long before internet. He was in the phone book and I have a vague recollection of where he lived. Originally from Massachusetts.

I thought it was Pete Kouchalakas. Just found his obit. Maybe it was Tarsey....lol. I do remember both. But that picture you found is definitely the Kouch I remember.

Peter S. Kouchalakos ’44 Peter S. Kouchalakos, Colby ’44, a teacher, coach and school administrator, died August 7 in Coral Gables, Fla. He was 75. Born and reared in Lowell, Mass., he was an outstanding high school athlete at Lowell High School and at Bridgton Academy in Maine. His Colby education was interrupted by service in World War II; he served as a platoon sergeant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and earned several decorations, including the Bronze Star. He graduated from the University of Miami, where, as he had at Colby, he played varsity football and baseball. He taught and served as an administrator in the Dade County schools in Florida, retiring in 1979 after 32 years. In 1992 he was elected to the Lowell High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Penelope, two sons, a daughter, four brothers and a sister.