They called him the “Stanley Steamer,” predicting back in high school that he would turn into a football pro.
Graduating from Stanley High in 1941 and known for his sports prowess, Earl Maves went on to play for the
University of Wisconsin and at Ann Arbor with the University of Michigan, serving in the Marine Corps as
well for a time. Later returning to college and making 155 rushing yards in 1946, Maves appeared to be on the road to greatness. In 1948 he was drafted by the Detroit Lions, but an unforeseen turn in his health would lead to apremature death at age 29 from Hodgkin’s Disease, in 1952.A local committee then being formed to build a memorial in his honor with high school friend Mel Steivang among those helping to make it a reality, the Maves Memorial Pavilion was dedicated in September 1953. Many others also took part in the effort for the building that cost $3,200 in Chapman Park, including the local
Stanley Lions Club. But just who was Earl Maves, namesake of the Maves Memorial Pavilion in Chapman
Park?
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Emil Maves at Ladysmith on April 8, 1923, Maves moved to Owen with his family a
nd
later to Stanley in 1933.
Entering Stanley High from the Lincoln School in 1937, Maves graduated from Stanley High School with the
class of 1941. While at Stanley High he participated in Mixed Chorus, Football, Basketball, was Freshman
President and Jun
ior Vice President, made the Honor Roll, took part in Extemporaneous Speaking, and was on
Prom Committee as well. As war clouds gathered at home and America took an increasing (but unofficial) role
in the world conflict, the high school news from October 1
8, 1940, shared a football victory, against Medford.
“Last Wednesday at 2:30, Stanley High met the Medford football team at the fairgrounds. The result: 14-0 in
Stanley’s favor. In the first quarter Medford kicked off to Stanley. After this, the teams seemed to be testing each other for both teams remained in the center of the field.
The second quarter produced a lot of punch. Stanley broke loose and made a touchdown. Earl Maves ran 60 yards down field with the whole team backing him up. Medford completed a pass and were halted on the 2 yard line. They ended up with a six yard loss. The third quarter passed with neither team showing much progress.
The fourth quarter brought the score, 14-0. Swell work, team!” This success was not without consequence, however. Shared the following year from October 31, 1941 in Geo. Follien’s “From the Sports Key Hole” was the following update: "Rumor has it that Earl Maves, former Stanley High School football star, who has been out for the Freshman team at Madison this year, will undergo an operation on his injured shoulder, which has been dislocated several times. If this operation is successful, I'll bet my silver snuff box that you'll be seeing Earl's name in the Badger line up next season."
Come 1942 the report was validated, with the news from September 1942 that Earl Maves had indeed made the varsity squad at the State University. Kicking off the season September 19 with a game against Camp Grant at Madison, and ending with Minnesota at Madison Novermber 21. Wisconsin prospects "were considered pretty fair," the unattributed writer related, making the final game worth traveling many miles to see, if Wisconsin put up the defense they were deemed capable of.
Taking a hiatus from college in 1943 to join the Marine Corps, Mayes nonetheless played on the Michigan State University team while a trainee, later being commissioned as a second lieutenant and serving "about a year" before discharge at Great Lakes Illinois on July 16, 1946.
Earning the name "Stanley Steamer" due to "high powered runs" while on the Badger lineup as a fullback, Maves improved during college on his sixty yard high school run against Medford with an 83-yard run against Marquette in 1946, as one example.
Back in town the following spring, summer sports director Maves was to begin providing daytime activities for area youth on a set schedule at Chapman Park. Arranged throughout the day by age groups were everything from playground time to a softball league, with practice sessions for Junior Legion, football on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and "unorganized group games" from 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Married to Claudia James of Sioux City, Iowa on August 17, 1947 at First Presbyterian Church of Eau Claire, residing in Eau Claire.
Coming 1948, Maves graduated from university and was rumored to be set for play with the Baltimore Colts, but didn't get in the game, per news reports. As the year turned into 1949, news that Emil Maves (Earl's father) was a patient at Eau Claire, with Mr. and Mrs. Earl Maves of Eau Claire playing host as others visited the hospital.
The first signs that something was wrong with Earl Mave's own health came in 1950, two years before he died.
Dying of Hodgkin's disease (a type of cancer) at the age of 29 on March 10, 1952, Maves is buried at Oakland Cemetery at Stanley.
