Many of the people who remember the Keys in the ‘70s are gone now, but those who remain and those who enjoy reading the Weekly online from Ocala – or wherever the newest mecca is for Keys folks trying to escape the economic insanity – can attest that it was a far different place 50 years ago.
In 1974, the Navy base all but shut down, collapsing much of the local economy in Key West, and while the Keys were always a tourist destination, it took a few years for a full-on rebranding to occur, giving the locals, including high-school athletes, a more close-knit community where everyone knew each other and their business.
In 1974, Key West was rife with changes. The closing of most of the Naval operations affected the Southernmost City the most, and the loss of revenue from the government and the families who lived on base was felt across the island. Compounding this was the expense the football team endured in traveling to the mainland to play their games.
This helped drive the decision to exit the GMAC conference and join one which allowed the Conchs more leeway in choosing opponents for more favorable locations and more favorable results; many believed the GMAC was becoming stacked as Miami exploded in population. The Conchs joined FHSAA’s 4A classification, where they remain today. In their first year with the new district, the Conchs went 5-5 under the tutelage of coach Dave Matheson, who laid the groundwork for Key West’s first district championship the following season. Star wide receiver Richard “Bo” Howard was also a big part of the Conchs’ successful equation, and he earned third team All-State honors in 1974.
Across the island, Mary Immaculate, now Basilica School, added volleyball back into their varsity offerings. The first mention of a girls volleyball team was 30 years prior to that, but what happened between the ‘44 and ‘74 seasons, including when and why the team dissipated, remains unclear. Fifty years later, the Mariners repeated the feat in 2024, giving Key West fans two local volleyball teams to cheer for.
1974 was a big year for the Dolphins. Marathon’s Jim Sikora led the Fins to their first-ever Battle of the Keys Win, defeating Coral Shores 22-0. Sikora served as Marathon’s first coach when the school added varsity football to their schedules in 1970.
One athletic stronghold from the Upper Keys of half a century ago remains. In 1974 and in 2024, there is likely not a single Coral Shores student or staff member with whom Rich Russell is unfamiliar. Russell has a storied history with the ‘Canes, and though his team couldn’t pull off the win over Marathon in ‘74, Russell made a name for himself by launching an 88-yard punt that season. The punt set a Florida high school record and likely didn’t hurt Russell’s scouting prospects; he later played at University of Miami before returning to Coral Shores to teach, coach, serve as athletic director and mentor hundreds of students, athletes and teachers.
Fun Facts:
- A ride on the Conch Train in 1974 set you back a buck-fifty.
- A night camping at John Pennekamp State Park was $3.50.
- Anyone rightfully terrified to travel across the old Seven Mile Bridge, which was crumbling and narrow by the mid-1970s, could catch multiple flights each day between Key West and Marathon via Sunshine Air.
