Three local athletes honored

Thanks, mom.

Those words were echoed by all three new inductees entering the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night and if there was a common theme throughout the evening, it was that family and friends had a great deal to do with the success of the three new inductees, Ginger McAnally-Ford, Willie A. Phea and Harold G. Perry.

Charles Butler tells about his playing days at Rice University.

A large crowd was on hand Saturday night as Fannin County’s sporting community welcomed these three outstanding athletes into their elite club.

Welcoming the crowd was local attorney Charles Butler, legal advisor for the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame. Butler was also a talented tight end for the Bonham Warriors in the late 1960s and in 1970, going on to Rice University on a football scholarship at a time when playing ball in the Southwest Conference was truly a remarkable accomplishment. In 1971, Butler’s freshman year at Rice, the Owls were extremely competitive, thanks in no small part to the play of stellar linebacker Rodrigo Barnes. Rice fell 10-3 to the University of Texas that year, however during the practice sessions it was Butler and the other Owl frosh that absorbed the punishing blows from the future NFL linebacker with advanced black belt training. But even Barnes didn’t leave more of an impression on the former Purple Warrior standout than the University of Southern California team that came to Houston for a game.

“It looked like their shoulder pads were a block long,” Butler recalled, “but I think USC had us beat before they ever got off the bus.” The Bonham lawyer went on to add, “The best lessons learned in sports are almost always about yourself.”

The first inductee Saturday night, Ginger Ford-McAnally, was introduced by lifelong friend, Donna Hill Baugh.

Donna Hill Baugh introduces Ginger McAnally-Ford.

“Ginger was not only an outstanding athlete,” Ms. Baugh told the crowd, “but she has also made a major difference in the lives of so many young people.”

Ginger is a swimming champion credited with helping develop several area swim teams and she has also helped elevate her favorite sport. Ms. McAnally-Ford began by thanking her parents for the endless hours of support and countless miles to practice and compete. Dr. James Davis was credited with playing a big part in making water sports the focus of Ginger’s athletic ability.

“He has been such a mentor of mine,” Ms. McAnally-Ford told the gathering. “I believe in the four “Ds”…dedication, desire, discipline and determination.”

"I'm very grateful to be here tonight," Ginger McAnally-Ford comments.

McAnally-Ford remarked that she was proud of the swimmers that had progressed under her instruction and pointed out what a comfort is has been to have her husband Ronnie’s help to deal with her hectic schedule.

Ginger closed by saying, “I am very grateful to be here tonight. I thank you all.”

Harold G. Perry was the next hall of fame inductee and he received a sound endorsement from Leonard Gerner.

“In my opinion,” Coach Gerner told Harold in front of the big crowd, “you were one of the finest athletes to come out of Bonham since I’ve been here. I’m proud for all of you,” the long-time Bonham coach said to the Perry family.

"In my opinion," Coach Gerner tells Harold Perry, "you were one of the best athletes to come out of Bonham since I've been here."

Coach Gerner remembered watching Harold jump 20 feet in the long jump as an 8^th grader, but the thing Mr. Gerner recalled best was just how even-tempered the young Perry had always been.

The man introducing Harold Perry was in a familiar role. Older brother Tony Perry was also a gifted athlete at Bonham High School that, like Harold, played at SMU during the Mustang’s glory days in the 1970s.

Tony told how the brothers had grown up playing together on neighborhood teams that would walk across town to take on some of the other neighborhood teams that thought they could keep up with the Perry brothers.

Tony Perry introduces his younger brother, Harold.

“We were a gang…but this was a gang of athletes,” Tony said. He admitted a brother like Harold could make it tough on a proud older brother.

“I’d jump 21 feet and Harold would jump 22,” Tony said with a proud smile. “I jumped 23 feet and Harold jumped 25. It occurred to me that maybe I just wasn’t meant to stand out in this family!”

The graceful wide receiver handled the podium as smoothly as he handled pass routes in the mid-1970s at Bonham.

"The biggest drive in my life," Harold Perry told the group, "was to make my mother proud of me."

“I was always so blessed with family and friends,” Harold told the group. “They say it takes a village to raise a child and that was how I felt growing up here. This was our village and I thank God for the people that have influenced my life. I’m happy, but I can’t help being sad that the one person not here is my mother. The biggest drive in my life was to make her proud of me. I thank God every day for the mother I had and it hurts that she isn’t here for me to tell her 'thank you.'"

After BHS, Harold went on to a stellar career at SMU, making the Southwest Conference All-Decade team for the 1970s. He also was the Southwest Conference long jump champ and Harold was drafted by the New York Giants.

Rev. Cecil Jones introduces Willie Phea.

Rev. Cecil Jones introduced the third inductee by saying, “It was a privilege to watch Willie Phea grow up because he always had a smile on his face.”

Willie took time to explain to the audience just what an impact athletics in Bonham had left on his life.

“The kids teams I coach…their colors are always purple and white. The Neuro Fitness Foundation I run is purple and white. I’m proud to be home. Bonham will always be home and you are my people. If I can ever help, all you have to do is let me know.”

"I'm proud to be home," Willie Phea remarked.

“I never saw Willie blame anyone when things went wrong,” Coach Gerner recalled.

After playing at Bonham, Willie went on to be an All Conference and Honorable Mention All American halfback at Howard Payne University as well as a champion sprinter. He was a free agent with the Houston Oilers in 1978-79.

The new inductees pose with the Board of Directors fo the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame.

Proud papa: Willie Phea and daughter, Alexis.

C.B. Burchfield addresses the gathering.

Dynamic duo: (l-r) Tony Perry and his younger brother, Harold Perry.

Donna Hill Baugh welcomes Ginger McAnally-Ford to the stage Saturday night.