Silver Belt Buckle 1929-30

It was 1928, the Crosley Field stadium was alive with the roar of the crowd, their collective energy filling the crisp night air. The score was 6-0 with the Bluebird team holding a slim lead. The tension was palpable as the final seconds of the game ticked away. In the dying moments of the fourth quarter, the players on both teams fought with everything they had left. Every tackle, every pass, and every yard gained was crucial.  

Highlands High School held the lead for the rest of the game and won the Greater Cincinnati Championship. The bleachers erupted with excitement when the winner was announced, As Fred Stine said: “All the students and faculty loved the games, everyone cared about Highlands football.” The players were covered in mud and sweat, their jerseys stained with the battle scars of the championship game. You could only imagine what the players were feeling at that moment.  

As part of winning the championship, the Highlands team all received silver belt buckles to show their triumph.  The silver belt buckle was something of a trophy, a symbol of how hard they worked. The belt buckle displayed their school’s superior work ethic and pride in their school.  

The players wore them around school and even after they graduated. “The silver belt buckle would make everybody happy, all the students and faculty. Of course not the losing team, though,” said Fred. Even for people who weren't on the team, seeing these symbols of victory would brighten their day.  

Fred Stine, Fritz’s son, stated: “My father wasn’t a guy that you could describe in one word.” He passed the belt buckle along to his son, Fred, when he sadly passed away in 2006. His son knew how important the belt buckle was to him and how proud he was of it, so he donated it for the community to enjoy. We can all be reminded of the belt buckle, and the emotions tied to it. As his son said: “He had boxes full of memories from high school… boxes.”  

Highlands High School indeed holds a special place in the hearts of many, just like Fred Stine. The memories forged during one's years at Highlands are often cherished for a lifetime. It's a place where friendships are made, lessons are learned, and experiences shape the future. Having the opportunity to reminisce about those years, whether through photographs, yearbooks, or shared stories, allows us to connect with the past and appreciate the legacy of the school long before our time.