A Description of VCC's First Year of Intercollegiate Football
Page from 1939 "Voyageur" - Ely Junior College Annual
Many people think that Vermilion Community College got their nickname, the "Ironmen" from the fact that iron mining was and is one of the largest businesses in our area. In fact, the name "Ironmen" was given to Ely Junior College in the fall of 1940 by Stan Pechaver, a writer at the time for Range Facts and later a member of the Ely Commercial Club. Stan called Coach Barney Franks' team the "Ironmen" because Ely Junior College won the Northern Junior College Conference championship in 1940 with a squad of only 14 players!!! Of those 14, 11 played every minute of every game!!! The nickname stuck and ever since VCC has been known as the "Ironmen."
