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1955-56 Henderson
City High School Basketball Team
Fred Schuette, Dick Yates, Ronnie Sheffer, Dale Brown,
Junie Hall, Petie Bryant, Bill Ruff, David Eakins, Pascal Benson, Sammy Joe
Shelton, Bill Harrelson, Byron Pinson
After High School Facts:
2 Chemists, Mechanical Engineer, Dentist, Dental Professor, Physician, Radiologist, 2 attornies, 1 mathematician, U.
S. Marine Corps Master Sgt, U. S. Army
Major, CPA, High School Football & baseball Coach, Insurance claims Regional Manager, Property & Casualty Insurance Vice President, High
School guidance counselor & teacher.
These are
some very impressive credentials for a high school of 700 students from a medium sized Western Kentucky town.
And remember these guys were basketball/football/baseball/track stars, but not your average run of the mill jocks.
All of the 12
basketball players all received scholarships to different colleges in various sports.
In 1955 Tennessee Tech Coach
Johnny Oldham (a Beaver Dam, KY native would replace lengendary Coach Ed Diddle at Western Kentucky University
in 1964) stated he would take the entire Henderson Basketball team with full scholarships to play for Tennessee Tech . I would
speculate that no one could show me one other high school whose all athletes have ever been offered anything that closely
resembles that.
But then, these Henderson City student/athletes were
not your normal high school boys.
Please note that only the 1955-56 City High
team is on this page. Barret players are listed in Barret section.
Pascal Benson
Henderson
City High School
Class of 1956
Senior Guard/Forward
Football: Center
Baseball: pitcher, outfield
All-State-Football, 1st team, 1954, 1955
All-State-Basketball, 1st team, 1956
All-State-Baseball, 1st team, 1956
All-Regional-Basketball, 1st team, 1956
All-Regional-Baseball, 1st team, 1955, 1956
All-Regional-Football, 1st team, 1953, 1954, 1955
All-District-Football, 1st team, 1953, 1954, 1955
All-District-Baseball, 1st team, 1953, 1954, 1955
All-District-Basketball, 1st team, 1956
All-State Tournament 1st team, Basketball, 1956
Without a doubt Pascal Benson is the most talented athlete to
ever hail from Henderson, KY. Pascal Ray Benson still stands today as the only athlete in Kentucky
history to be named to the 1st team all-state in 3 sports in one year. A feat that is so rare, I was not able to
find any other athlete that accomplished that feat in Kentucky or any state.
Pascal was a southpaw pitcher-first baseman on the City High Flash
baseball team that went undefeated in regular season, and finished 3rd in the state baseball tournament after losing
to Murray High School, and then defeating Bell County 7-3 in the consolation game. Pascal finished his junior year
with a 9-1 record, which included a rare perfect game in a 12-0 victory in the district tournament over rival Henderson Holy
Name. Pascal also went 5 for 5 at bats in that victory, knocking in 3 base runners to help his own cause.
Pascal was a forward/guard on the 1954-55 Barret Manual basketball
team that finished third in the state with a 29-4 record, and was a center-linebacker on the undefeated City High team in
1955 (10-0) that won the "mythical" Kentucky state football title. Pascal was a starting guard/forward
on the City High basketball team that finished 29-3 and runner-up in the state tournament.
He went on to become a starting lineman at the University of Kentucky
and later coached baseball and football at the consolidated Henderson County High School.
Pascal turned down a contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956, so
he could play football for Blanton Collier at the University of Kentucky. Pascal said his only two regrets were not winning
the state basketball title, and not playing basketball for Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky. He says he was just
too beat and tired up to try to play basketball too.
Pascal received his bachelors degree in Physical education at UK
and obtained his masters degree at Murray State, and his first rank also at Murray State. Elaine, (a 1960 Henderson Holy Name
graduate) & Pascal married in 1962 and have 3 children. They have two sons Tracy, Edward, and daughter Jodie. Both
sons reside in Henderson and daughter Jodie resides in Louisville KY. His favorite memories of Henderson as a student were
obviously his sports prowess and the sock hops at City High Gymnasium after the home games.
Benson said that Bill Haley & his Comets were his favorite
singing group. Pascal retired as a teacher at Henderson County High School in 1988, and opened his own driving school the
same year. Pascal and his wife Elaine teach ballroom dancing today.
Dale
Brown
As a reserve sophomore
guard/forward on the 1955-56 City High basketball team, Dale Brown was destined for more than sports. Dale
Brown became Dr. Dale Brown as a Radiologist at Western Baptist Hospital and Lourdes hospital for over 30 years.
He graduated from the University
of Kentucky in 1962, majoring in Science. Dale graduated from the University of Kentucky Medical School in 1965 and completed
his residency in Radiology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. in 1969. After completing his residency at Vanderbilt, he
served as Assistant Professor of Radiology at the University of Kentucky and Vanderbilt University for many years. Dr. Brown
also served in the U.S. Navy, stationed at the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, S.C.
Dr. Brown held many offices during his career, including president of the Kentucky Chapter of American College of Radiology,
McCracken County Medical Society and Medical Chief of Staff of Lourdes hospital. He was the founder and the
medical director of the School of X-ray Technology at Paducah Community College and his dedication to the Medical Executive
Committee as the longest serving member.
Dr. Brown was married to Cecilia
Brown, and they had three sons, Michael, of Paducah, Scott, of Paducah and Stewart of Nashville, TN.
Dale passed away at the age
of 67 on May 20, 2007, at his home in Paducah, KY.
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Rudy C. (Petie) Bryant
Henderson City High School
Class of 1957. Junior reserve Guard
All-WKC, football 1956,
1957
all-Regional, football 1956, 1957
Kentucky all-state football 1956, 1957
all-state track & field, 1955 & 1956
MVP Sun Bowl, 1958 |
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At Henderson
City High, Bryant was a reserve guard on the 1955-56 Flash basketball team that finished second in the state tournament. Rudy C. (Petie) Bryant
was a star halfback on the undefeated 1955 team as a junior and was one of the state's premier track sprinters throughout
his prep career. Petie ran the 100 yard dash in 10 seconds flat. In his senior year Petie was named 1st team all-state in
football & track. Petie is still considered the best halfback in Henderson history.
As a freshman reserve running back at the University
of Louisville in 1958, Petie substituted for injured All-America running back All-American Lenny Lyles and ran
for one touchdown and passed for two in leading the Cardinals over Drake in the Sun Bowl. Bryant was the starting back in
his junior & senior seasons at U of L. and received all-Missouri Valley conference honors as a tailback.
Petie received his bachelor's degree in
1961 and his LLB & LLL from the University of Louisville in 1963. Today Petie is retired.
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Dave
Eakins
Henderson City High School
Class of 1957, Junior Guard
baseball: 3rd base, started
5 years
all-state first team 1956, 1957 Basketball
all-Regional first team 1954, 1956, 1957 Basketball
all-District first team 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
Basketball
all-State, 1956, 1957, baseball
all-District, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 baseball
all-Regional, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, baseball,
all-State KHSAA basketball tournament, 1955
all-State KHSAA basketball tournament, 1956
All-Ohio Valley Conference, 1961, & 1962 basketball
All-U. S. Army: 1962 & 1963 basketball
All-U. S. Armed Forces: 1962 & 1963 basketball
Super guard David Eakins, a two-time first-team all-state baseball
& basketball player is also the only player in Henderson City High School history to be named to the all-regional team
in his freshman year.
David is another one of the great all-around
athletes that has come out of this Ohio River town. David's family located to Henderson while he was in the 5th grade from
Southern Indiana. Eakins & team-mate Petie Bryant led the Jefferson Grade School to the city championship. The reigning
champions of the Henderson elementary schools was the team from the 7th Street School, lead by Byron Pinson, Sammy Joe Shelton
& Pascal Benson. Eakins and Bryant would join Pinson, Shelton & Benson to help build one of the
best years in Henderson KY all-around sports history, the school year of 1955-56 in football, basketball, baseball & track-field.
Dave was the play-making guard on
the 1955-56 team that was runner-up in the state title game, losing to Carr Creek 72-68. David was also a starting guard as
a sophomore on the Barret 1954-55 basketball team, and a starting guard as a freshman in 1953-54. David was the assists leader
at Barret & City High for all 4 years of his high school career. Eakins was virtually unstoppable from any place on the
court, and is the all-time assists leader in all of Henderson area high schools.
As a senior David led the flash
in scoring with over 20 points per game. He teamed with seniors Bill Ruff, Petie Bryant, Bill Harralson and "Junie" Hall and
ended up with a 18-7 season. One of the most accurate early "jump shooters," Eakins was deadly from outside and quick on the
drive, and could pass with the best, throwing bullet-like passes into Pinson.
Dave was also a gifted baseball
player starting as a 3rd baseman from the 8th grade through his senior year, and played football as a freshman and a
sophomore. Dave is the only player in Henderson City high school history to start 5 years on a varsity team and along with John
Stewart of Henderson Holy Name who started 5 years for the Holy Name basketball team. Eakins said that Byron Pinson was
the nucleus of the 1955-56 team, adding that Byron was an outstanding high school center for being only 6' 3". He
added that Pinson had good court savvy at all times, and unbelievable hand-eye co-ordination being Pinson's
biggest attribute.
David is one of the few freshmen
that has ever been named to an all-regional basketball team as a freshman, in Kentucky or in any other state. What is astounding
about this fact, is that David didn’t start until late in the season, when he replaced an ailing senior Nibby King
as starting guard. Keeping in mind that Eakins was still only a 14 year old freshman. Eakins was the starting guard from that
game on and never looked back.
David chose the University of Kentucky,
where legendary basketball coach, Adolph Rupp was the head coach, and personally recruited Dave to play for the Wildcats.
Eakins was awarded a basketball scholarship to the University of Kentucky as a freshman, where Harry Lancaster was
his Freshman coach. Not seeing eye to eye with Coach Lancaster, whom preferred guard Dickie Parsons of Corbin over Eakins,
Dave transferred to Tennessee Tech, where he was a starting guard and leading scorer for 3 years and receiving
his degree in 1962. Under NCAA David had to sit out a full school year after transferring to Tennessee Tech University, whuch
is located in Cookeville Tennessee.
David served a 2-year tour in the
U. S. Army from 1962-1964 while serving as a 2nd Lt. While in the Army, for only a few months David was forced
by his Company C. O. to play basketball again and played for the Ft. Benning Georgia Army team, averaging well over 25
points per game. According to Eakins, the C. O. called Eakins into his office, and said he heard that he was a former high
school & college basketball star, and told him he wanted an officer to be represented on the team and that he will
play on the Ft. Benning basketball team. David was named to the All-Army in for 1963 & 1964, and was named to
the all U. S. Armed Forces all-star squad in 1964.
After his duty with Uncle Sam, David
settled down in again in Cookeville Tennessee. After Eakins finished his tour in the U. S. Army, Dave worked for
the IRS while studying for his CPA exam, where he is a CPA in Winchester TN today.
His best memories are 1955-56 basketball
& baseball teams. David and his wife, the former Frances Clark, HHS class of 1958 have resided in Decherd, TN for 45 years.
David & Frances just celebrated their 50th anniversary on August 3rd, 2009. Both of their sons, David Jr. & Richard
live in Tennessee, not far from the hometown of Decherd.
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Byron
(Junie) Hall Jr.
Henderson City High School
Class of 1957, Junior Reserve
Guard
all-district, 1956, 1957 football
all-regional, 1956, 1957 football
all-district, 1957 basketball
all-regional, 1957 basketball
all-state. 1957 basketball
Byron (Junie, short for Junior) Hall Jr. was one of City
High’s best all-time shooting guards, and probably would have started on most teams, but when you play behind such a
talented group of players such as Dave Eakins, Sammy Joe Shelton, & Pascal Benson, you have to pay have to
your dues. But his arrival as a starter/star finally came as a senior, where he averaged 18 points per game for
the 1957 City High Flash and was named to the all-state team for his efforts.
Unfortunatly for Junie he was still in
the shadows of 2 time all-state performer Eakins and one of Henderson's greatest all-around athletes, Sammy Joe Shelton. Junie
also played as a safety, and as a receiver for the Henderson City High's 1955 State champion football team.
After graduating from City High
in 1957, Junie attended Murray State College for 2 years, and then spent 3 years in the U. S. Army.
Junie retired as Division Claims
Manager for American States Ins Co. in the Dallas, Texas Division. He served in this capacity for 18 years until
his retirement in 1995.
He married Mary Jane Lisman
of Sturgis in 1963, and has one son John David Hall, who also resides in San Antonio, Texas.
Junie’s favorite singers were
Elvis, Fats Domino, and the Platters. His only regrets were not hitting the books harder, and not winning the state basketball
championship in 1956. |
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Bill
Harralson
Henderson City High School
Class of 1957, Junior Reserve Forward/Center
Bill Harralson was a 6' 5" reserve center that played on both the Barret Manual
(1954-55) & City High teams (1955-56 & 1956-57 seasons) basketball. Bill also played football & track for
the Flash. Harralson attended Western Kentucky on a football scholarhip and played in his freshman
& sophomore years.
Harralson retired as a major (O-4), in
the U. S. Army in 1987. After retiring from the Army, Bill was appointed the Public Affairs (civilian) Officer
at Ft. Campbell, KY until his death on September 12 1996. Bill died from from cancer as a result from being exposed
to Agent Orange in Viet-Nam. Bill is survived by wife Greta (Sutton) of 34+ years (Bill passed away 5 days short of their
35th wedding anniversary).
The Henderson native, Harralson
& wife Greta have one son Billy that resides in Hopkinsville, KY. Greta has since moved back
her hometown of Henderson in 1998 and resided there until early 2009, when she returned to her native Cadiz
in Trigg County. |
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Byron Pinson
Henderson City High School
Class of 1956, Senior Center
Baseball: 1st base
Track: Relay team
all-state center, 1955-56 basketball
all-state forward, 1954-55 basketball
all-state tournament first team, 1954-55, 1955-56 basketball
all-Regional, 1954-55, 1955-56 basketball
all-district, 1954, 1955, 1956 basketball
all-Regional, 1954-55, 1955-56 baseball
all-district, 1954, 1955, 1956 baseball
Southern Conference Freshman of the year, 1957
basketball
all-FreshmanTeam Southern Conference, 1957 basketball
all-Southern Conference: 1958, 1959, 1960 basketball
Southern Conference Player of the year, 1960 basketball
State of South Carolina athlete
of the year, 1960
Two
time all-state first team performer Byron Pinson, a 6’3" forward/center led the 1955-56 City High Flash team in scoring
& rebounds. Byron was a middle-distance runner on the track team that finished fourth
in the state his senior year and a first baseman on the baseball team that made it to the state semifinals and finished third
best in Kentucky.
Byron went
on to become an All-Southern Conference player at Furman University, where he scored 1,598 points in three seasons and
in his sophomore season (21 points per game) was named the state of South Carolina's collegiate player of the year. Byron's started at Furman was as a forward,
averaging 21 points per game in his sophomore season, which was 2nd only behind Southern conference leader All-American Jerry
West of West Virginia. Pinson averaged 15 points as a junior, and 16 as a senior, and graduated from Furman with
honors in 1960, majoring in mathematics.
Though he was overlooked
in the NBA draft, Byron’s talents were good enough to earn him a tryout with the St. Louis Hawks for the 1960-1961
NBA season. Byron was offered a contract with the St. Louis Hawks, but declined it. Byron told the Hawk's management he could
make double what they offered working for his grandfather. Pinson also played along side his younger brother, Bobby Pinson
(a 1957 HHS grad) for several years.
After graduating
from Furman University with honors, Byron settled in the St. Louis Missouri area and worked for his grandfather and later
bought the family business, Steger Office Furniture. Today he & his wife Phyllis of 50 years, (married 8-15-58) reside
in Warrenville, MO. Their two children, son Scott lives in St. Louis, & daughter Susan lives in Springfield
Missouri.
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Bill
Ruff
Henderson City High School
Class of 1957, Junior Reserve Guard
all-district, 1955. 1956, 1957 track
all-regional, 1956, 1957 track
all-state 1956, 1957 track
1956 KHSAA Pole Vault
Champion
1957 KHSAA Pole Vault Champion
all-district, 1957 basketball
all-regional, 1957 basketball
Bill Ruff was a reserve guard on the Barret High
team as a sophomore, a reserve guard on the state runner-up team in 1956, and a starter that averaged in double figures along
with fellow seniors David Eakins, Petie Bryant, Junie Hall, and center Bill Harralson. If Bill had attended any other
school when he was an underclassman, he would have been a potential all-state performerin both basketball and
football. Bill was named to the 1956 & 1957 Kentucky track & field all-state team. He won the state pole vault championship
in both his junior & senior years as a member of the Flash track team.
Bill attended one year at Murray State,
and then opted for a career in the Marine Corps. Inch for inch, with Bill standing at 5'5" is probably the best athlete
in this group of exceptionally talented athletes. Bill starred in track, football, & basketball for the fine Flash
teams, at Barret & City High school.
Bill enlisted in the U. S. Marine
Corps in 1959 and served 2 tours of duty in Viet-Nam. Bill retired from the Marine Corps in 1979 as a Master-Sgt. (E-8).
Today Bill lives with his
wife in San Diego, Ca. and still very active in sports. Ruff shoots a mean round of golf today, usually 6-7 over par. His
favorite golf course is the Black Mountain Country Club in Henderson Nevada.
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Fred Schuette
Henderson City High School
Class of 1956, Senior Forward
Dr. Fred Schuette, who played forward on the Barret & City High basketball
teams, attended the University of Kentucky and ran high hurdles in his freshman year on the UK track team.
Fred graduated from UK with his bachelors
and Masters degrees in civil engineering. He later graduated from the University of Louisville Dental School.
Dr. Fred Schuette is now teaching at the U of L School of Dentistry and presently lives in Louisville. His mother Marie
Schuette was my 7th grade English teacher at Barret Junior High School and his dad held the Kentucky state Pole
Vaulting record at 11’ 10 ¾" from 1933 until 1958 for 25 years when it was tied.
Fred still resides in Louisville
today, with his wife Silvia of 48 years. The Shuettes have 2 children, Edwin & Paula, who also live in the Louisville area.
Elvis Presley still remains as Fred’s all-time favorite singer. |
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Ronnie Sheffer
Henderson
City High School
Class of 1956, Reserve guard
all-district, football Quarterback 1954, 1955
all-regional,
football Quarterback 1954, 1955
all-state football Quarterback 1954, 1955
all-district, baseball 1955, 1956
all-regional,
baseball, 1955, 1956
Senior Class President, Western Kentucky,
1960
Ronnie Sheffer was the starting Quarterback
on the state championship team of 1955. Ronnie was also a reserve guard on the 1955-56 basketball team. Ronnie received his
bachelor's degree from Western Kentucky, while on a baseball & football scholarship there. Ronnie served as class President
during his senior year at Western Kentucky. Ronnie lettered in football & baseball at Western Kentucky.
Sheffer served in the U. S. Army from 1960 to 1964, achieving the rank of Captain. After his stint in the armed forces, Ronnie
attended law school at the University of Kentucky. Ronnie married former City High cheerleader & the 1957 City High senior
class president, Anne Shaver. They have resided in Louisville since 1966. Ronnie's favorite pastime is flyfishing with close
friend & former University of Louisville Cardinals Coach Denny Crum.
Sammy Joe Shelton
Henderson City High School
Class of 1956, Senior Guard
all-district, 1955, 1956 baseball
all-regional, 1955, 1956
baseball
all-state honorable mention, 1955, 1956 baseball
all-district, 1954, 1955 football
all-regional,
1954, 1955 football
all-state, 1956 Track
all-regional, 1956 Track
all-district, 1956 Track
all-district,
1956 basketball
Member of the state 4X100 relay team, 1956
Junior Class President, Barret 1955
Senior Class President, HHS 1956
A starter in all 4 major sports makes this
young man an extremely rare individual. When I visited (or should I say sneaked in, or is it snuck in before I got caught)
the City High dressing room prior to the games, Sammy Joe would give me a burr rub on my head for good luck. Then Assistant
Coaches Don Chapman and Don Shelton would chase me out of the dressing room prior to the game.
Sammy Joe Shelton was an outstanding guard on the Barret Purple Flash & City High Flash teams and starred for the basketball,
baseball, football, and track teams. Sammy was simply a victim of being overshadowed by so many other great athletes on this
team. Sammy's talents were good enough to receive an offer for a full scholarship to Western Kentucky, Tennessee Tech &
Murray State in basketball. Sammy Joe was a teammate of all-American Quarterback and future Dallas Cowboys star Don Meredith
at SMU (Southern Methodist University) in Dallas Texas, and had dual scholarships in baseball and football fame as a halfback-kick
return specialist & as a punter. Sammy Joe was also the senior class President in 1956.
Shelton
was a starting halfback on the undefeated City High Flash football team, starting guard on the state runner-up basketball
team, starting center fielder and leading hitter on the state third-place baseball team, and a long jumper, and a member of
the 4 X 100 relay sprint team that won the state championship in that event for the fourth place in the Kentucky State track
meet. He led the 1956 City High Flash baseball team in hitting (.456) enroute to an undefeated regular season, and a 3rd place
finish in the KHSAA state baseball tournament. Sammy was offered a pro contract with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball club
in 1956, but spurned the pro offer in lieu of a college degree. Sammy Joe was also the first athlete to letter in all
4 sports during his senior year at City High, and the last player to letter in 4 sports at the defunct Barret High as a junior.
Shelton was the 4th member of the 4 X 100 relay team to win the state championship in that event.
The other member were Byron Pinson, Petie Bryant and Bill Ruff.
Sammy Joe was the first 18 year
old to register to vote in the state of Kentucky. Sammy is also a member of the Kentucky Colonels. Sammy Joe served 2 years
in the U. S. Army as a 1st Lt. in the armored division.
He majored in Industrial management at
SMU and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Shelton retired as executive vice-president in 1995 after a 32-year career
with Aetna Property & Casualty Insurance Company. Sammy Joe (nicknamed Snowball by Barret Center Don Gish) today lives
with his wife Betty of 45 years in Richardson, Texas. Their son also lives in their adopted Richardson, Texas hometown. Sammy
Joe’s best memories of those teams are that they beat archrival Owensboro Senior Red-Devils in all 3 games in that fantastic
1955-56 basketball season, beat the Red Devils in football, and whipped the Red Devils in baseball, and out-pointed the Owensboro
Red Devils track team 3 times. All of those victories over the Owensboro Senior Red Devils were an extremely rare feat for
any Henderson team. (Now, this guy knew his priorities). I cannot recall a year that the Henderson teams dominated the
Red Devils like they did in that fabulous 1955-56 high school season. Good memories Sammy Joe.
Dick Yates
Barret Manual Training High School
Class of 1955, reserve
forward
reserve forward, 1954-55 Barret Manual basketball
team,
reserve forward, 1955-56 City High basketball team.
All-State-Football, 1st team, 1955
All-Regional-Football,
1st team, 1954, 1955
All-District-Football, 1st team, 1954, 1955
I have been notified that Richard "Dick"
Earl Yates passed away. Dick was reserve forward on the 1954-55 Barret Manual basketball team, and a reserve forward on the
1955-56 City High basketball team. He was also an all-state & all-regional receiver on the 1955 state champions football
team.
I will add more information when it becomes available.
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