Deaf people who found jobs in Akron created an active and visible community. The "Silent Colony" supported clubs, church groups, amateur sports, and company sponsored teams. The Goodyear Silents, a semiprofessional football team, was a particular source of pride to deaf residents of Akron. The winning Silents demonstrated that deaf workers were as competent as anyone else, on the football field as well as the factory floor.

Two rows of Goodyear Silent Football Team posed for a photo in 1918.
The flyer said that The windsor wanderers will wander onto at seiberling field 2:30 Sunday, Oct. 12 and Play the Good year Silents/ real football played by real teams/ No Quarter Asked by Either Team and Only on e Quarter asked for Admission.

The Goodyear Silents were a semiprofessional football team composed of deaf workers from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company's factory in Akron, Ohio. From 1917 to 1922 the Silents won 54 games, lost six, and tied three. The photograph above shows the 1918 team.

All images from Gallaudet University Archives