When Gene White came to Amsterdam in 1965 and took over as head coach of the Amsterdam varsity football program, the team’s nickname was the Hilltoppers. When he handed that job to John Los, his successor just fours seasons later, they had evolved into the Rugged Rams. It was White who began the transformation of Amsterdam High School football from a game into a tradition….

You can read the rest of this story in my new book “A Year’s Worth of Amsterdam Birthdays.” To order your copy, click here.