Allen, Billy (1951-2000) earned first team All-State honors in both football and baseball his senior year at North Caddo High, 1968-69.
Almokary, Joe (1908-1991) attended Oil City School where he was taught by Miss Maggie Smith, per the book History of Oil City, La School 1910-1955, by Maggie Smith Warren and Willa McCord, 1977. He played sports for the local school, but completed his senior year at Shreveport (later renamed C. E. Byrd) High, where he helped lead his team to an undefeated season.
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| Billy Allen in 1969 |
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| Joe Almokary as a high school senior (1929 Shreveport High Gusher) |
For his performance Joe made the Louisiana All-State Football team.
He was also named to the All-Southern prep team, that included the best players from several states.
Joe originally enrolled at Centenary College and participated in their 1929 spring game.
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| Joe Almokary - LSU halfback |
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Source: LSU Sports Information
The following is a humorous story about his recruitment by (Louisiana governor) Huey Long, that came from Greatest Moments in LSU History, published by the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. The story comes from an earlier book The Louisiana Tigers by sportswriter, Dan Hardesty.
"Long did quickly become a recruiter for the Tigers. Shortly after Huey came to power, (LSU coach) Cohen told him that he was interested in a hot prep prospect named Joe Almokary. According to Dan Hardesty’s book, "The Louisiana Tigers", this was the gist of Huey’s recruiting pitch:
Long: “Are you going to come to LSU?”
Almokary: “I don’t know. I think maybe I’ll go to Centenary (which had a strong football program at the time).”
Long: “Why in the world would you want to Centenary for? They can’t teach you anything but the Bible, and I know more about the Bible than they do. If you come to LSU, you can get any kind of education you want. What do you want to be when you finish college?”
Almokary: “I would like to be a lawyer.”
Long: “You want to be a lawyer. I don’t think you would be a good lawyer. You look to me like you’d be a good engineer. They can’t teach you engineering at Centenary. You’re good at mathematics, aren’t you?
Almokary: “Yes, sir.”
Long: “You’re good at algebra?”
Almokary: "Yes, sir.”
Long: “Geometry?”
Almokary: "Yes, sir.”
Long: “Good at calculus?”
Almokary: “Yes, sir.”
Long: “You see, I told you that you would make a good engineer. You certainly should come to LSU.”
Almokary admitted afterward he didn’t have much idea what Long was talking about, but was scared to say no. He lettered at LSU for three years.
It appears however that Huey's involvement in getting Joe to Baton Rouge may not have been as light-hearted as the tale in Hardesty's book implied. Per the article below, Joe had in fact attended Centenary for a term and participated in their spring practice. before dropping out to become a fireman in Shreveport. In addition to alleged "job" offers if he enrolled at LSU, Long was reported to have visited the Almokary family in Oil City, and also to have entertained family members at the governor's mansion in order to entice Joe to become a Tiger.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune 29-Mar-1929, Page 14
Whatever issues regarding Joe's recruitment were somehow closed (rightfully or wrongfully), and by 1930 he was a favorite of Governor Long. Huey was actively involved in the LSU football program to the point of being on the sidelines during games. Below he is quoted as bragging during the Tulane game "That's my man! I brought him in from the oil fields." Later he yelled "Almokary, that's my boy!" When Joe later gets injured, Huey even administers first aid.
%2BCourier%2BNews%2B06-Dec-1930%2BPage%2B3%2B(Huey%2B%26%2BJoe)%2B3.jpg)
%2BCourier%2BNews%2B06-Dec-1930%2BPage%2B3%2B(Huey%2B%26%2BJoe)%2B1.jpg)
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Source: Blytheville (AR) Courier News 06-Dec-1930, Page 3
Joe was also a boxer and wrestler for LSU:
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Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 20-Apr-1930
During Joe's sophomore year his first wife, the former Pauline (later went by Paula) Zacharias was once featured in newspapers across the nation.
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Massilon (OH) Evening Independent 06-Dec-1930, Page 7
Pauline was a former beauty queen. Here she is shown representing Shreveport in an international beauty pageant held in Galveston, TX in 1926, where she placed 8th among 39 contestants.
Source: International Pageant of Pulchritude (Wikipedia article)
In a newspaper article recapping her January 1930 wedding to Joe, held at the Belcher, LA Presbyterian Church, Pauline is described as a "charming member of the young social set, and an artiste of the dance note and of vogue. She has studied extensively in New York, and will leave her many friends and large school to make her home in Baton Rouge."
Source: Baton Rouge State Times 16-Jan-1930, Page 9
As shown per the roster below, despite attending high school in Shreveport, Oil City was home.
Here Joe is shown in a picture from the 27-Nov-1932 Baton Rouge Morning Advocate after being instrumental in his team's 14-0 victory over Tulane, his final game against the Green Wave.
Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 27-Nov-1932, Page 16
In an seemingly unusual move for a former collegiate footballer, boxer, and wrestler, Joe later became involved with wife Paula's dance troupe. She'd become a professional dancer and instructor who ran an academy in downtown Baton Rouge and regularly put on performances featuring herself and her students at the Paramount Theater. Below is an advertisement for one such performance that also featured her husband.
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Source: Baton Rouge State Times 17-Jun-1933, Page 14
Here is a picture of the performers on stage.
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Source: Baton Rouge State Times 15-Jun-1933, Page 20
Joe even once accompanied a former teammate, olympian, All-SEC lineman, and NCAA champion shotputter Jack Torrance to meet and informally serve as bodyguards (implied) for famed humorist Will Rogers during a personal appearance in Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge State Times 29-Jan-1935, Page 10
Joe divorced Paula in 1935 and married Mabel Graham (1909-1956) the following year. After Mabel's death he married Alice Arwady (1915-2012). He died in 1991 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery , Houston, TX.
Ard, Harold Dimple Ard (1910-1998) played for Oil City High with Joe Almokary, and lettered at Stephen F. Austin State College (now University) in 1929.
Arledge, Jerry Jerry grew up in Oil City and initially attended school there. He lettered in football at North Caddo High, where he graduated in 1960.
He was named to the 1-AA All-District team in 1959 as a guard. Note above the yearbook states his honor as linebacker, however this is explainable as single platoon football was still practiced and players played both offense and defense.
+Morning+World+13-Dec-1959+Page+26+Arledge.jpg)
In 1988 he returned to Louisiana Tech as an assistant per the following article excerpt, referring to him having been there previously. I could not confirm but am fairly certain he was an assistant there earlier under A. L. Williams, for whom he had similarly served under at Northwestern State.
In 1993, he became Defensive Coordinator at West Monroe High School under eventual hall-of-fame coach Don Shows. During their tenure, the Rebels became a football power in Louisiana; winning state championships in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2009, and 2011.
In spring of 2013, Coach Shows had a stroke (and later died) and Jerry assumed interim head coaching duties for that fall. The interim prefix was later removed as he was named head coach and athletic director at West Monroe on 24-March-2014.
Barber, Ronnie (1954- ) was Class AAA first team All-State in 1971 while attending North Caddo.
Source: Monroe News Star 21-Dec-1971
He earned a scholarship to LSU where he lettered three seasons (1974-1976). He was named to the 1976 All-SEC Academic team in 1976.
Per a 01-Sep-1976 article in the Jennings (LA) Daily News, in his junior year (1975) he led the LSU team with four interceptions and returned 14 punts for 173 yards ranking him fifth nationally.
Beene, Edgar (1936-?) was a first team All-State tackle in 1954.
Source: 1955 Oil City High School Bengal (yearbook)
He continued to play football while in the U.S. Navy, participating in an Army-Navy All-Star Game held in Japan in 1956. He later became Louisiana State Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion.
+Globe+24-May-1961+(Mentions+Athletic+Accomplishments).jpg)
Joplin (MO) GLobe 24-May-1961, Page 11
Carrigan, Claude (1944-2011) was a member of the North Caddo freshman team before moving to Shreveport, Louisiana where he attended Woodlawn High School.
Source: 1958-59 North Caddo Rebel (yearbook)
Claude transferred to Woodlawn High where interestingly he played in the Knights' first ever football win.... 13-6 over the Rebels.
Source: 1961-62 Woodlawn Accolade (yearbook)
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He lettered four years at Louisiana Tech (1962-63-64-65).
Carrigan, Jesse Lee, younger brother of Claude, was All-District while playing football for Fair Park High School in Shreveport.
Source: 1962-63 Fair Park Sequoya (yearbook)
Source: Louisiana Tech Lagniappe (yearbook)
He lettered three years at Louisiana Tech (1966-67-68), and was named team co-captain and All-Gulf States Conference tackle his senior year.
A quote by Jesse re playing with both a Pro Football Hall-of-Famer and the Duck Commander:
Jesse Carrigan has a good twist to it. "You know, I used to tell people that I played football with Terry Bradshaw," he said. "Now I tell them I played football with Phil Robertson."
"Actually, now we can all say we played with both of them."
Source: Nico Van Thyn Blog
Centenary 6, LSU 0 In 1932, a capacity crowd at the then brand new Centenary College football stadium watched the Gents beat the LSU Tigers 6-0. There are a couple of Oil City connections. Playing halfback for LSU was resident Joe Almokary (see profile above). The committee that oversaw funding for the stadium was chaired by local oilman Arch Haynes, who owned a cabin on Caddo Lake. Haynes Gymnasium, in the Centenary campus is named for him.
Cooper, Billy Bond (1931-2005) lettered at Louisiana Tech in 1952.
Source: 1951 La Tech Lagniappe (yearbook)
Doherty, George - The baddest dude in the oilfield lasted only 30 seconds against Jim McCormick of Galveston, Texas in a feature match held at the Grand Athletic Club in Shreveport. McCormick was a legitimate prize fighter of his day, having posted a win-loss-draw record of 5-7-2. He had bouts against heavyweight champions Jack Johnson (four times), and mentor John L. Sullivan (Sullivan's final fight); though neither was champion at the time of his matches with them.
Shreveport Times 01-Nov-1912, Page 9
Read more about George at Gentlemanly Arts - Boxing And Wrestling In Oil City.
Dupree, Chuck played football and baseball at North Caddo and lettered four years at Northwestern State. He has been a successful coach at several Louisiana high schools.
Here Randy about to catch the winning touchdown pass in the Demons' 25-21 victory over Louisiana Tech in the 1979 State Fair Classic played in Shreveport. That would be their final win over the Bulldogs in a series that lasted nearly 90 years, ending in 1994.
Also of note, Randy and quarterback Bobby Hebert (of New Orleans Saints fame) briefly held the record for longest pass play in the Football Championship Series Division (formerly Div. 1AA) by teaming for a 98 yard touchdown against Southeastern Louisiana in 1980.
Mandina, Thomas "Tony" at East Texas State College (now Texas A&M-Commerce) in 1959. He lettered in 1958-60 and received honorable mention All-Lone Star Conference recognition in 1959 and 1960.
Another pic of Tony Mandina (partial number 4 showing on right) making a tackle against Stephen F. Austin in 1959.
After graduating from Oil City High, Tony attended Texarkana Junior College before transferring to ETSC in 1958.
McBride, Homer (1929-2013)
Shown below on the left and in the inset, Homer was born in and grew up in Oil City. He was the younger brother of Nick McBride, a key member of OC's 1939 Northwest Champion football team. Sometime in the early 1940s the family moved, as the caption has him from Shreveport (a 1946 Byrd High graduate). He was a trackman at LSU, where he ran hurdles from 1951-53. Pic is from the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, while the inset is from the 1953 Gumbo yearbook
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Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 28-Mar-1953, Page 2-B
McCauley, Joseph Daniel "Joe" (1910-1978), brother of Bruce and uncle of Darrell McCauley played for Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), lettering in 1931-33. He was later postmaster in Kingsville and served as a high school and college referee.
It appears however that Huey's involvement in getting Joe to Baton Rouge may not have been as light-hearted as the tale in Hardesty's book implied. Per the article below, Joe had in fact attended Centenary for a term and participated in their spring practice. before dropping out to become a fireman in Shreveport. In addition to alleged "job" offers if he enrolled at LSU, Long was reported to have visited the Almokary family in Oil City, and also to have entertained family members at the governor's mansion in order to entice Joe to become a Tiger.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune 29-Mar-1929, Page 14
Whatever issues regarding Joe's recruitment were somehow closed (rightfully or wrongfully), and by 1930 he was a favorite of Governor Long. Huey was actively involved in the LSU football program to the point of being on the sidelines during games. Below he is quoted as bragging during the Tulane game "That's my man! I brought him in from the oil fields." Later he yelled "Almokary, that's my boy!" When Joe later gets injured, Huey even administers first aid.
Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 20-Apr-1930
During Joe's sophomore year his first wife, the former Pauline (later went by Paula) Zacharias was once featured in newspapers across the nation.
Pauline was a former beauty queen. Here she is shown representing Shreveport in an international beauty pageant held in Galveston, TX in 1926, where she placed 8th among 39 contestants.
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| Pauline Zacharias - Miss Shreveport (1926 |
In a newspaper article recapping her January 1930 wedding to Joe, held at the Belcher, LA Presbyterian Church, Pauline is described as a "charming member of the young social set, and an artiste of the dance note and of vogue. She has studied extensively in New York, and will leave her many friends and large school to make her home in Baton Rouge."
Source: Baton Rouge State Times 16-Jan-1930, Page 9
Source: LSU-Tulane Football Program, 1932
Here Joe is shown in a picture from the 27-Nov-1932 Baton Rouge Morning Advocate after being instrumental in his team's 14-0 victory over Tulane, his final game against the Green Wave.
Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 27-Nov-1932, Page 16
Source: Baton Rouge State Times 17-Jun-1933, Page 14
Here is a picture of the performers on stage.
Source: Baton Rouge State Times 15-Jun-1933, Page 20
Joe even once accompanied a former teammate, olympian, All-SEC lineman, and NCAA champion shotputter Jack Torrance to meet and informally serve as bodyguards (implied) for famed humorist Will Rogers during a personal appearance in Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge State Times 29-Jan-1935, Page 10
Joe divorced Paula in 1935 and married Mabel Graham (1909-1956) the following year. After Mabel's death he married Alice Arwady (1915-2012). He died in 1991 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery , Houston, TX.
Ard, Harold Dimple Ard (1910-1998) played for Oil City High with Joe Almokary, and lettered at Stephen F. Austin State College (now University) in 1929.
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| Harold Dimple Ard - 1929 SFA Football letterman (1930 Stone Fort yearbook) |
Arledge, Jerry Jerry grew up in Oil City and initially attended school there. He lettered in football at North Caddo High, where he graduated in 1960.
He was named to the 1-AA All-District team in 1959 as a guard. Note above the yearbook states his honor as linebacker, however this is explainable as single platoon football was still practiced and players played both offense and defense.
He earned a scholarship to Louisiana Tech, where he lettered 1961-1963.
While at Tech, Jerry played with fellow former NC Rebels Tommy Robertson, Ken Tidwell, and Bruce "B.H." Weaver. Upon graduation, Jerry returned to his high school alma mater as assistant coach and biology teacher from 1964-1967.
He left North Caddo after the end of the 1966-1967 school year for Northwestern State University, where he served initially as a graduate assistant and later as a defensive end coach. In 1969 he moved again, becoming an assistant coach at Fair Park High in Shreveport, LA; where he joined Tommy Robertson, former teammate at both North Caddo and Louisiana Tech (and older brother of Duck Commander Phil Robertson).
He returned to Northwestern State as an assistant in 1972.
In 1993, he became Defensive Coordinator at West Monroe High School under eventual hall-of-fame coach Don Shows. During their tenure, the Rebels became a football power in Louisiana; winning state championships in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2009, and 2011.
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| Jerry Arledge, West Monroe Head Coach and Athletic Director |
In spring of 2013, Coach Shows had a stroke (and later died) and Jerry assumed interim head coaching duties for that fall. The interim prefix was later removed as he was named head coach and athletic director at West Monroe on 24-March-2014.
Barber, Ronnie (1954- ) was Class AAA first team All-State in 1971 while attending North Caddo.
Source: Monroe News Star 21-Dec-1971
He earned a scholarship to LSU where he lettered three seasons (1974-1976). He was named to the 1976 All-SEC Academic team in 1976.
Here he appears on the cover of the publication 1977 College Football Roundup (#27) who along with teammate Clinton Burrell is defending against Florida’s All-American wide receiver Wes Chandler.
Per a 01-Sep-1976 article in the Jennings (LA) Daily News, in his junior year (1975) he led the LSU team with four interceptions and returned 14 punts for 173 yards ranking him fifth nationally.
Beene, Edgar (1936-?) was a first team All-State tackle in 1954.
Source: 1955 Oil City High School Bengal (yearbook)
He continued to play football while in the U.S. Navy, participating in an Army-Navy All-Star Game held in Japan in 1956. He later became Louisiana State Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion.
Joplin (MO) GLobe 24-May-1961, Page 11
Carrigan, Claude (1944-2011) was a member of the North Caddo freshman team before moving to Shreveport, Louisiana where he attended Woodlawn High School.
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| Claude as a freshman at North Caddo (1958-59) |
Claude transferred to Woodlawn High where interestingly he played in the Knights' first ever football win.... 13-6 over the Rebels.
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| Claude as a senior at Woodlawn (1961-62) |
He lettered four years at Louisiana Tech (1962-63-64-65).
Carrigan, Jesse Lee, younger brother of Claude, was All-District while playing football for Fair Park High School in Shreveport.
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| As a senior in 1962 |
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| Playing in the 1962 Byrd-Fair Park Thanksgiving Day Game (No. 74 in dark jersey) |
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| Louisiana Tech Co-Captain in 1968 along with Walter Causey, who later was an assistant coach at North Caddo |
He lettered three years at Louisiana Tech (1966-67-68), and was named team co-captain and All-Gulf States Conference tackle his senior year.
A quote by Jesse re playing with both a Pro Football Hall-of-Famer and the Duck Commander:
Jesse Carrigan has a good twist to it. "You know, I used to tell people that I played football with Terry Bradshaw," he said. "Now I tell them I played football with Phil Robertson."
"Actually, now we can all say we played with both of them."
Source: Nico Van Thyn Blog
Centenary 6, LSU 0 In 1932, a capacity crowd at the then brand new Centenary College football stadium watched the Gents beat the LSU Tigers 6-0. There are a couple of Oil City connections. Playing halfback for LSU was resident Joe Almokary (see profile above). The committee that oversaw funding for the stadium was chaired by local oilman Arch Haynes, who owned a cabin on Caddo Lake. Haynes Gymnasium, in the Centenary campus is named for him.
Cooper, Billy Bond (1931-2005) lettered at Louisiana Tech in 1952.
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| Billy Bond Cooper at La Tech 1950 |
Doherty, George - The baddest dude in the oilfield lasted only 30 seconds against Jim McCormick of Galveston, Texas in a feature match held at the Grand Athletic Club in Shreveport. McCormick was a legitimate prize fighter of his day, having posted a win-loss-draw record of 5-7-2. He had bouts against heavyweight champions Jack Johnson (four times), and mentor John L. Sullivan (Sullivan's final fight); though neither was champion at the time of his matches with them.
Shreveport Times 01-Nov-1912, Page 9
Read more about George at Gentlemanly Arts - Boxing And Wrestling In Oil City.
Dupree, Chuck played football and baseball at North Caddo and lettered four years at Northwestern State. He has been a successful coach at several Louisiana high schools.
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| Chuck Dupree as a freshman in 1980 (1981 NSU Potpourri) |
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| Carrying the ball against Alcorn State in 1983 (1984 NSU Potpourri) |
Durham, Mike was first team All-State and Class AA Most Valuable Player as a member of the 1966 State Champion North Caddo basketball team.
1966 NC Rebel (yearbook)
Ferguson, John E. (1920-2005) The "Voice of the LSU Tigers" for four decades, was a former Oil City resident and student, as his father L. W. Ferguson was school teacher and principal from the mid 1920s to the early 1930s. He graduated from Haynesville High, where his father later became principal, and Louisiana Tech. Many may remember listening to radio broadcasts on KWKH featuring John, Walter Hill, and Doug Moreau.
Here are highlights of LSU's 28-8 victory over Notre Dame in 1971, with play-by-play by John.
John was also a decorated pilot during World War II. He is buried in Port Hudson National Cemetery in Zachary, LA.
Gourrier , William Barker "Bat" (1906-1985) was a three-sport athlete star at Oil City High School who both played and coached sports for LSU. As a high school track coach, his teams won two state titles and during his career he coached two future professional sports hall-of-famers as well as an NCAA national champion and U. S. Olympian.
Born in Plaquemine in 1905, his family moved to Oil City from Vivian, as his father was a district supervisor for the Texas Company (later Texaco). (1) He is listed as Barker Gourrier among students in the Oil City School History 1910-1955 by Mrs. Maggie Smith Warren (2); and starred in football, basketball, and baseball for Oil City High.(3) After spending one year at Centenary, he enrolled at LSU in 1928 and while there played baseball and served as student manager of the 1933 NCAA Champion track team. (3) His nickname was shortened from "Battling" Gourrier (which he hated), given to him for his tactics during intramural boxing competition. (4) He later coached the LSU track team in the late 1930s under legendary football and track coach Bernie Moore. (1)
Bat Gourrier as a student at LSU 1933 (5)
Listing as a member of the "L" (lettermen's) Club (6)
Track coach at LSU in 1938. (7)
He left LSU to pursue private business a few years and during World War II entered the U.S. Navy, serving in the Admiralty Islands in the Pacific. (3) After returning from the war, he became track coach at Baton Rouge High School, where his teams won state titles in 1949 and 1957. (3) During his tenure at BRHS, he coached notable athletes including Bob Petit (NBA Hall of Fame), Jim Taylor (NFL Hall of Fame) and Billy Hardin (NCAA Champion and U. S. Olympic sprinter in the 1964 Tokyo games). (1) Billy is the son of Glenn "Slats" Hardin, a member of the 1933 Champion team (for which Bat was manager) and himself a gold medalist in 1936 Berlin Olympics for the 400 meter hurdles.
LSU Dorm Supervisor in 1965. (8)
In 1962 he became a teacher at Broadmoor High in Baton Rouge, and in 1965 was hired as residence supervisor (he called it "den mother") of the LSU athletic dorm. (8) In later years though retired he continued to assist local track coaches and served as referee and timer at athletic events. He passed away 29-Apr-1985 and was buried at Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport.(9)
Retired in 1983.(1)
Among his honors, Broadmoor High holds the annual Bat Gourrier Relays as an invitational high school track meet. (4) Also, for several years the award given to East Baton Rouge Parish's top boy and girl high school athletes was named the W. B. "Bat" Gourrier Award. (10)
Sources:
(1) Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate, 10-Apr-1983, Page 67
(2) Oil City School History 1910-1955 by Maggie Smith Warren and Willa McCord, Page 9
(3) Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate 05-May-1957, Page 29
(4) Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 10-Apr-1981, Page 62
(5) 1933 LSU Gumbo (yearbook), Page 99
(6) 1936 LSU Gumbo, Page 235
(7) 1938 LSU Gumbo, Page 250
(8) Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 12-Aug-1965, Page 83
(9) Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 30-Apr-1985, Page 28
(10) Baton Rouge State Times 08-May-1987, Page 52
Hopkins, Almond Boyer (1883-1944) A minor league baseball player, read more about "Sis" at this link.
Liles, Randy played football at North Caddo and later was a wide receiver at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA.
1966 NC Rebel (yearbook)
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| Lake Charles (LA) American Press Mar-1966 |
He also lettered three years at Louisiana Tech 1968-1970.
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| Mike as a Louisiana Tech Senior (LA Tech Lagniappe) |
Ferguson, John E. (1920-2005) The "Voice of the LSU Tigers" for four decades, was a former Oil City resident and student, as his father L. W. Ferguson was school teacher and principal from the mid 1920s to the early 1930s. He graduated from Haynesville High, where his father later became principal, and Louisiana Tech. Many may remember listening to radio broadcasts on KWKH featuring John, Walter Hill, and Doug Moreau.
Here are highlights of LSU's 28-8 victory over Notre Dame in 1971, with play-by-play by John.
John was also a decorated pilot during World War II. He is buried in Port Hudson National Cemetery in Zachary, LA.
Gourrier , William Barker "Bat" (1906-1985) was a three-sport athlete star at Oil City High School who both played and coached sports for LSU. As a high school track coach, his teams won two state titles and during his career he coached two future professional sports hall-of-famers as well as an NCAA national champion and U. S. Olympian.
Born in Plaquemine in 1905, his family moved to Oil City from Vivian, as his father was a district supervisor for the Texas Company (later Texaco). (1) He is listed as Barker Gourrier among students in the Oil City School History 1910-1955 by Mrs. Maggie Smith Warren (2); and starred in football, basketball, and baseball for Oil City High.(3) After spending one year at Centenary, he enrolled at LSU in 1928 and while there played baseball and served as student manager of the 1933 NCAA Champion track team. (3) His nickname was shortened from "Battling" Gourrier (which he hated), given to him for his tactics during intramural boxing competition. (4) He later coached the LSU track team in the late 1930s under legendary football and track coach Bernie Moore. (1)
Bat Gourrier as a student at LSU 1933 (5)
Listing as a member of the "L" (lettermen's) Club (6)
Track coach at LSU in 1938. (7)
He left LSU to pursue private business a few years and during World War II entered the U.S. Navy, serving in the Admiralty Islands in the Pacific. (3) After returning from the war, he became track coach at Baton Rouge High School, where his teams won state titles in 1949 and 1957. (3) During his tenure at BRHS, he coached notable athletes including Bob Petit (NBA Hall of Fame), Jim Taylor (NFL Hall of Fame) and Billy Hardin (NCAA Champion and U. S. Olympic sprinter in the 1964 Tokyo games). (1) Billy is the son of Glenn "Slats" Hardin, a member of the 1933 Champion team (for which Bat was manager) and himself a gold medalist in 1936 Berlin Olympics for the 400 meter hurdles.
LSU Dorm Supervisor in 1965. (8)
In 1962 he became a teacher at Broadmoor High in Baton Rouge, and in 1965 was hired as residence supervisor (he called it "den mother") of the LSU athletic dorm. (8) In later years though retired he continued to assist local track coaches and served as referee and timer at athletic events. He passed away 29-Apr-1985 and was buried at Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport.(9)
Retired in 1983.(1)
Among his honors, Broadmoor High holds the annual Bat Gourrier Relays as an invitational high school track meet. (4) Also, for several years the award given to East Baton Rouge Parish's top boy and girl high school athletes was named the W. B. "Bat" Gourrier Award. (10)
Sources:
(1) Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate, 10-Apr-1983, Page 67
(2) Oil City School History 1910-1955 by Maggie Smith Warren and Willa McCord, Page 9
(3) Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate 05-May-1957, Page 29
(4) Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 10-Apr-1981, Page 62
(5) 1933 LSU Gumbo (yearbook), Page 99
(6) 1936 LSU Gumbo, Page 235
(7) 1938 LSU Gumbo, Page 250
(8) Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 12-Aug-1965, Page 83
(9) Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 30-Apr-1985, Page 28
(10) Baton Rouge State Times 08-May-1987, Page 52
Hopkins, Almond Boyer (1883-1944) A minor league baseball player, read more about "Sis" at this link.
Liles, Randy played football at North Caddo and later was a wide receiver at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA.
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| Randy Liles 1981 (NSU Potpouri) |
Here Randy about to catch the winning touchdown pass in the Demons' 25-21 victory over Louisiana Tech in the 1979 State Fair Classic played in Shreveport. That would be their final win over the Bulldogs in a series that lasted nearly 90 years, ending in 1994.
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| Randy Liles making game winning catch against LA Tech in 1979 (NSU Potpouri ) |
Also of note, Randy and quarterback Bobby Hebert (of New Orleans Saints fame) briefly held the record for longest pass play in the Football Championship Series Division (formerly Div. 1AA) by teaming for a 98 yard touchdown against Southeastern Louisiana in 1980.
Mandina, Thomas "Tony" at East Texas State College (now Texas A&M-Commerce) in 1959. He lettered in 1958-60 and received honorable mention All-Lone Star Conference recognition in 1959 and 1960.
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| Tony Mandina - 1959 (East Texas State Loocust) |
Another pic of Tony Mandina (partial number 4 showing on right) making a tackle against Stephen F. Austin in 1959.
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| Tony Mandina on right making tackle (East Texas State Locust) |
After graduating from Oil City High, Tony attended Texarkana Junior College before transferring to ETSC in 1958.
McBride, Homer (1929-2013)
Shown below on the left and in the inset, Homer was born in and grew up in Oil City. He was the younger brother of Nick McBride, a key member of OC's 1939 Northwest Champion football team. Sometime in the early 1940s the family moved, as the caption has him from Shreveport (a 1946 Byrd High graduate). He was a trackman at LSU, where he ran hurdles from 1951-53. Pic is from the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, while the inset is from the 1953 Gumbo yearbook
Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 28-Mar-1953, Page 2-B
McCauley, Joseph Daniel "Joe" (1910-1978), brother of Bruce and uncle of Darrell McCauley played for Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), lettering in 1931-33. He was later postmaster in Kingsville and served as a high school and college referee.
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| Joe McCauley in 1932 (Texas A&I El Rancho) |
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| Another pic of Joe in 1932 (Texas A&I El Rancho) |
Nolan, (Coach) Earl Davis (1907-1987)
Just as William F. Bozeman is "Oil City's Principal," Earl Davis Nolan is "Oil City's Coach."
Read about him at Oil City's Coach - Earl Davis Nolan (1907-1987).
Source: 1955 Oil City High School Bengal (yearbook)
The pic below is of him as president of the Centenary College freshman class in 1956. He later transferred to and graduated from Northwestern State.
As head coach of Lee High School in Baton Rouge, LA (1978-1983).
Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 21-Dec-1983 Sports Page 5-D
Oil City Baseball Club was a semi-professional team
Here is an early version of the team in a photo dated 20-Apr-1913.
Contributor Ron Newton noted his grandfather Eugene Newton, though is not pictured, also played on the team.
Later the team and its (then) star pitcher DePrader (no first name listed) were found to be mentioned in a 1922 Monroe newspaper article.
The team, or a subsequent one, continued to the late 1930s or early 1940s, as semi-pro team in OC as late as the 1930s or possibly 1940s. Per this 1970 article about former Southern Mississippi football player and coach James Melvin "Bucky" Waters being inducted into that school's sports hall of fame, he once played for Oil City.
Oil City Girls Basketball in a 1927 picture of team identified as champs. Players names or context of championship (district, tournament, etc.) are unknown.
An article in this 1929 newspaper article mentions the girls playing in a tournament held in Shreveport.
Oil City Oilers/Tigers made Class B state football playoffs in 1939, 1946, 1948, and 1954.
See Oil City Football - The High School Years.
%2BHerald%2B23-Aug-1938%2BPage%2B5%2BClarence%2BPeters%2B-%2BShortstop%2BMcAllen%2BPalms.jpg)
Riley, George (1930-1961) was a junior college football All-American in 1951 at what is now Kilgore (ne Junior) College, and a 2009 inductee into their athletic hall of fame. Transferring to East Texas State College (now Texas A&M-Commerce), he earned honors on the All-Lone Star Conference second team (1952) and first team (1953). He also ran track and was inducted into the their athletic hall of fame in 1991.
After college George served two years in the U.S. Army. In 1956, he was named head coach at Hughes Springs (TX) high school, where in five season his teams compiled a 25-24-1 record.
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Source: Odessa (TX) American 17-Aug-1956, Page 14
He died in 1961 and is buried in the Hughes Springs Cemetery.
Rivers, E. J. This 1909 article about the Junction City Soldiers of the Class D Central Kansas (baseball) League contains the earliest found reference of a professional athlete from Oil City.
Source: Topeka (KS) Daily Capital 19-Apr-1909, Page 2
Sullivan, Don Mike (1927-1970) was a member of the 1945 Louisiana Tech football team.
Source: Ruston Daily Leader 07-Sep-1945
He is buried in Coal Town Cemetery, Purvis, MS.
Thomas, British was named to the Red River Conference's first team All-Conference basketball team while a member of the Texas College women's basketball team in 2011. She also received honorable mention honorable mention All-American honors from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which governs small college athletics.
Weaver, Bruce H. "B. H." lettered at Louisiana Tech 1962-1964 at quarterback.
Weaver, John Teakus older brother of B. H. Weaver, red-shirted at LSU, transferred to NW State (shown here), and then to Northeast Louisiana State College (now ULM) where he lettered in 1963.
Another pic of John Teakus Weaver after he transferred to and lettered at Northeast LA St (now ULM).
Just as William F. Bozeman is "Oil City's Principal," Earl Davis Nolan is "Oil City's Coach."
Read about him at Oil City's Coach - Earl Davis Nolan (1907-1987).
Nolan, Earl Davis, Jr. was recognized as a back on the 1954 Class B All-State football team.
Source: 1955 Oil City High School Bengal (yearbook)
The pic below is of him as president of the Centenary College freshman class in 1956. He later transferred to and graduated from Northwestern State.
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| Earl Nolan, Jr. as Freshman Class President (Centenary Yoncopin) |
As head coach of Lee High School in Baton Rouge, LA (1978-1983).
Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 21-Dec-1983 Sports Page 5-D
Oil City Baseball Club was a semi-professional team
Here is an early version of the team in a photo dated 20-Apr-1913.
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| Oil City Base Ball (sic) Team Back Row (l-r): 1. Tom Zagst, 2. Jack Rumsey, 3. Bennie Blanchett, 4. Biscuit Kenney, 5. Catfish Reeves, 6. Ed Grimsinger, 7. Clarence Pate; Front: 8. Sam Richardson, 9. Forrest Osborne, 10. Sam Riggs, 11. Lowe (no first name given) photo courtesy of Ron Newton |
Contributor Ron Newton noted his grandfather Eugene Newton, though is not pictured, also played on the team.
Later the team and its (then) star pitcher DePrader (no first name listed) were found to be mentioned in a 1922 Monroe newspaper article.
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| Monroe News Star 05-May-1922 |
The team, or a subsequent one, continued to the late 1930s or early 1940s, as semi-pro team in OC as late as the 1930s or possibly 1940s. Per this 1970 article about former Southern Mississippi football player and coach James Melvin "Bucky" Waters being inducted into that school's sports hall of fame, he once played for Oil City.
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| Hattiesburg American 01-May-1970 |
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| Oil City High Girls as 1927 Champs |
An article in this 1929 newspaper article mentions the girls playing in a tournament held in Shreveport.
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| Monroe News Star 29-Mar-1929 |
Oil City Oilers/Tigers made Class B state football playoffs in 1939, 1946, 1948, and 1954.
See Oil City Football - The High School Years.
Peters, Clarence Jr. (1920-1944) lived in Oil City per the 1930 Census, where his father Clarence, Sr. was a warehouseman for oilfield supplies. He played C and D league baseball in Louisiana (Jeanerette), Texas (McAllen, Marshall, Port Arthur, Texarkana, Henderson), and Arkansas (El Dorado). Below is a picture of him as a shortstop with the McAllen Palms of the Texas Valley League in 1938. That was his best season in which he hit for a .284 batting average.
He continued playing baseball through 1941. Per the 1940 Census, the family lived in Greenwood, LA where Clarence Sr. was now Clerk, Steam Railway, while Clarence Jr.'s occupation was "Ball Player - Professional Baseball."
Clarence was killed-in-action during World War II. Read more about him here.
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| Dallas Morning News 11-Oct-1951 Page 18 |
After college George served two years in the U.S. Army. In 1956, he was named head coach at Hughes Springs (TX) high school, where in five season his teams compiled a 25-24-1 record.
Source: Odessa (TX) American 17-Aug-1956, Page 14
He died in 1961 and is buried in the Hughes Springs Cemetery.
Rivers, E. J. This 1909 article about the Junction City Soldiers of the Class D Central Kansas (baseball) League contains the earliest found reference of a professional athlete from Oil City.
Source: Topeka (KS) Daily Capital 19-Apr-1909, Page 2
Sullivan, Don Mike (1927-1970) was a member of the 1945 Louisiana Tech football team.
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| Don Mike Sullivan (No. 36) |
He is buried in Coal Town Cemetery, Purvis, MS.
Thomas, British was named to the Red River Conference's first team All-Conference basketball team while a member of the Texas College women's basketball team in 2011. She also received honorable mention honorable mention All-American honors from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which governs small college athletics.
Weaver, Bruce H. "B. H." lettered at Louisiana Tech 1962-1964 at quarterback.
.jpg) |
| B. H. Weaver as a Louisiana Tech quarterback (Ruston Daily Leader 12-Oct-1964) |
Weaver, John Teakus older brother of B. H. Weaver, red-shirted at LSU, transferred to NW State (shown here), and then to Northeast Louisiana State College (now ULM) where he lettered in 1963.
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| Teakus Weaver (1963 NSC Potpourri) |
Another pic of John Teakus Weaver after he transferred to and lettered at Northeast LA St (now ULM).
+1963-64+v2.jpg) |
| Teakus Weaver (1964 NLSC Chacahouls) |
White, Claude (1929- ) was pitcher for the Monroe Sports of the Cotton States League in 1951. He played for various minor league teams from 1949-1954, including the AA Shreveport Sports of the Texas League.
Here's a link to his career stats.
Shreveport Times 31-May-2008, Page 3-A
During his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, the Rebels went to the Top-28 state tournament, losing in the semifinals to Riverside Academy in 2014 and 2015; and Madison Prep in 2016.
Taking a shot against Lakeview in 2015.
Shreveport Times 17-Jan-2015, Page C2
Times 12-Nov-2015, Page B1
Dunking against Episcopal in the state quarterfinals.
Times 05-Mar-2016, Page C1
At the end of his final season at North Caddo, he was named first team All-State and Outstanding player of the year in Class 2A. Below he's mentioned with school mate Jasmine Thomas, who won similar girls honors.
BREAKING NEWS!
Robert was selected 27th overall by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft.
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| Claude White (Monroe News Star 08-Sep-1951) |
Here's a link to his career stats.
Williams, Robert - All-State and Outstanding Player of the Year, North Caddo High (2016); Second Team All-SEC, Texas A&M (2017) ; Probable NBA lottery pick
Potentially the greatest athlete to come out of OC, 10 year-old Robert got into athletic competition early, as he is shown competing in a tug-of-war as a student at Oil City Elementary Magnet School in 2008.
Shreveport Times 31-May-2008, Page 3-A
During his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, the Rebels went to the Top-28 state tournament, losing in the semifinals to Riverside Academy in 2014 and 2015; and Madison Prep in 2016.
Taking a shot against Lakeview in 2015.
Shreveport Times 17-Jan-2015, Page C2
Considered the state's number one prospect, he once played a three-on-three game against NBA great LeBron James while attending a basketball camp. He committed to Texas A&M after visiting College Station in the summer of 2015, and signed a scholarship with the Aggies later in November, during the early signing period.
Times 12-Nov-2015, Page B1
Dunking against Episcopal in the state quarterfinals.
Times 05-Mar-2016, Page C1
At the end of his final season at North Caddo, he was named first team All-State and Outstanding player of the year in Class 2A. Below he's mentioned with school mate Jasmine Thomas, who won similar girls honors.
Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser 03-Apr-2016, Page C2
The following season as a freshman at A&M, he was named to the All-SEC second team; and was named Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches.
Jackson (TN) Sun 08-Mar-2017, Page D4)
Williams (44) blocking a shot against home state school LSU in 2017.
Shreveport Times 12-Jan-2017, Page B1
He is currently in his second year as a member of the 2017-2018 Texas A&M Aggie basketball team.
The following season as a freshman at A&M, he was named to the All-SEC second team; and was named Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches.
Jackson (TN) Sun 08-Mar-2017, Page D4)
Williams (44) blocking a shot against home state school LSU in 2017.
Shreveport Times 12-Jan-2017, Page B1
He is currently in his second year as a member of the 2017-2018 Texas A&M Aggie basketball team.
BREAKING NEWS!
Robert was selected 27th overall by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft.
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