By Craig Brown
Recently at the beautiful Ellis Performing Arts Center in Latta, ten past and present Latta High School Coaches were inducted into the Latta Athletic Hall of Fame in the first-ever ceremony.
All inductees coached state championship programs. Four sports were represented: baseball, softball, boys basketball, and girls basketball.
Dr. John Kirby opened the event by welcoming all in attendance. Dr. Kirby introduced the events Master of Ceremonies George Liebenrood. As Liebenrood introduced the inductees, Dr. Kirby presented the awards at front stage. Some inductees had passed away or were not physically able to accept the award and family members graciously received the honors on their behalf.
The first inductee, Benjamin Forrest Carmichael, was the only coach that won in two sports, baseball 1936, 1947, 1950 and 1951. Carmichael also led the Lady Red Raiders to a 1936 basketball title.
Riley Leon Maxwell won baseball titles in 1956 and 1957. Sons Randy and Rick Maxwell received the award. Randy added a tale about his father directing his relief pitcher to warm up and ordered him several times to begin and was getting frustrated until he realized that a man was holding a gun on his pitcher. Such was baseball in Dillon County in those days. The pitcher in question was Jimmy Berry. I along with Johnnie Daniels worked with Jimmy Berry at the old A&P Grocery Store. Johnnie and I worked part -time after school, Jimmy was full-time in the meat market also working on his family farm. Jimmy has always been such an easy going person that he must have really been a great pitcher to cause a gun to be used to keep him out of the game as there could be no other reason to threaten a person of his kind nature.
As an old Wildcat, I can truthfully state that the next three inductees were often pains in the neck to the Wildcats football, basketball and baseball programs.
Earl Edward “Eddie” Rice, Jr. Boys Basketball 1963 and 1965. The 1969 Widcat basketball team was considered a freak of nature in talent and one of the few teams to take Latta twice in one season. No team in the state had their talent but they had an inexperienced football coach at the helm. The great sportsman that he was, Coach Rice came to the rescue and helped prepare the Wildcats for the long playoff run and only basketball title in Wildcat history.
Up next was Sammy Oscar “Sam” Clardy. I can never remember seeing Coach Clardy without a smile on his face. Coach Clardy led the Girl’s Basketball team to the title in 1964.
Alex Hampton “Buddy” Johnson. Coach Johnson knew several members of my family and he assisted in identifying some old photos and we met a few times at a fishing pond and talked about some of the great players from Dillon and Latta when he was actively coaching. The coach caught fish as I listened. Coach Johnson led the Red Raiders to the baseball title in 1966.
Steven A. “Steve” Smith led the Latta Vikings Basketball program to back to back titles in 2001 and 2002. He is considered one of the greats on the court.
Jeffery Paul “Jeff” Bley took the Lady Vikings Basketball Team to the title in 2007. Coach Bley is remembered by his good nature on and off the field and court.
Curtis Caldwell Jackson is a hero in all respects. The Master Sgt. served his country for 21 years in the Army and has been a great leader to the Latta ROTC program and Head Coach of the Lady Vikings Basketball team leading his girls to the title in 2014. Coach Jackson gave credit to his players, team captains and assistant coaches but gave credit to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for being where he is today.
Donald Lester “Don” Cribb is a true perfectionist in the art of high school baseball. He has seen several of his former players make it to the college ranks. Coach Cribb led the Vikings baseball team to the 2015 title. It was ladies last Friday night as the final inductee,
Stephanie Johnson Ard came forward to receive her award. Coach Ard was also the youngest inductee. Coach Ard and Coach Cribb both allow me the use of their dugouts during games easing my job greatly. Coach Ard led the Vikings Softball program to state titles in 2015 and 2017. Coach Ard thanked her players and several present and former assistant coaches for the team’s success. Coach Ard gave thanks to God for her being inducted with the legendary coaches on this night.
In closing, Dr. Kirby invited all guests to take part in refreshments served in the lobby.
Photos by Craig Brown
