YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - It was October 17, 1941 when the first penalty flag was ever used in a football game. It just so happened that game was at  Rayen Stadium in Youngstown, between Oklahoma City University and YSU.

The first flag was red and white and was sewn by Irma Beede, the wife of former Penguin Coach Dike Beede.  The material for the flag was used from Halloween costume and sheets.

Prior to the flag, a fish horn was used to signal an infraction.

In a previous interview with 21 Sports, Gretchen Beede, the daughter of Dike Beede told us the reason for the color change to yellow was because fire trucks were yellow.

She added the fish horn sound, caused players to stop in the middle of a play.  The first flag was thrown on the second play of the game between YSU and Oklahoma City University.

The flag was officially introduced at the 1948 American Football Coaches rule session.  Since then the color of the flag is yellow and is used at every level of football.

Two of the original flags sewn by Mrs. Beede are on display at Mosure Hall inside Stambaugh Stadium on the campus of Youngstown State University.