OF to recreate athletic 'Wall of Honor'

 

Last updated 8/7/2013 at Noon

Coach Josh Smalley, Orangefield athletic director shows off a few of the pictures that have been submitted for display on the Athletic “Wall of Honor.”

The Orangefield Athletic Department is asking for the community’s help to rebuild its “Wall of Honor” that will celebrate the accomplishments of their athletes, past and present.

“We’re just trying to bring back a little tradition and show our current athletes what our former athletes have accomplished,” said Josh Smalley, athletic director at Orangefield. “Right now we don’t have anything to show that.”

Smalley said a fire in the 90’s destroyed the memorabilia they previously had.

They are seeking photos for those athletes who have either been named All-State or have gone on to play at the next level.

“I’ve had a lot of people step up and try to help me contact some people.”

“I’ve got 10 to 12 pictures right now. I’d like to have as many as we can get.” He said he’s counting on media getting the word out to help get pictures in.

“We’re going to find a spot in the field house to put all the guys,” said Smalley. The Girls’ Wall of Honor will be in the new gymnasium. “The girls don’t really come in here that much; it’s more of a football field house than anything. They spend most of their time in the gym.”

“Ron Linscomb was inducted into the University of North Texas Hall of Honor,” said Smalley. Linscomb was a long jumper for Orangefield In the 50s or 60s.

“He called and we had a good conversation about what he did in Orangefield and how proud he was that he was going to be on the wall. It’s good. I’m excited for those guys, excited for our kids too, because right now there is nothing that showcases what everybody has done.

“That’s all we are trying to do,” said Smalley, “show them Orangefield is producing stellar athletes.”

He mentioned Chad Coulter not only graduated from Orangefield but also coached at Orangefield and still teaches for the district. “He’s an All-State player, so he’s fired up about being on the wall, because he has two kids going through the school. One is a freshman. He can come see his dad on the wall.”

“We’re having a lot of positive feedback from it. Some of the kids that might have been All-State have passed away. It’s a way to remember them.

“Brian Fisher graduated from Orangefield in ’94. He was an All-State baseball player and played college baseball and he’s no longer with us, but his dad brought his picture the other day and you could see the glow in his dad’s eyes to know his son is going to be back on the wall. It was important to him.” Smalley said he told the dad when he got the pictures up he would call Mr. Fisher so he could come back and see Brian’s picture on the wall.

“You could tell it meant a lot to his dad.”

“It isn’t just football; it can be anything, baseball, basketball, track. We’ve had a lot of pole vaulting state champions. Bradley Peveto was an 800 meter champion and he won a national championship with LSU as a coach. Boy, I’d like to have that picture. I think that’s pretty neat.”

“That’s one of my favorite ones right there,” said Smalley, referring to a picture of Wayne Guidry sailing through the air while pole vaulting in Austin with the State Capitol building pictured in the background. “It’s a pretty neat little picture.” Guidry was a multi-year state champion.

So far only one female athlete has responded to his request. “We’ve got feelers out to Barbara Hickey, Sondra Ancelot and others,” said Smalley. “We’ve just had two girls leave this year that are going to play volleyball, Riley Granger and Casey LeBlanc. We’re going to get them involved.”

There is no deadline for submissions. “As soon as we feel we have enough, we are going to start putting them on the wall, but it can be continuous. Anytime they want to drop them by the field house or bring them to me personally, however they want to handle it, just get me the 8x10 picture and we’ll frame it and put it on the wall for them. I need the name, sport and what year they were All-State or state champ, whatever their credentials are.”

For any questions, please call the field house at 735-4504 or email [email protected].

Coach Josh Smalley, Orangefield athletic director shows off a few of the pictures that have been submitted for display on the Athletic “Wall of Honor.”

 

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