I also wore a leather helmet...

but uh, that needs further explanation. That was in grammar school, and it wasn't in 'tackle' football but rather flag football. While I was a 6th grader wearing hand me down leathers our high school WAS wearing up to date headgear.

When I started High School the 'old' school was in the process of being replaced. Some of those old buildings were like catacombs, with tunnels and rooms 3 or 4 stories underground. Old gear, not just sports, were stored in these catacombs. I went into those catacombs often... and they were truly 'museums'.

Athletic gear, school supplies, etc from as far back as the teens filled shelves, hung on walls, were stored in boxes. Oh what I give to have collected all that stuff. - JamesJM