SUPER BOWL LVII

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL QB’S ON BIG STAGE

The two youngest quarterbacks ever will face off in next Sunday’s SuperBowl. Jalen Hurts, 24, of Philadelphia and Patrick Mahomes, 27, of Kansas City. Both are native Texans and were high school quarterbacks. For the first time the Super Bowl will feature two Black quarterbacks and also two sibling brothers will play against each in a Super Bowl. Texas high schools developed the wide open passing game. Ronnie Thompson, a high school coach at Thomas Jefferson, in Port Arthur, had his quarterback throw passes before it was cool in the Lone Star State. Thompson’s quarterback was a youngster named Todd Dodge. Passing made him a high profile recruit for the Texas Longhorns. Dodge, all these years later, recently retired from coaching. He won seven state championships, five at Southlake Carroll, where his son Riley is now head coach. Todd’s other three championships were at Austin West Lake and produced the first two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks from Texas, Drew Brees and Nick Foles. The most recent Super Bowl winning Q.B. from Texas is Mathew Stafford, from Highland Park high school. In one five year stretch at South Carroll, the boy from Port Arthur, Todd Dodge, had a 79-1 record in the state’s largest classification. Dodge considers Thompson, his high school coach, the father of the passing game in Texas. Dodge played a large part in the transformation of high school football around 1980. Mahomes and Dodge both say the expansion of off season 7 on 7 football is a significant part of the development of Texas quarterbacks, along with dozens of tournaments around the state and the championship at Texas A&M. Mohomes has a point, he says, “Texas after Sunday will be the home to four of the past six Super Bowl winning quarterbacks.” Who will be the fourth, Mahomes or Hurts.

CONDOLENCES

I was saddened to learn that Lee Samuel “Sonny” Mills had passed away on January 20, a month shy of his 95th birthday. He was a 1946 Stark high grad. After graduation he served three years in the United States Army then attended SMU. For the next 40 years he worked for Gulf States, both Orange and Beaumont plants. Several years ago his wife of 68 years, Arlene, who was Burnell Luther’s daughter and Jack Luther’s niece, came to work for us just to have something to do. She ran a delivery route and just loved it and we loved her. It was a sad time when age caught up to her and she had to give t up. She is one of the nicest people I’ve ever known. She’s 85-years-old now and I’m sure it is a big blow to lose her lifetime partner. Our condolences to Arlene and her large family. Please see obituary.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2013

Even though neither of their favorite teams, the Saints or Texans, were in the Super Bowl, Roy’s two grandsons, Sean and Collin Gros, couldn’t have picked a better Super Bowl to attend. It had all the elements of a great game then some. A record setting 108 yard kick off return, great goal line stands and a close game that the Baltimore Ravens eventually won 34 to 31 over the San Francisco 49ers. The lights in the Super Dome in New Orleans went out causing a 33 minute, 55 second game delay. A record setting 164 million viewers watched and waited for the lights to come back on. The brothers, who were seated behind the Raven bench, had a good view of the players interacting during the intermission. Of course watching 17-year veteran Ray Lewis, who won his second Super Bowl ring, was a trip in itself for the boys. Half time was a blast. Texan Beyonce dressed in leather performing with Destiny’s Child, was a great concert and class act. There is everyone else then there is Beyonce. The entire game pageantry was festive, like only New Orleans can put on, with several tons of confetti covering the Dome from all directions at games end. The two brothers were pulling for different teams but there were also two more important brothers on opposite sides of the field. Coach John Harbaugh and his 15 month older brother Jim. John and his Ravens won, Jim had a chance to win after climbing from a 21-6 deficit at halftime and then the lights went out and the 49ers surged to within three points. Collin and Jim, the youngest brothers both won. What would Jim tell his older brother at midfield after he beat him. Vegas was betting the meeting would last eight seconds plus, but it took less than five seconds. John told Jim, “I love you.” Jim responded saying, “Congratulations.” That was it. Later John said Jim is the best coach in the NFL, “Just look what he’s accomplished with the 49ers over the last two years.” John said facing Jim after the game was the hardest part. As for Sean and Collin, it was a once in a lifetime experience that will stick with them throughout the ages. Jan. 16, 1972 their grandfather attended Super Bowl VI, Dallas beat Miami 24-3 at Tulane Stadium and he still talks about it.*****Cecil Paul Bryant would have been 92 years of age on Feb. 13, 2013. A native of Hicks, Louisiana and a graduate of Slagle High School, Lamar College and the University of Houston, where he earned a BS and a masters degree. He spent his life in education as did Ann, his wife of 64 years. Cecil is credited with naming the Bridge City mascot, “Cardinal” after the Lamar Cardinals, where he attended college. He and brother Casey were the first coaches at Bridge City after it became a high school. Over the years, the Bryant brothers contributed a lot to the advancement of the Bridge City community. Funeral services were held Feb. 6.***** Bert “Birdman” Hjerpe, age 80, will be laid to rest at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7. Services will be held at Memorial Funeral Home in Vidor. Every youngster raised in Bridge City over the past 50 years knew of the “Birdman.” Bert, who was an Army veteran, served during the Korean War. He always carried seeds to feed the birds. I sat on a bench with him at Market Basket and found out he was just as knowledgeable as his high school classmate and friend Fred Gregory had told me he was. Bert did a lot of things out of the ordinary but what always amazed me the most was that he would walk from Bridge City to downtown Port Arthur, turn around and walk back the same day and would never accept a ride. For years, he walked the streets of Bridge City always helping the elderly and needy until a hurricane destroyed the apartment he live in and he was forced to move to Vidor where he died. He will long be remembered as the man who would stop and point at the sky. Now he’s gone to that place.*****Doyce Sherman, the boy from Abbeville, celebrates a birthday on Feb. 8. *****That’s also a big day for Karen Fuselier and her buddy, Jivin’ Gene Bourgeois. Those two together are a handful. *****Our buddy Peggy Albair, the ship captain at Peggy’s on the Bayou, celebrates Feb. 10. *****Twins Trevor and Tyler Gunn turn 18 on Feb. 10. It looks like just a couple of years ago I was writing about their 4th birthday.***** Feb. 8, is a very special day for the Dunn family. Delilah Ballou, Mark’s granddaughter, turns 5-years-old. Nate, now 10, is Delilah’s big brother. Jenna, dad Robby and the family all live in Massachusetts. *****Johnny Dishon who was drafted by Milwaukee in 2010 leaves for spring training in Arizona March 3. He’s not sure where he will be playing next season but he says, “Just as long as I’m playing.” He was a three sports star at B.C. He was All State in baseball and batted .488 with 15 home runs and 23 stolen bases. In 2007, as a high school quarterback, he rushed for 1,400 yards and passed for 600. He was All District in track. Johnny says he credits former Bridge City star athlete Jamey Knight as having the greatest influence upon his athletic career. Jamey was an inspiration to many youngsters in his playing days at Bridge City and so was Johnny. ***** Our friend Phillip Welch is the new interim athletic director at Hardin-Jefferson School District. Phillip wears several hats, he’s also a part-time P.R. man for Granger Chevrolet *****Our friends at aNe Insurance will be holding their grand opening and ribbon cutting next Tuesday, Feb. 12, 8 a.m., at 1025 Texas Ave. in Bridge City. Ellen Nickum and the staff invite everyone to stop by. The new insurance company offers a verity of plans and companies with lower rates and good service*****I’ve gotta move on. Come along, it won’t do you no harm.

20 Years Ago-2003

Between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, the Columbia space shuttle literally disintegrated in the skies over East Texas. The seven astronauts were found on the ground with the majority of the space craft landing between San Augustine and Jasper. Orange County rallied to help Fire departments from Mauriceville, McLewis, Orange, Little Cypress, Pinehurst, Bridge City and West Orange sent volunteers and also many citizens volunteered.*****Frances Harris, who fled to Honduras with her granddaughter pled guilty Monday, Feb. 3, to federal charges for international parental kidnapping. Harris fled to Honduras with her 3-year-old granddaughter, Nocona Lynn Smith, eight years ago. Authorities arrested her Sept. 24, 2002, at her home on the Honduras island of Roatan and brought her and Nocona, 11, back to Southeast Texas. Harris has contended that she fled with the child because she believed that she was being abused. Harris said she fled after she had exhausted all legal avenues to help protect her granddaughter. (Editor’s note: Frances served her prison time. She has since written a book “Seashell Prisoners” telling her story. The book is available at  HYPERLINK "http://amazon.com/" \t "_blank" amazon.com*****Willie Ray Smith award finalist Matt Peebles, of Bridge City, signs to play football for the New Mexico Lobos. Peebles ranks as the number two Cardinal on the All-Time rushing list.*****West Orange quarterback Joey Byerly has committed to the Eagles of North Texas.*** “The Mean Green” Vontearr Edwards, a Willie Ray defensive finalist, has made a commitment to play at McNeese.***Little Cypress-Mauriceville had one signee, lineman Justin Trahan, who signed with Harding University in Arkansas.*****Texas Tech has announced that Laura Bergman, of Bridge City, has made the President’s List with a 4.0 grade point. *****Dolores Copeland, 69, of Orange, died Wednesday, Jan. 29.*****J.D. Dubose, 88, of Orange, died Jan. 28.*****Orangefield High sophomore Angela Ledford, 16, competes in Miss Texas Teen U.S. A.. She represents Orange County and is featured in Texas Monthly magazine.*****A special lady, Thelma Thurmond celebrates her 90th birthday Feb. 2. *****On Feb. 5th, Sue “MeMaw” Gunn, turned 90. *****Clint Black and Garth Brooks both turn 41 this week. Clint on Feb. 4 and Garth on Feb. 7.

45 Years Ago-1974

The county races are all set. Let the race begin. Incumbent County Judge Grover Halliburton is challenged by James D. Stringer and James A Broussard. Dr. John Greco is the only Republican.*****County Court-at-Law Judge, David Dunn; District Clerk, Edna Enmon; County Clerk Sallie Frazier; County Treasurer Earline Hilliard; County School Superintendent James A. Peddy; County Commissioners, Pct. 1, S.P. “Pete” Dickey, Claude J. Broussard, Glenn Seale, George W. Stevens, Morris Collier and Glen Peveto; Pct. 4, Raymond Gould; incumbent C.O. “Goober” Williamson, L.B. “Timer” Williamson, Ray Willie, R.H. Harold Carter and Sam Humberson; Democratic Chairman, J.L. “Pete” Runnels, incumbent, and Louis Dugas, Jr .; Constable Pct. 2, S.D. “Bill” Dickerson, J.R. “James” Aaron, Leon Frederick, H.D. Tucker, Jr., R.J. “Ronnie” Burns, Robert E. Smith, Donald A. Gunn, JP Pct. 1, Joe D. Shibley, Claude Wimberly, S.E. Bellfield, C. Arnold Buxton and Allen D. Cary, Sr .; JP Pct. 2, Larry Gunter, Charlene Trahan and incumbent Marlin Shelton; JP Pct. 3, Martin Ardoin; JP Pct. 4, V.L. “Coon” Constance and incumbent Joe Bunn; State Rep. Wayne Peveto, incumbent and Thomas W. Porter. *****Coach Andy Griffin, 37, head football coach and athletic director at White Oak, will assume those duties at Bridge City March 1. Griffin replaces H.W. “Chief” Wilson, who resigned to accept another position. *****The LCM Bearettes are zone basketball champs. They are Tanya Strickland, DeDe Crawford, Linda Bean, Becky Dunn, Karen Kachtik, Angela Kaney, Theresa Duncan, Debbie McClelland, Debbie Martinez, Molly Malone, Doris Flanagan, Sheryl Miller, Julia Knight, Dawana Wiggins, Donna Peveto and Brenda Burch. Coaches are Paul Baker and Linda Warner.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

The Wednesday Lunch Bunch held its first gathering last week at Robert’s. I didn’t get to make it but heard there were about 18 in attendance. Not bad for the first one, plus, it was cold, windy and rainy. The group will grow. It takes time for folks to get back in the habit. Keith Wallace’s wife Shelly, who attended for the first time, was impressed with a gathering that wasn’t consumed with politics, just good fellowship. Every Wednesday, 12 noon, at Robert’s. Yawl come! On February 15, the Lunch Bunch will celebrate Keith Wallace’s birthday whish is on Feb. 16.*****Karen and Jack McKinney will be celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary on Saturday. She's a retired social work and leads the board for the local Salvation Army. Jack's a retired DuPont chemical engineer and Vietnam Navy veteran who has also taught industrial classes at LSCO. The couple moved to the Little Cypress area more than 40 years ago with a DuPont transfer more than 40 years ago and have made it their home ever since. It would be difficult to count all the years of public service the two have donated to the Orange County community through the decades. If you see them, be sure to give them a big greeting.*****The Mardi Gras Krewes in Orange County have been busy decorating their floats and making their costumes for the 19th Annual Mardi Gras in downtown Orange on Saturday. This year, there will be free concerts at the Riverside Pavilion off Simmons Drive on Thursday and Friday nights, a festival on Saturday, plus the big parade on Saturday evening. The Orange Mardi Gras is earlier than tradition Mardi Gras and is scheduled not to interfere with another area parade and celebration.  The Orange parade has gotten a reputation for throwing more beads and trinkets than other parades in the area and now attracts a lot of out of town visitors. This year's King and Queen are Johnny and Becky Trahan. Johnny is Orange County Precinct 1 Commissioner and County Judge John Gothia says Trahan has already made him bow before him.***** Jason Montagne, owner of Bullfish restaurant on FM 1442 in Orangefield, hosted a local entrants Chris Kovatch and Amy Johnson Peevey in the Dancing with the Stars competition set for Beaumont. Kovatch said the Junior League, which has members who live in Orange, gives grants to groups from Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin counties. The annual event features area celebrities and leaders in a dance contest as a fundraiser for the Beaumont Junior League. Bullfish let the couple show off their talents and raise money-votes. Each dollar donated gets the couple one vote. The event ended up a fun time for families.***** Aimee Scales had a big early birthday getaway this past week with lots of her girlfriends that included Hillary Gravett, who is now the City of Orange assistant economic development director, along with Rebekah Ragsdale, Abbi Gollihan, Allie LeBouef, Ashlee Peevy, Kylie Bradley, Wendy Gillet, Emily Scales, and Leslie Menard.*****Jim and Dodie LaBove haven't reached the McKinneys in years married, but they did reach anniversary 41 this past week. Congratulations to the couple.***** Birthdays this past week included Elvis Rushing, the tech guru at WO-C school district, who turned the double-nickel 55, as did former KOGT DJ Marty Monogue.  Retired LC-M teacher Sue Rathbone had another orbit around the sun, along with Bridge City Councilor Aaron Roccaforte, local writer Elizabeth Ludwig, Tommy Clary, Father Jim Sichko, lawyer and rock-and-roll expert Jim Dunaway, retired teacher Mel Moreau, and Jennifer Restauri Dickinson over at the Stark Museum of Art.***** The United States added a whopping 517,000 jobs in January, the Labor Department said Friday, far exceeding expectations and pushing the unemployment rate from a tenth of a point to 3.4 percent, the lowest level since the tail end of Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency and the beginning of Richard Nixon’s five decades ago.*****Former Bridge City high school baseball coach Sam Moore will bring his Sulphur, LA. team to play a scrimmage against the Bridge City Cardinals Friday, 4 p.m. The Cardinals are coached by Moore’s cousin Coach Chad Landry.

BREAUX BIRTHDAYS

Folks we know celebrating birthdays in the next few days. Feb. 8: Happy Birthdays to Delilah Ballou, Ann Chapman, Kathy Dupree, Todd Landry, Barbara Fox and Kaitlyn Ezell.*****Feb. 9: Alex Hurst, Brittany Hickman, Lisa Woods, Karen Fusiler, Sandy Sanford and our friend Jivin’ Gene, who just keeps moving on.*****Feb. 10: Peggy Albair, Nancy Cain, Ryan Mouser and Trevor and Tyler Gunn, who turn 28 today.*****Feb. 11: Happy Birthday to Gayla Melanin, Jody Connor-Moore, Brittany Carpenter, and twins Deric and Eric Provost.*****Feb. 12: The 16th President of the United States Abraham Lincoln celebrated his birthday on this day. Celebrating are Karlee Parkhurst, Christy Reves, Marjorie Gandy and Sara Childs.*****Feb. 13: Sarah Villasana, Crock Carlin, Amy Wedekind, Heather Sztaba, and Jeremy Delano. Sharon and Liz Bearden celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary on this day.*****Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day. Happy Birthday to former mayor of Pinehurst T.W. Permenter also Fred Kennedy and Judy Harrison.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Joe Guilbeaux tole his friend Eugene Badeaux dat he was having trouble selling his truck him, because it’s got over 200,000 miles on it. He was jus axeing $1,500 for it. Guilbeaux advised him to set the odometer back to 50,000 miles to make it easier to sell. A few weeks later da two mens ran into each other again. Guilbeaux axe Badeaux, “Have you sold you truck yet?” Badeaux replied, “Mais no, I don’t want to sell my truck, it don’t got but 50,000 miles on it.

CES’T TOUT

The United States military on Saturday shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast on orders from President Joe Biden after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America, becoming the latest flashpoint in tensions between Washington and Beijing. Biden said he wanted the balloon downed Wednesday but was advised that the best time for the operation would be when the balloon was over water. About 1:40 p.m. CST, an F-22 fighter jet fired a missile at the balloon, puncturing it while it was about 6 nautical miles off the coast near Myrtle Beach, S.C. “The debris landed in 47 feet of water. They successfully took it down, and I want to compliment our aviators who did it,” Biden said. The balloon was spotted on Thursday over Montana, which is home to one of America’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base. *****Read us cover to cover, check us on the web, therecordlive. com and please shop our family of advertisers. Take care and God bless.