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SPORTS NEWS FOR
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2001
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Rebel Touchdown Club Presents 2001 J. A. Abernathy
Awards |
Each year the Touchdown Club selects individuals and
a business to receive the J. A. Abernathy award. The
award is given to those who have gone the extra mile
to support the Rebel Football Program.
J. A. Abernathy is remembered in McKenzie for his
dedication to athletics. He was a charter member of
the original Rebel Booster Club, which he helped to
form in the late 1960's to give the athletics in
McKenzie those "extras" that are needed to make a
program successful. When the coaches approached J. A.
about helping to get needed items, he was tenacious in
his efforts. Many will remember "Ab" explaining the
request to them while looking over the top of his
glasses that sat on the end of his nose. He would kind
of bump you with his forearm and say, "you know what I
mean?" When it came to the kids, he would not take no
for an answer. He was as dedicated a fan as he was a
booster, and his unmistakable voice could always be
heard at all football games.
In 2001, the giving spirit of J. A. Abernathy is still
alive in McKenzie. This year, the Touchdown Club has
voted four individuals and one business to receive the
award. Those recipients are:
Bobby and Emily Young: Bobby and Emily have become a
very integral part of McKenzie's football program.
They have put in many extra hours on football related
projects and are sticklers for accuracy.
When fans buy a program at the game, they are arguably
buying the best high school football program in the
area. This program is the result of many hours of ad
sales, layout changes and proofreading done by the
Youngs. In addition to their work on the program, they
are also involved in contacting many of McKenzie's
local businesses for renewals of the field signs.
Bobby has done extensive work at the field house,
painting and also building the weight board that shows
the progress of our Rebel players in the weight room.
He is also responsible for last years much needed
renovation of the press box. He has painted most of
the stadium facilities at least once, much of it at
his own expense.
Bobby has served as president of the Touchdown Club in
the last five years, and Emily will be serving again
this year as treasurer. Emily had the monstrous job of
reconciling ticket sales during the fundraiser the
club held in May.
Bobby works at Norandal, and Emily is a Vice President
of McKenzie Banking Company.
Chuck Gaskins: Then the Touchdown Club decided to have
a project that would raise $16,000 to help fund the
new fieldhouse addition, no one realized how
complicated the logistics would be. Finding a place to
feed 500 people in the comfort of air-conditioning and
coordinating a caterer would be quite a task.
Chuck Gaskins stepped up and made the problems look
run of the mill. Chuck procured the Carroll County
Civic Center, and helped to find a caterer. He
provided and set up the sound system for the event,
and his daughter, Kimberly Faye entertained the crowd
while they ate. He was also instrumental in getting
several door prizes donated for the event. Chuck is
the head of maintenance at Murray in McKenzie. He also
runs Whirlwind Productions with his wife Cindy and is
enrolled in the Success Program at Bethel College.
Chuck and Cindy have been very active in all Touchdown
Club projects.
Saudia Akin: Saudia is the manager of Money Tree in
McKenzie. She has been active in the Touchdown Club
for several years, always contributing her help and
talents to fundraising and work projects.
This year when the club voted to undertake the
ambitious project of raising money to add a weight
room to the existing fieldhouse, many obstacles had to
be overcome.
The fundraiser called for 250 door prizes to be given
away. Saudia was instrumental in the procurement of
many of these prizes. It is not easy to ask a business
for a donation during a depressed economy, but a
determined Saudia Akin proved once again that the
generous local business people are the backbone of the
community. Saudia also worked with others to "package"
and log the prizes for the event.
In addition to her work in the Touchdown Club, Saudia
will also serve as President of the Home Run Club for
the next baseball season.
The business voted to receive the J. A. Abernathy
award this year is Campbell's Well Drilling.
The folks at Campbell's Well Drilling have been
involved in supporting the athletic programs in
McKenzie for well over a decade. Eddie and Letha
Basford began their tenure when son Russell played
football in the 1980's and they remained active in the
1990's when their daughter, Kerri, participated in
sports. Pat and Beverly McNeil were also very active
in the activities of the club when their son Ryan and
daughter Leslie were in school. Beverly served as
treasurer of the club for many years.
If you have noticed the Rebel man painted on the
football field, then you have seen the results of
Keith and Betsy Campbell's efforts. They have spent
many hours spraying red, gray and black paint on the
grass so the field would be presentable for Friday
night games.
Last year when Coach Comer asked for a goal post on
the practice field, Keith and sons brought pieces of
pipe, a welding rig and a backhoe to the high school.
They laid the pipes out in the parking lot, welded
them and in a matter of hours had the goal post set in
the ground. Campbell's Well Drilling donated all time
and materials.
Campbell's Well Drilling also framed and secured the
milestone sign to the end of the home stands--once
again donating all time and material. Each year when
the field signs are put up, Keith and Betsy are there.
Betsy's artwork can be seen in various places around
the field, and you can bet that when the 2001 season
kicks off, Keith will be found manning the grill at
the tailgate parties before the game.
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Steve McCadams Casting for A Cure Draws more than 350
children |
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
The second annual Steve McCadams Casting For A Cure
Fishing Rodeo attracted more than 350 children last
Saturday to Carroll Lake. Nationally known outdoorsman
Steve McCadams, a McKenzie native and a cancer
survivor hosts the event along with the management of
Carroll Lake, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and
a lot of McCadams' friends and acquaintances. Proceeds
from the event go to the American Cancer Society.
McCadams will present a check for the proceeds during
the Carroll-North Relay for Life event this Friday
night at the McKenzie Recreation Park.
"We hope to double last year's contribution," said
McCadams during the fishing rodeo. He suggested an
amount of $5,000 to the Cancer Society this year.
Volunteers solicited funds for the event to give every
children, up to age 15, a prize and cash donations to
be given to research for cancer.
This year's honorary hostess was Alex Bell of
McKenzie. Alex, a cancer survivor, graciously served
her role during the Saturday event and even enjoyed
some fishing as well.
Most of the children participating in the event were
from the immediate geographic area. However, McCadams
asked children to come to the stage who had traveled
the most distance. Daniel Tracher of Pennsylvania won
the prize for the most distant, with Cole Jordan
traveling from Louisiana. Two young ladies had
traveled from Mississippi.
The rodeo was filmed by Tennessee Wild Side, a
television show that airs on Tennessee's Public
Television.
McKenzie Bass Club hosted the Bassmaster Casting
Contest, a competition to judge the accuracy of a
cast. Winners in the age 7-10 year old event were 4th
Brandon Sellers, 3rd Brian Cobb, 2nd Leah Clemens, and
1st Corey Manns. Cory will advance to the state
competition. In the 11-14 year old category, 4th place
was won by Daniel South, 3rd by Jeff Riggins, 2nd by
Max Scott, and 1st by Nicholas Riggs. Riggs will also
advance to state competition.
Winners were announced in the fishing contest. In the
age 0-5 category, Tristen Lowe of McKenzie received
the most points and Collin Smith of McKenzie had the
biggest fish. Age 6-8 category, Jimmy Camper of Paris
had the most points, and Tyler Freeland of Jackson had
the biggest fish. Age 9-12 category, Winter Strayhorn
of McKenzie had the most points, and the Shay
Barksdale of McKenzie had the biggest fish; Age 13-15
category - Joseph Clemens of McKenzie had the most
points and Spencer Ezell of Huntingdon had the biggest
fish. Winners of each category received a bicycle.
Craig Hobson of Murray Outdoor Products presented the
grand prize of a go-cart, manufactured by Murray
Outdoor Products of McKenzie. During a random drawing,
ten-year-old Christopher Sean Brannan of McKenzie won
the go-cart. He is the son of Tim Brannan.
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David Duncan to Coach in Shrine East-West High School
Football Classic |
David Duncan, football coach at McKenzie High
School, will serve as an assistant coach for the West
Team. The other coaches for the West Team are Tom
Moore: Brentwood Academy, Nashville, serving as head
coach; Terry Arrington: Kenwood, Clarksville,
assistant head coach; Mike Settles: Davidson Academy,
Nashville; Bobby Alston: Memphis University School;
Major Wright: Memphis University School and Tim
Morris: Cordova-Memphis. The game will be held at
Middle Tennessee State University Stadium on Saturday,
June 30 at 7:00 p.m. Fox Sports Net South will
televise the game in Tennessee and six other
southeastern states. The game will, also, be broadcast
on the Tennessee Radio Network.
Game Chairman, Frank Cochran of Nashville, said that
the Shrine is pleased that these coaches, with their
experience and ability, have accepted our invitation
to participate in the East-West Game. The state is
divided in half and outstanding high school coaches
are selected from the western half and the eastern
half.
The purpose of the game is to showcase the states
outstanding high school football players and to raise
funds for the operation of the 22 Shriners hospitals
for children located throughout North America. The
Shrine's Burn and Orthopedic Hospitals provide free
medical care for children under 18 years of age.
Presently there are over 3,000 children from Tennessee
that are receiving free medical care at a Shrine
Hospital.
The Shrine Game is sponsored by, Al Chymia Shrine of
Memphis; Alhambra Chattanooga; Al Menah Nashville;
Kerbela Knoxville; Jerico Kingsport, and their members
from counties throughout Tennessee.
Tickets for the game are $6.00 per ticket and may be
purchased from local Shriners, or purchased at the
MTSU Stadium gates on the day of the game.
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