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2011 Hedley Homecoming Court: Hedley High School crowned senior Kassidy Burton (third from left) as its 2011 Homecoming Queen during pre-game ceremonies last Friday. Other members of the Homecoming Court were freshman Kati Adams, sophomore Bailey Wood, junior Jadee Widener, senior Sierra Shelp, and junior Sierra Wheatly. Enterprise Photo / Kari Lindsey
Lessons being learned by the Clarendon College men’s basketball team aren’t just being taught on the court this year.
The team is working to serve others and learn more about the game of life in the process.
“We feel like the message of being a servant and of having a servant’s heart is a lifelong lesson that maybe the kids can take with them.,” CC men’s basketball head coach Tony Starnes said. “They should give of themselves for the good of the whole.”
The idea of serving others applies also applies on the court.
“We tell the kids all time if they are more interested in serving their teammates, then we will not have to obsess over winning and losing; it will take care of itself.”
In recent weeks and months the team has answered phones at the MDA telethon, served meals at Faith City Mission in Amarillo, served meals at the Community Care Center, read to kids at the elementary school, put on basketball clinics in the area, participated in food drives, brought drinks to the Clarendon High School Football team after one of their practices, and much more.
“We have received a lot of positive feedback from people in town and the surrounding communities. There are such great people in Clarendon and in the Panhandle,” Starnes said.
And it’s not just the players who benefit.
“The people we serve appreciate the help, but they really appreciate and benefit from getting involved with the college kids. They see it as a mission field and are very willing to be positive role models for these kids.”
Coach Starnes’ classes have even joined in on the action.
His sports officiating students gathered canned goods last week and donated them to the First Baptist Church’s Downtown Ministry Center.
To expand upon their volunteer work, the men’s basketball team began hosting guest speakers last week.
“Every Wednesday at about 2:55 p.m., we have a guest speaker from the community who talks for about five to 10 minutes,” Starnes said. “The talks focus on being a success in life by being a good husband, a good father, and a responsible adult.”
Coach Starnes hopes to teach the players how blessed they really are through gratitude, selflessness, and an appreciation of others.
“I have learned that God has blessed me with an opportunity to play ball and get an education,” said men’s basketball player Barry Johnson, a sophomore from Lubbock. “I want to give back and be able to help others.”
You can catch the Bulldogs in action around town September 23-24. They will each be working three-hour shifts serving the community in local businesses.
Coach Starnes himself will be waiting tables at Bronco Burger after the football game on Friday, September 23.
Rebounding nicely from their one-point loss in their season opener against New Deal, the Broncos racked up 281 total yards in the win and it was the first for the season.
Vega’s strength came in the air, but their running game was easily handled by the strong Bronco defense that put up a brick wall.
Vega finished with a minus 22 yards rushing. Offensively, first-year varsity quarterback Chance McAnear hit Diego Santos on a 32-yard pass before half time for a five-point advantage going into the locker room.
The other scores came from Williams when he returned a Longhorn fumble for 18 yards and then ran it in from four yards out. The Broncos’ dominated the second half of play with a one-yard score by McAnear and a two-yard run from Williams.
The Broncos will travel to Wheeler Friday, September 9, to take on the Mustangs beginning at 7:30 p.m.
June Miller Cook, 87, of Amarillo, passed away on August 30, 2011.
Graveside services will be held on September 9 at 10 a.m. at Citizen Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements are under the direction of Rector Funeral Home of Amarillo.
Mrs. Cook was born as June Ruth Miller on April 15, 1924, in Mansfield, De Soto County, LA to Maynard Michael Miller and Ruth Lorraine Lewis.
She married Homer Charles Speed in 1942, in Amarillo. Following the death of her husband in 1973, she married a longtime friend, Fred Z. Cook in 1977. June attended Clarendon Junior College and Amarillo Junior College and worked a number of years in real estate sales.
June was a compassionate and loving person who always loved to visit the mountains of New Mexico. She spent many hours as a hospice volunteer and was a member of St Luke’s Presbyterian Church. Her life was spent in love and generosity toward her family and friends. She will always be remembered as a kind and caring person who was ready to listen to anyone who carried a burden in life and needed encouragement and understanding.
June was preceded in death by her two husbands and one son, Mark Abbott Speed. She is survived by two sons, Chuck Speed and wife, Cynthia, and Richard Speed and wife, Mary, all of Amarillo; nine grandchildren, Kayla Mann, Monica Speed, Michael Speed, Sean Speed, Chad Speed, Wendy Speed Smith, Dustin Speed, and Kaci Speed Linn; and eighteen great grandchildren, Jessica Mann, Nettie Jo Mann, Amanda Shipman, Logan Holman, Megan Holman, Kalee Speed, Chelsea Speed, Taylor Bergquist, Connor Speed, Derek Pummell, Aidan Speed, Christy Smith, Taylor Smith, Tara Smith, Savana Linn, Trevor Linn, Tristin Speed, and Dakota Speed; and one great-great grandchild, Shye Shipman.
The family requests that any memorials be made to Sandra’s Senior Care, 2100 SE 38th Street, Amarillo, TX 79118.
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