Twin Cities Star Athletes ...Give Them Their Due

It has been a dismal year for sports. The NFL was able to crown new champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, and that was about all there was to it in the world of sports. Golf didn't really get off the ground, as the Masters Tournament was cancelled, possibly to later during the year. March Madness was cancelled and it appears that professional baseball may/may not be played. The only hope that seems to be left is football, but even that is up in the air. Sports seems to be one of the glues that connects all areas of society, but this year, it appears that only memories will be all that fans will have from past events if the pandemic is not well contained. Nevertheless, it is the memories and exploits of athletes past and present, on the field of competition that sets some of them apart. Putting them in a class of their own. That, by no means is meant to diminish what others have done. Louisiana has sent its share of individuals who have excelled in their chosen profession onto the world stage of athletic competition, and continues to do so. It all starts when individuals attend high school, where their skills are honed, and enhanced at the collegiate level. It is during high school when they "get noticed", some at an earlier age, but people know that they all have that "special something" about them to excel.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame located in Natchitoches, has places reserved for individuals who have brought highly favored notoriety to the state in the world of sports from the athletes who call Louisiana home. For hometown sons who have made their way into the state's Hall of Fame, others appear, according to some, to have been left out. It doesn't matter if it was during the time before or after integration, hometown athletes here from the Monroe area have shown in the minds of many, that some left out, should be in. One example is legendary football coach, Mackie Freeze. A question was posed to the Dispatch: How could an individual that has a high school football stadium named after him, not be in the state's Hall of Fame. Men like James Harris (Carroll High School), Sammie White, Larry Wright and Joe Profit, all Richwood High School standouts, are in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. However there are names like the Howell brothers, Delles, Lane and Michael who played in the NFL, all from Carroll, but absent from the Hall. Names like Pat Williams (Wossman), Matthew Williams (Carroll), Lewis "Pokey" Williams (Richardson), Richwood stars Albert Derry and Ronnie "Big Pill" Washington also come to mind among the many. There are others. If they, and others like the names of those mentioned, were good enough to play professionally, then they as high school athletes are good enough to receive special recognition in the Hall. It is something that many feel is well deserved. They all have made lifetime contributions to our collective memories, to a time when we couldn't wait until the next time, we could see them do what they did best. Show them your support and lobby for them and others that you know, that they belong in the Hall of Fame.

Photo 1960's Richwood Football Coaches- l to r Legendary Head Football Coach Mackie Freeze, the late Eugene Hughes, the late Henry Reeves, the late Harvey Simmons, the late Oscar Williams, Abe Pierce and the late John Beckwith