Terrell athletes to be honored

HERALD DEMOCRAT

Nineteen former football players for the now-defunct Terrell High School have been named to the school's inaugural Hall of Fame class.

Leading the way is head coach E.T. Hardeman, who was in charge of the program from 1939 to 1953 and won back-to-back state championships in 1947-48.

Hardeman also led the Dragons to several district titles and had three consecutive regular seasons without a defeat as well as a very effective career as an administrator and civic leader.

Ten players were selected from that title period -- halfbacks Robert "Sonny" Jones and Robert Dave "Bonnie" Butler, end James Malvern, tackles Bennie Golston and Robert Tatum Sr., lineman Leon Pettigrew Sr, C.F. Harrison and James Henry Horne and center/linebacker Eugene James.

Also chosen is quarterback Ed Butler, who is also enshrined in the Denison High School Hall of Fame.

Charles Bell was selected as announcer and broadcaster for his colorful and entertaining coverage of the Dragons' games at Munson Stadium.

Members selected from earlier teams in the 1940s are quarterback M.J. Kukendall, who later coached Orange in the semifinals against his alma mater and eventual 1947 champions. Others picked were end Scott Kyle and lineman Curtis Burton from 1940, Herman Jones, a lineman and back from 1941, fullback Murtis Antone from 1943, end and halfback Nester "Junior" Clark in 1944 and halfback Lovey Pough, Sr. in 1946.

Survivors include Clark, Pough, Bell, Golston, Malvern, Tatum and James. The status of Herman Jones and Harrison is unknown.

The induction, along with the honoring of Anderson, Terrell, Langston, and Walton teachers, will be made on July 25 at the Municipal Auditorium in Sherman during the 2009 Terrell Reunion festivities.