The Story of the Ace

How did Granville become the Blue Aces?

The late Milton Fitch (’27) was responsible for naming Granville the Blue Aces. At that time, many schools were giving symbols and nicknames to their sports teams, and Fitch felt Granville should also.

Until 1927, the athletic teams had been called the Blue and White after the school colors. During the student’s senior year, both the football team and the basketball team had unprecedented seasons, winning more games than ever before in the school’s history. Since the “ace” stands for expertness and skill and is the highest card in most card games, the reporter thought it would be an appropriate nickname for the Granville sports teams.

In his “G.H.S. Honor Column” in the 1927 Blue and White yearbook, Fitch wrote:

“Granville High’s athletic season of ’26-’27 had made for itself a reputation hard for any class of the future to repeat. Harvey Williams’ Blue Ace Gridders with six straight wins won the Central District Championship for Class B High School Football. E.D. Smith’s Blue Ace Floor performers besides winning the Licking County Tournament, gave a good account of themselves in the District Tourney where they were repulsed by Hyatts and Lady Luck in the semi-finals.”

Granville High School has been referred to as the Granville “Blue Aces” ever since.

Fitch was sports reporter for the school newspaper (The Blue & White) and the yearbook (Also Blue and White). In addition, he was the high school sports editor for the town newspaper, The Granville Times. He was such a dedicated reporter that printed beside his senior picture are the words “a pretty girl, the press, and flowers / Take up nearly all his hours.”

After graduation, his love of the press took him into advertising and he eventually owned his own agency.

Story of the Aces was provided by former teacher Beth Gwynn, who taught English and advised the yearbook from 1979-2014.