Inducted on September 28, 1975
TEDDY LODER ‘YORKVILLE YOUNGSTER’ RETIRES
KEANSBURG – As a boxer holding the New Jersey weight title in the 1930’s Theodore “Teddy” Loder was described’ as having an “expressionless face and willing fists” in the ring and as a police officer a Record editorial attributed to him “a bulldog enacity.”
Loder, who retired from the borough police department April 28 at deputy pclice chief, looked back on his career on the force and i::! (he ring and noted many changes prevelent in a changing world.
The retired deputy chief remarked it was never easy being a policeman, either years ago or today, but the attitudes of people were drastically different.
There were always fights in the old days, Leder reflected, but “one would knock the other down and that would be the end of it,” today the troublemakers use bettles and sticks or whatever is available. “They’ll stomp and kick you,” Loder said.
It is doubtful Loder ever had much experience being “knocked down” as a police officer; that was an experience he learned to avoid in his five year career as a prize fighter.
In his 64-fight career, “The Yorkville Youngster” racked up a string of 59 win” three draws and only two losses and never experienced a knockcut. Having fought in Madison Square Garden, N. Y., St Nicholas Arena, N. Y., Long Island Bowl, N.Y., and Ridgewood Grove, the young pugilist was forced into retirement from the ring at the age of 28 in 1938, due to an injured hand.
Considered a ranking contender for the national title by sports writers of the time, Loder said it as necessary to “sweat blood to stay in shape.” Several miles a daily roadwork and a few hours working out and sparring in the gym were commonplace.
Loder was recognized last year at the Asbury Park Convention Center when localized boxing returned to the area after 25 years d absence. The recognition demonstrated the strong memory that remain, for the area boxing hero.
Prize fighting, Loder said, is now and always has been a way for minorities to break out of their poverty. “They beat their way up,” remarked Loder. and then send their children to school so that they will have a better life.
His impressive boxing record has earned him a nomination to the state boxing hall of fame. A vote on the prize-fighter-turned police officer is expected in September.
Loder left the trade of tool and die manufacturing to join the borough police force in 1943. He was appointed as a patrolman in August of that year. Rising through the ranks Loder was appointed sergeant in 1946, captain in 1954, and finally deputy chief in 1956. Loder also served as president of the local Patrolman’s Benevolent Association in 1948.
The retired depty chief was born in Bronx, New York, and used to spend summer vacations in Keansburg with his family. As have many borough resident, Loder finally left New York to take up permanent residence in the borough. .
In 1949, as a sergeant working in plainclothes, Loder nabbed a suspect wanted for questioning in correction with the waterfront murder of a New York union leader.
New York police had already apprehended and obtained convictions for the crime, Leder said, but the third man sought was believed to have information about the operation of rackets along the tough New York docks. The two men convicted had pledged to take their secrets “to the grave.”
Loder recalled he had overheard someone say the suspect was in town. The sergeant thought he knew who the suspect was but he was not sure. “We used to say hello to each other down along the beach,” Loder remembered.
Finally, Loder said, additional information about the suspect has received from New York police. Included in the dispatch was a photograph of the suspect which Loder recognized immediately as the man on the street who always greeted him.
A check of the register in the man’s hotel revealed he had signed in under his real name, much to the surprise of the sergeant.
Loder began an around-the-clock surveillance of his suspect, waiting for the right time to make the arrest.
The suspect was arrested as a convicted felon who had not registered with local police as required by borough ordinance. The man was eventually convicted as being a accomplice to the murder of the union leader in New York City and served 12 years in prison on that charge.
In addition to the fights listed in Loder’s attached record, he is supposed to have had the following bouts (according to Everlast Boxing Record, 1935 edition. The locations and exact dates are unknown, but they probably occurred in northern New Jersey.
- 1931: Kid Poppa, W Points 4; Rocky Stone, W Points 4, Harry Frank, W ko 3.
- 1932: Frankie McKenna, W ko 2; Joe (Red) Garren, W Points 6; Ray Cummings, W Points 6; Joe Communale, W Pts 6; Izzy Cohen, W Points 4; Mike Fontana, Drew 4.
- 1933: Gene Schoor, W Points 6; Benny Banias, W ko 4; Melvin Decker, W ko 5; Charley Paduano, Draw 8; Charley Paduano, W Points 10.
Boxing Record: Teddy Loder