The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for March 16, 2020

15 YEARS AGO

MARCH 17, 2005

This stringer of bass was caught on Sun., March 13, by Ronnie Poindexter and Marion Oliver at the Monroe County Lake. Obviously fishing is really getting, better as the weather improves. The lake is located at 3596 County Road 50 in Beatrice. Hours are 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. right now and are closed on Mondays except for holiday Mondays.

Forest Baggett was a very happy boy when he caught this over five pound bass out of his PaPa’s pond a few days ago. He loves fishing and hunting with his dad, Tommy Baggett.

40 YEARS AGO

MARCH 20, 1980

Tuesday Is Keith Pugh Day: Keith Pugh will have his “day” next Tuesday. The Crimson Tide’s star pass receiver from Evergreen will be honored as friends and Alabama alumni of Conecuh and Monroe County join in observing “Keith Pugh Day,” officially so proclaimed by the Conecuh County Commission and the Evergreen City Council. Keith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Pugh, Evergreen, will have several teammates with him at a reception to be held Tuesday afternoon from 4 until 5:30 o’clock at the Activity Building of the Evergreen Baptist Church. A banquet in his honor will be held that night at 7:30 at Holiday Inn with Alabama’s famed Head Coach Paul (Bear) Bryant as principal speaker. Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key will be master of ceremonies. A small number of tickets ($15 per person) are still available at the office of attorney Tommy Chapman.

Keith… starred as a wide receiver for Coach Paul (Bear) Bryant’s football team for three years, the last two as a starter and the first year as backup for All American and now pro star Ozzie Newsome.

Eddie Salter won third place in the State Turkey Calling Contest held March 11 in Jackson and was awarded the handsome trophy he is holding. The championship was won by Eddie’s uncle, Hanis Williams of Bay Minette who is the brother of Mrs. Lucille – C.W. (Bud) Salter of Evergreen. Hanis also won the World Championship in Mobile on March 13.

Cage tournament set in Castleberry: The Conecuh County High School will sponsor a Community Basketball Tournament on Sat., March 22, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Please contact Preston Fluker or William Griffin if you would like to participate.

An exhibition by Karate Black Belt Holder Chet Waller will be just part of the entertainment Friday night when Sparta Academy hosts its third annual Talent Show and Contest at the school gymnatorium.

65 YEARS AGO

MARCH 17, 1955

Spring Training Drills Are In Full Swing Now: Fifty-two boys are participating in spring drills at Evergreen High now. Spring training began last Wednesday, March 9, and will continue until March 30. Twelve lettermen greeted Coach Hart and Coach Parsons for initial practices.

The twelve lettermen who are returning are Ronnie Edson, Wayne Frazier, Murray Johnson, Tim Boykin, Walter Carrier, Robert Mason, Buck Lewis, Milton Moorer, Neil Hyde, Eugene Hyde, Bert Cook and Tommy Watts. Randy White is also a returning letterman, but is not taking spring training.

Other boys reporting for practice are Donnie Hardin, James Nelson, Russell Deason, Bobby English, Robert Ellington, Bert Tuggle, Harry Hooks, Billy Grace, Robert Smith, Byron Warren, Palmer Smith, Leon McKenzie, Hub Culbreth, Buddy Zukowiski, George Bolton, Bobby Kendall, Paul Pace, Clinton Claybrook, Howard Claybrook, Mabry Huggins, Jimmy Bell, Bobby Joyner, Stanley Hardin, Allen Hunter, Bobby Hanks, Bill Ansley, Sid Frazier, John Frazier, Dale Wiggins, Ray Wallace, Richard Gecke, Dicky Tuggle, Kirvin Hendrix, Connie Rigsby, Dale Mathews, John Foley, John Feagin, Mickey Joyner and Jack Gladwell.

The boys have been divided into two squads, the varsity squad, which is composed of the older and more experienced boys under Coaches Hart and Parsons and the “Bee” squad under the direction of assistant coaches Ward Alexander, Richard Taylor, Wayne Douglas and Jimmy Frazier.

The Repton High School Bulldogs started spring football last week with only eight lettermen returning.

Lettermen returning are Ray Blackwell, Eddie Kelly, Burt Stacey, Terry Nall in the backfield; while Gerald Owens, Jerry Nall, Lowell Lee and Thomas Salter are returning linemen.

(Other players on the team included William Ashcraft, Cleveland Morris, Douglas Waters, Selwyn Roberson, Harold Smith, Willie Crutchfield, Franklin Baggett, Glenn Nall, James Lee, Frank Calvert, Johnny Owens, Claston Johnson, Ronald Shumack and Antel Brantley.