My First Team p3

From 6-28-14

This is the third story on the '59 NCHS boys team. The guards were outstanding, as Billy Dean Rutledge averaged 21 ppg. & Gerald Autry averaged 11 ppg. (with a shot that had no "arch").

Our center, Ed Hertwig, was a Ga. Tech FB signee, who avgd. 11 rebounds per game. When Ed, who wore thick glasses, rebounded he always swung his elbows & nine other players on the court got out of the way---5 opponents & his 4 teammates! Our forwards were Larry "Goose" Parnell, who was one of the finest athletes that probably created more interesting situations than any I have ever coached. Then there was Bobby Mobley who was also a catcher on our baseball team. (This was before Stanley Edwards & Billy Shaw taught me why my players needed to travel WITH me & under my supervision!

(Bobby was driving a car to our Gainesville baseball game when he was looking toward the backseat while figuring his batting avg. & tractor pulled out in front of him.) Bobby's car hit the tractor, splitting the tractor into two parts. (I think this is the reason, after graduation, Bobby moved to California.) I haven't even mentioned the talented Richard Moore, who went on to a fine career playing & coaching in Tennessee, or the fiery Larry Harper & two very close lifetime friends, Perry Haymore & Johnny Capes. And, when you throw in youngsters Bob Mitchell, Allan Rowe & freshman Billy Shaw, you have all the ingredients for a fine team & a lifetime of stories. After beating Loganville in our 1st game, we won 8 straight prior to facing powerful Gainesville High, featuring future football Hall of Famers Billy Martin & Billy Lothridge. One of our players said, "We haven't ever beaten the Red Elephants in anything." In front of a packed house, we sent them home with a 67-58 defeat. The Rams were on a roll, and the NCHS fans were loving it!--the last of the '59 basketball team stories will be in our next post.