LOOKING BACK

 It was August 1958; three young men were doing parking meter patrol (that was when you draped yourself over a parking meter in front of the Lunch Queen Restaurant and looked cool while cars drove up and down Main Street).

One of these three young freshmen to be was Rodger Bird and he suggested to the other two that “they go out for football”.

The other two, Ralph Hodge and Phil Henderlight agreed, and with Rodger confidently being the spokesman of the trio approached Coach Walt Green by meeting the coach as he came on the field that day and saying, “Walt, we would like to go out for football” to which Coach Green replied “I guess that’s OK, but don’t you ever call me Walt again, I am Coach Green to you.”

That was fifty-three years ago and Rodger still refers to the coach with due respect.

On October 12^th through October 15^th, those three gentlemen, Bird, Hodge and Henderlight will gather with teammates from the undefeated Corbin Redhound football team of 1960 at a lodge near Tompkinsville.

The 1960 team gather will follow the same type of gathering as that of the 1955 team, which is scheduled for October 9-11 at the same location.

If you were a member of the 1960 team, Barry Brooks or Rodger Bird will contact you soon, if you have not already been contacted.

This past Saturday I attended a memorial service for a legendary Redhound Bobby Coleman who recently passed away. It was fitting that the service was held at Edwards Gym.

Bobby had played as a freshman-starting center in the first game ever played in the Edwards Gym. Bob Lockhart, who did his usual wonderful job, conducted the service.

Mr. Coleman was a beautiful person and those who were acquainted with him were better from the experience.

2011 Redhounds

The Corbin Redhounds football team took it on the chin last Thursday in a Pan-O-Rama in Harlan. The Harlan County Black Bears did a number on the locals, 35-12.

It seemed as if the Hounds energy level was low as a team.

It is to be remembered that this is a young Redhound team and will be a work in progress as the season wears on.

It is also to be taken into consideration that Harlan County is a 5A team and is a recent consolidation of Cumberland High School, Cawood High School and Evarts High School, which have each been a handful in the past.

Now a few years after the merger and under the coaching eye of Tom Larkey, the Black Bears may truly be the new “Beast of the east”.

I am very excited for Friday night and the season opener at Clark County and I feel we will see a Redhound team more energetic and ready to play.

The legends of baseball

Bill Poole, one of the last baseball players to ever come out of Corbin, was in town last week and after the passing of his wife is considering a move back to Corbin. I was fortunate enough to spend time with Bill and Paul Jones at lunch and these two guys know and love the game of baseball more than anyone I know. Names were bouncing off the walls.

Jerry Carey, David Miller, Ron “Cruiser” Boone, Bruce Calder, Dick Taylor, Noah Bryant, Pee Wee Coldiron and Tony Turrentine. Between Bill and Paul, I think they know everyone whoever played baseball in Corbin.

‘Hounds ranked high

According to a coach’s poll, the Redhounds are ranked number six in 3A behind district rival Bell County, who is ranked number 3.

This week’s opponent Clark County is not rated in the top 10 of 6A. But you can be sure they have a strong team.

I love the aggressive schedule for this year’s football Redhounds. Next year, I would like to see them work Middlesboro in, as they are the biggest rivals for the Redhounds over the years.