D‑1 Jenkins Independent School District

The Jenkins Independent School District was first organized as Jenkins Graded School District on August 15, 1912. At that time there was 490 children in the district, and the district was composed of three subdivisions; Burdine, Jenkins and Dunham — McRoberts did not become a part of the Jenkins District until April 26, 1915.

The original Jenkins Building was constructed in 1912, with the addition of the auditorium in 1924, the west wing in 1936, and two more new rooms in 1960. Funds for the construction of the west wing were furnished by Franklin Roosevelt's WPA program. The building originally consisted of classrooms and two large playrooms. Basketball games were played in a barn until the construction of the auditorium in 1924.

Consolidation Coal Company built the original building. At that time eighteen teachers were employed by the district. Seven of them taught at the central school at Jenkins, three taught at the branch school at Dunham, and four taught in the branch school at Burdine. At McRoberts there were two school buildings.

Today the Jenkins Independent District employs forty-five and enrolls approximately 1100 students. The district is still composed of the three subdivisions — Jenkins, McRoberts, and Burdine. New schools were recently constructed at McRoberts and Jenkins, and a new school is now under construction at Burdine. The new Jenkins High School building houses grades five through twelve. This building was built at an estimated cost of one million and three hundred thousand dollars.

The following is a list of Jenkins Independent School District Superintendents in the order in which they served:

Valedictoriansº of Jenkins High School:

Salutatorians:º

History of the Jenkins School Band

By LaVonda Evanoff

The history of the Jenkins School Band pretty well parallels the history of school bands all over the nation. The band movement started after World War I, probably as a result of the significant contribution of the military bands to the war effort. The military bands were used for developing the esprit de corps of the troops, to entertain the troops, to sell war bonds, as a public relations medium for the army to communicate to the civilian masses, and part of the ceremony of welcoming visiting dignitaries and any numerous parade functions.

The significant difference in the Jenkins Band of today and military bands is the educational emphasis plus the potential of music as a vocation or an avocation. Many of our former students went on to college and majored in music.

In the early history of Jenkins several attempts were made to get a band started. In those days, almost all bands were community sponsored, and were started by salesmen of band instruments. The salesmen were paid a commission by the manufacturer of the instruments. The salesmen would come to town and sell as many instruments as he could and give lessons for six weeks (exactly like the story of the Broadway musical "Music Man"). One of these early salesmen in Jenkins was Harold W. Glasgow.

To get community endorsement for a solid band program in the Jenkins Schools, C. V. Snapp asked an old friend, "Pop" Lewis, to bring his high school band from Pikeville to Jenkins for a performance. "They paraded all over town and played a concert program standing between what is now Western Shopping Center and the warehouse."

D‑3 After "Pop" Lewis' band played in Jenkins, the people demanded Mr. Snapp find a permanent band director to develop a high school band for the Jenkins Independent School District. The following year a young man by the name of E. Paul Lyon was hired for the task. Because the band director worked directly out of the office of the Superintendent and in each school district, the official name of the band was the Jenkins School Band, representative of the Jenkins Independent School District rather than just Jenkins High School — (this name has not been changed).

Lyon grew up in Van Lear and Ashland, Kentucky. He was a graduate of the Vandercook School of Music, Chicago, Illinois. E. Paul Lyon certainly did his job beyond all expectation; in fact, he probably did as much to put Jenkins on the map as did any one individual in the history of the town.

Because of the work of E. Paul Lyon, Jenkins became and is still referred to as the "good band town." Over the years, the Jenkins School Band has represented Jenkins, Letcher County, and Kentucky in countless events. Even though an accurate record is not known, the band, in the last fifteen years, has played for John Sherman Cooper, Carl Perkins (three times), Bert Combs (three times), Edward T. Breathitt (two times), Louis B. Nunn, Wendall Ford, and Cecil Underwood (while governor of West Virginia). It has performed in Virginia, Tennessee, and Washington, D. C., and has played in the following Kentucky counties: Letcher, Perry, Laurel, Floyd, Pike, Johnson, Rowan, Harlan, Fayette, Bourbon, Jefferson, Whitley, Bell, and Madison. They have been seen on WCYB‑TV, Bristol; WJHL‑TV, Johnson City; WSAZ‑TV, Huntington; and WLEX‑TV, Lexington.

In 1963 the band was invited to play for the Southern Division of the Music Educators National Conference in Asheville, North Carolina, for music educators throughout the southeastern part of the United States. Although the percentage of Jenkins high school students going on to higher education is much higher than the national average, the number of band students continuing their education is still greater.

To supplement Lyon's salary for several years, the American Legion paid $25 a month to have him direct the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps.

E. Paul Lyon was band director from 1933 to 1940. During the war, band directors were unavailable most of the time. No accurate list could be found of the war years. Lyon returned to Jenkins after the war in 1944‑45 and stayed until the spring of 1951, a total of fifteen years. Following Lyon was a Mr. Taylor who stayed only one semester. The next year, 1952‑53, Byron Ashmore was hired and was director for a year. The following year, Sam Ramey was director (1953‑54), who was succeeded by Jack McCarty (1954‑55), followed by Robert Johnston (1955‑56). In 1956 school opened D‑4without a band director. Finally, Mr. Snapp located a home-town boy who was qualified to teach music. After much negotiating, Billy G. McCloud decided to come home from Hawaii and be the band director. After two years, McCloud decided to leave Jenkins School and work for Pike County Schools. Warren E. Brewer was hired as band director in 1958. In 1965‑66, another native son of Jenkins, Larry N. Looney, came home to be band director. After one year, Looney decided to return to his former job at Madison Central High School in Richmond, Kentucky. The following year, 1966‑67, Paul Dotson, still another Jenkins alumni, was hired as band director. After three years, Dotson accepted the band director's job at Norton, Virginia. Returning to Jenkins for the second time was Warren E. Brewer. Brewer stayed at Jenkins for three years, and thus becoming the only band director to stay longer than E. Paul Lyon. However, in 1972 Mr. Brewer left Jenkins and was replaced (1972‑73) by Mike Oliver. Mr. Oliver was a student of Bill McCloud.

It is every student's desire that under Mr. Oliver's careful instruction that it become once again the best band in the state of Kentucky.

The History of Athletics in Jenkins

By Kathy Sergent

Most of the sports news and statistics that we have included in this book are activities of the Jenkins High School. We have, however, included, where information was available, community sports.

During the year of 1912 Jenkins started a Bowling League. It was one of the first ever to be organized. Jenkins tried to do its part in preventing juvenile delinquency by having a very interesting recreational program for its young people during the summer months of 1946. Coach R. D. Barr was hired by the Jenkins Kiwanis Club to have charge of a well-rounded program of recreation for both boys and girls in Jenkins, McRoberts, Dunham and Burdine. The program consisted of softball, volleyball, touch football, basketball, badminton, and tennis.

In the season of 46‑47, the Jenkins Blue Devils basketball team consisted of Charles Davis, Edward Osley, Eddie Joe Cooper, Spurgeon Foster, Willie Coleman, Curtis Crenshaw, William Brown, Arthur Davis, Richard Moore, Edward Oden, Frank Ward, Tommie Boss, Raymond Wright, Carl Alexander, John Adams and Sterling Hartley. These players had a won-loss record of 6‑6. The high point man for the Blue Devils was Edward Osley who served the team for three years.

Also during the same year the Jenkins High Cavaliers dropped 1,431 points through the basket for a record of 21 triumphs and 6 losses. In 27 games, they averaged 53 points per game, against 38 for their opponents, who scored 1,043. Three boys on the D‑5Cavalier team ranked above Region 13 and 14 top twenty scorers. They were Woodrow Crum, Johnny Blake, and Jimmy Mullins. The following boys bore the offensive load; Crum — 374 points, Blake — 255 points, Mullins — 221 points, Brummett — 188 points, Sergent — 145 points, and Bates — 94 points.

The following boys played on the 1946‑47 football roster for the Cavaliers:

Orville Goff

Don Scott

Kyle Estes

Ab Williams

John Ed Sergent

Roddy Sexton

George Pendleton

Ralph Collier

Jimmy Prunty

Don Tackett

Bruce Hayes

Joe Bates

John Henry Smith

Earl Howington

Ray Goff

Victor Tackett

Billy Anderson

Curtis Belcher

George Cline

Maynard Adams

Bobby Adams

Kenneth Stanley

Jack McWilliams

Russell Johnson

James Hensley

Mgr. Paul Wright

The Dunham Blue Devils Basketball squad in 1947 was:

Eddie Joe Cooper

Spurgeon Foster

Charles Davis

Richard Moore

Edward Osley

John Adams

Curtis Crenshaw

Edward Oden

Willie Coleman

James Chance

William Brown

Donald Hudson

Arthur Davis

An Oriole Baseball Club was organized in 1947 for boys between the ages of 16‑21 years. Harless Fleming was their manager.

In October of 1947, Jenkins won the champion­ship of the Lonesome Pine League in Baseball. They won this title by defeating Dorchester in both ends of a double header on the last day of the season. This rounded out one of the most success­ful seasons for the Cavaliers. Under the management of Sam Hancock, hard-hitting pitcher, outfielder, the Cavaliers won 31 and lost 18. The Jenkins baseball team received wonder­ful support and encouragement from the Jenkins fans and wish to thank them for the courtesy and good sportsman­ship shown. Jenkins is finishing the season playing night ball under the new $25,000 lighting system. George Burpo, who belonged to the Cincinnati Reds, finished the season with the Cavaliers.

A list of players is as follows: Sam Hancock, Bug Huffman, Ivan Brush, Joe Pendleton, Jack Prunty, Ray Russell, Buck Rogers, Smith Brewer, Bill Slemp, Tony Dann, Herman Sebastian, Frank Roberts, Shafter Mullins, Henry Horner, Howard Anderson, Woodrow Crum, and John Hibbitts.

The first president, Les Abel,º devoted most of his time and energy in getting the season started, but the load took so much of D‑6his time and was so personally expensive that he asked the club to relieve him. After several requests, this was done and Ransom Jordan was elected. Henry Stapleton was treasurer, Carl Fitzpatrick looked after advertising, promotions, and the grounds. The star pitcher, Brenton Mays, kept the team on an even keel during the last part of the season.

Jenkins entered the professional ranks of baseball in 1948. They entered the Mountain State (Class D) League. The League was composed of Oak Ridge, Morristown, and Newport, Tennessee, Pennington Gap, Virginia, and Jenkins and Harlan, Kentucky. That league was expected to be one of the strongest Class D organizations in the country.

The President was W. R. Jordan; Vice President, S. H. Pope; Secretary, Ray Mullins; Treasurer, T. D. Vaughn; Manager, Sam Hancock; Business Manager, Ray Russell.

The following is a list of the Jenkins Cavalier Football Team in 1947‑48. Ray Vinson, Bobby Blevins, Ray Goff, Larry Hillman, Jimmy Bentley, Ronnie Gallion, Ab Williams, Edmond Anderson, Billy Anderson, Maynard Adams, Joe Bates, Jimmie Chandler, Jimmy Prunty, Billy Elswick, Earl Howington, John Henry Smith, Kyle Estes.

Listed below are the names of the Jenkins Cavalier Basketball Team in 1948. Edmond Anderson, Doby Howington, Jack Robinson, Joe Bates, Maynard Adams, Billy Elswick, George Pendleton, Kyle Estes, John Smith, Curtis Belcher, George Cline, Orville Goff, Billy Anderson and John Ed Sergent.

Two boys, Billy Anderson and Orville Goff passed the century mark in the scoring column while John Ed Sergent passed the second century mark.

The 1948‑49 basketball roster for the Cavaliers was as follows: Billy Anderson, Curt Belcher, George Cline, Orville Goff, George Pendleton, John Ed Sergent, Jimmy Chandler, Kyle Estes, John Henry Smith, Mgr. Jimmy Prunty, Mgr. Herschell Wright.

The 1948‑49 football roster for the Cavalier was as follows: Jimmy Chandler, Jack Robinson, Allen O'Dell, Bill Anderson, Rodney Gallion, Jack McWilliams, Ralph Collier, Russell Johnson, Clifford Honeycutt, Conley Smith, Edmond Anderson, Victor Tackett, Joe Bates, Earl Howington, James Meddings, Ray Goff, Virgil Sweeney, Billy Painter, Jimmy Prunty, Carlos Williams, Don Scott, James Haynes and Ray Vinson.

The 1950 Jaycee Basketball Team roster is as follows: John Ed Sergent, Dexter Pendleton, Joe Pendleton, Jack Dingus, Clarence Bellamy, Mgr., Jack Brumitt, R. C. Minor, "Rollo" Blankenship, Orville Goff, Duward Narramore, Asst. Mgr., Jimmy Combs, P. V. King, Charles Taylor, Publicity Manager.

D‑7 The Jenkins Cavaliers Football Roster 1951‑52: Charles Anderson, Gary Howard, Ronald Litton, John Anderson, Bob Croley, Raymond Carswell, Bill Arnette,º Gerald Woods, Johnny Mullins, Raymond Ricketts, Bobby Cantrell, Roger Pack, Russell Vinson, Jackie DePriest, Bill Bates, Delano Champion, Bobby Collier, Jackie Cooke, Don Marshall, Earl Haynes, Jack McWilliams, Ray Goff, Franklin Varson, Jimmy Stanley, Earl Howington, Captain, Virgil Sweeny, Thurman Tucker, Carlos Williams, Mgr., and Bruce Hayes, Mgr.

The 1951‑52 baseball roster: Jackie Brown, Raymond Ricketts, Ray Pritchard, Jack Horner, Conrad Hall, Jonah Anderson, Bobby Cantrell, Frank Asbury, Bill Jordan, Gary Howard, Leonard Elswick, George Asbury, Earl Howington, Ronald Litton, Ronald Irwin and Tommy Williams. These boys reached the semi-finals in the State Baseball Meet.

The 1954‑55 football roster: Grey, Irwin, Grey,º Elkins, Branham, Blair, Blizzard, Chandler, Blevins, Harrison, Sexton, Sizemore, Bullion, Craft, Hounschell, Yonts, Howard, Witt, Blevins, Brush, Blevins,º Morgan, Horner, Hodges, Elkins, Duty, Asbury, Mullins, Schubert, Mgr., Elkins, Mgr., McQuire, Mgr.

In the 1958‑59 football season, Tommy Brush made All-State and Ross Chaney was voted "Most Valuable Player."

In the 1959‑60 season, Ralph Clark was voted "Most Valuable Player."

The 1963‑64 football season was the greatest season for football since 1957. The Cavaliers won the District 2, Class AA title. They tied for the Region 4, Class AA title. This title was awarded to Cumberland on statistics. Finally, by having the best overall record in the Mountain Conference, the Cavaliers took the EKMC title. The following boys made All-EKMC: Phil Greer, Kenny Blair, Robert Collins, and Thurman Hall. Phil Greer went on to make the All-State Team.

The 1963‑64 football roster: J. Welch, P. Toth, R. Johnson, R. Bullion, J. Mullins, R. Hall, H. Hayes, E. England, T. Hall, R. D. Collins, L. Figger, B. Potter, R. Collins, W. Ratliff, K. Blair, P. Greer, D. Tucker, T. Davis, J. Miller, J. Caudill, O. Greer, M. Barker, A. Johnson, D. Bentley, R. Adams, C. Mahan, R. Greer, B. Harris, H. Belcher, J. Conley, P. Hayes, J. Elswick, J. Stidham, T. Wright, R. Storey, Mgr., T. Fleming, Mgr., T. Wolfe, Mgr., and W. Preston, Mgr.

The 1963‑64 basketball roster: Tony Wolfe, Ronnie Collins, Robert Collins, Chet Mahan, Kenny Blair, Mike Adkins, Dickie Tucker, Jerry Conley, Larry Mullins, David Bently, Phil Greer, Roger Greer, Jim Fleming, Mgr. and Buddy Hayes, Mgr.

D‑8 The 1963‑64 Golf Team: Larry Mullins, Bobby Harris, D. A. Harris, Benny Bentley, Woody Preston.

The 1963‑64 Baseball Team: J. Little, B. Davis, T. Wolfe, Captain, J. Huffman, J. Wright, R. Collins, M. Adkins, E. Hall, S. Sanders, E. Dotson, D. Wash, J. Conley, D. Bentley, L. Mullins, W. Combs

The 1964‑65 Football Team: H. Cooper, J. Bentley, R. Mullins, G. Blevins, S. Collins, E. Conley, S. Webb, T. Davis, M. Barker, R. Greer, B. Arnett, L. Hollyfield, P. Toth, R. Hall, O. Greer, D. Osley, S. Jackson, J. Mullins, J. Caudill, J. Osley, D. Tucker, J. Mullins, D. White, T. Wright, T. Hall, E. England, L. Figger and J. Conley.

The 1964‑65 Basketball Roster: D. White, J. Osley, A. Johnson, S. Jackson, R. Greer, J. Conley, D. Osley, D. Bentley, C. Gallion, M. Adkins, R. Tucker, L. Hollyfield

The 1964‑65 Golf Team: D. Harris, B. Bentley, S. Litts

The 1964‑65 Baseball Roster: J. Osley, J. Huffman, D. Osley, J. Zegeer, M. Adkins, D. Tucker, J. Conley, D. Bentley

The 1965‑66 Football Roster: Roger Adkins, Kyle Walker, David Kelly, Willie Webb, Jimmy Webb, Mark Marshall, Henry Cooper, David Clark, Paul Toth, Brent Arnett, Roger Hall, Sammy Jackson, Jimmy Bellamy, Roy Wright, Zack Elkins, J. Collins, Mike Sergent, Bill Farley, Oakie Greer, Roger Greer, Mike Barker, Charles Norwood, Larry Bray, Tommy Davis, Ronnie Potter, Mgr., Jimmy Bentley, Steve Narramore, Gary Tucker, Ralph Bullion, Chester Mahan, Doug White, Bill Preston, Mgr., Kenneth Ellis, Mgr.

The 1965‑66 Basketball Roster: R. Potter, Mgr. L. Hollyfield, J. Cooper, G. Gallion, S. Jackson, K. Ellis, Mgr. J. Bentley, R. Greer, D. Osley, L. Hollyfield, D. White, C. Mahan, A. Johnson, E. Conley.

The 1965‑66 Golf Team: Steve Litts, D. A. Harris, Marshall Sexton

The 1965‑66 Baseball Roster: G. Anderson, M. Dunn, M. Barker, J. Faulkner, M. Marshall, L. Hollyfield, D. Osley, F. Howard, T. Tackett, T. Childers, J. Welch, L. Bray, J. Bentley.

The 1966‑67 Basketball Roster and Awards: Albert Johnson, Eddie Conley, Steve Collins, Mike Sergent, Charles Reed, Joe Cooper, Jim Bellamy, Thurman Tackett, Frank Gales, D‑9Roger Greer, Jim Bentley, Willie Brown and Gary Tucker

Most Valuable Player — Roger Greer

Most Improved Player — Willie Brown

Most Rebounds — Roger Greer

Free Throw Percentage — Albert Johnson

Field Goal Percentage — Roger Greer

Scholastic — Gary Tucker

Co‑Captains — Roger Greer and Albert Johnson

Attendance Awards (Silver Basketballs): Albert Johnson, Jimmy Bentley, Gary Tucker, Roger Greer, Jimmy Bellamy, Daniel Dotson, Jimmy Faulkner, Willie Brown.

Individual team records for the 1966‑67 season:

Free throw percentage 67.4 — Albert Johnson

Field Goal Percentage 59.4 — Roger Greer

Most Rebounds 325 — Roger Greer

Points per Game Avg. 17.8 — Eddie Conley

Steals 80 — Eddie Conley

Field Goals Made 187 — Eddie Conley

Assists 44 — Roger Greer

Most Points Scored in one Game 38 — Roger Greer

Most Field Goals Scored in one Game 15 — Eddie Conley

Most Free Throws in one Game 12 — Roger Greer

Most Steals in one Game 12 — Eddie Conley

Most Assists in one Game 5 — Jimmy Bentley

The 1963‑64 Track Roster: T. Wolfe, B. Fields, H. Hayes, L. Figger, J. Conley, K. Dunn, E. Hall, G. Morgan, G. Tackett, T. Hall, D. Tucker, P. Greer, K. Blair

The 1964‑65 Track Roster: J. Osley, J. Elswick, D. White, B. Fields, D. Osley, J. Welch, L. Hollyfield, B. Arnett, R. Ruth, R. Hall, R. Greer, T. Wright, A. Stults, H. Cooper, W. Preston, M. Adkins, D. Tucker, J. Conley, D. Bentley.

The 1965‑66 Track Roster: Charlie Zegeer, Bert Fields, Tom Crase, Alec Dotson, Roger Greer, Alvin Stults, Brent arnett, Darrell Osley, Jim Welch, Benny Mullins, Albert Johnson, Rodney Ruth, Doug White, John Zegeer, Lawrence Hollyfield, Donnie Durham, D. A. Harris.

The 1966‑67 Track Roster: Eddie Conley, Brent Arnett, Charles Zegeer, Jimmy Bentley, Albert Johnson, Bert Fields, David Clark, Steve Narramore, Joe Cooper

Honors and Awards of Athletics in Jenkins High School

D‑12 The conference track meet was established in 1967. Before this time, the Eastern Kentucky Mountain Conference had given the track award to the team that won the Regional Track meet. In 1966, track was divided into three classes so a conference meet was set for May of each year.

Following is the conference meet winner and how Jenkins has finished in this competition.

The following track records are as near the actual time as could be researched by Bert Fields, Jr. and Charles Dixon.

Shot Put:

High Jump:

Pole Vault:

Discus:

Triple Jump:

D‑13

Long Jump:

100‑Yard Dash:

220‑Yard Dash:

440‑Yard Dash:

880‑Yard Run:

Mile Run:

D‑14

Two‑Mile Run:

180‑Yard Low Hurdles:

120‑Yard High Hurdles:

880‑Yard Relay:

Mile Relay:

The following boys have finished in the top three places in the state track meet in their particular event.

Boys who competed in track after high school:

In 1967 Jenkins finished third in the state. In 1966 the Cavaliers were fifth in the state track meet.

The following is the way that Jenkins has finished in the region since 1964 and the coaches:

1953 Cavalier Football Team

The following was taken from the Courier Journal, September 10, 1953.

One of the strongest contenders of the 1953 Eastern Kentucky Mountain Conference football crown may be the Jenkins Cavaliers. There are several lettermen returning from last year's squad that won 6, lost 1 and tied 1. The Cavaliers open this home season tomorrow with the Hazard Bulldogs under a new coach. Jim MacKenzie, a former University of Kentucky football star tackle of D‑161948‑51 has replaced Freeman who is now assistant coach at Portsmouth, Ohio. MacKenzie will be assisted by Dave Hurst, a UK footballer, and Tom Price, another UK graduate. Co‑captains Raymond Ricketts and Bob Collier will guide the 40‑man squad. Ricketts is a senior letterman and one of the best triple-threat quarterbacks in the circuit. For the fifth straight year, Collier, a 6′1″, 200‑pound senior, will be the fullback. Battling for halfbacks are Burton Bradley, Burtonº Arnett and Phil Bradley. The line is deep in reserve strength and will have better strength in every position. The flank men are Frank Asbury and Bob Branham. Thurman Tucker, Jack Horner, and Franklin Mink, are all competing to start at tackle. All have two or more years' experience. Guards Carl Baine and Percy Elkins saw considerable service last year. Ronald Irvin is the top choice at the center slot and is in quest of his third letter although only a junior. MacKenzie fears that his team may be over­confident this season since four of last year's victories came in the last two minutes of the game and they were by one or two points. (Coach MacKenzie was later head football coach at the University of Oklahoma and has since died of a heart attack).

1957 Cavalier Football Team

Strange malady strikes residents of Jenkins — epidemic of footballitis has spread so fast and so completely through Jenkins that it is sure no cure will be found this season.

Not since the fall of 1954 has this disease affected so many Jenkins citizens. Symptoms of the disease are loud laughter, bragging of small groups of men and boys collected on the street corners. Many men have been turned into drugstore quarterbacks almost overnight. Such phrases as "We are a cinch for the title," "They can't penetrate our line and Harrison and Elkins can't be stopped", are stated as definite proven facts.

Of course, some of it is exaggerated a bit, but they seem to have a great deal to back up their claim. For instance, returning are 15 lettermen, including 8 of last year's starting 11. Coach Nick Diachenko has a line that averages between 190 and 200 pounds, depending on who plays center and left guard. In the backfield, Nick has returning last year's halfbacks and fullbacks. Only the quarterback will be a new man, Hodge, who has earned three football letters and isn't new to the game by any means. Most Jenkins people firmly believe that Jenkins will win the conference title.

EKMC Champs, Jenkins Cavaliers, thrilled a crowd of some 3000 persons from all over their Eastern Kentucky with their splendid play in defeating a northern champ, Cattlesburg, 26 to 7. The green team moved at will against the wildcats and were only denied by their own mistakes. Penalties nullified two Cavalier touchdowns in the first period and caused the Letcher Countians 110 yards. Leading the Cavaliers was Harrison, Elkins, Brush and Chandler. Harrison scored two touchdowns, and jumped to the scoring lead with 118 points. D‑17Harrison picked up 180 yards from scrimmage to earn him one of the Most Valuable Player trophies for the bowl game. Big Bill Elkins had his finest night as he carried three or four wildcats in almost every case. Elkins directed the striking Cavalier defense which held the Cattlesburg offense to only 71 net yards, while the Big Green had 191 yards. Elkins collected 8 unassisted tackles and averaged 5.7 per carry. Brush was the mainstay of the line, grabbing 8 tackles and a fumble.

The feat accomplished by Kenneth "Poo" England may never be repeated in high school football. Early in the second period after Elkins had smashed over for Jenkins' second touchdown, England split the uprights for what seemed to be a second extra point, but a penalty moved the ball back to the 17. We assumed that the team would try to pass for the point, but Harrison got down on the 29 to hold. England's toe hit the ball and the kick was perfect — but wait — not again — the referee picked up the ball and marched to the Jenkins 22 saying Jenkins was in motion. Moaning from the fans but died to a whisper as again Harrison kneeled on the 36 in order for "Poo" to kick. A chill of expectation swept the stands as the team lined up; not a whisper could be heard as the ball was snapped. Everyone held their breath as the shoe met the pigskin. Up, up, swept the ball, and it sailed over the bar! Everyone in the stadium was on his feet. The interest was so great, the score was forgotten about the rest of the quarter. Jenkins got their final score in the last half, and the final was 26 to 7 in favor of Jenkins in the Big Sandy Bowl Games in 1957.

Elkins, Harrison, Hodges, Asbury, Brush, Chandler — all names of players who will some day play college ball. This along with Stoffer, England, Mullins, Yonts, and Miller comprise what a great many people believe to be the best football team ever to wear the green and white.

1957 Cavalier Basketball Team

Article on December 26, 1957: Little Emory Smallwood, driving, made a 40‑foot set shot and brought Jenkins victory over Dorton. The game, which sent Harrison a 50‑footer with only 2 seconds left — the ball bounced off the backboard to the waiting hands of Jimmy Tolliver, who dropped in a crip as the horn sounded, and gave Jenkins a victory of one point over Dorton.

Article on December 5, 1957: Jenkins dropped to Elkhorn City by a score of 74 to 57 in the new field house at Jenkins. A crowd of 700 persons proved what could be accomplished if an adequate gym were available.

1958 Cavalier Football team

The following article was taken from the Mountain Eagle in October, 1958: Nick Diachenko has done an excellent job this year D‑18at Jenkins. Saturday's victory over Elkhorn City is Jenkins' 19th under Diachenko and Morgan in a three-year span. No other Jenkins coach has won more than 10 games in the past twenty years. Jenkins lost 9 of its first team backs of last year's champion­ship team. Diachenko will be taking Jenkins to its second consecutive bowl when the Cavaliers engage Knox Central in the Pinnacle Bowl on November 8. Selected on the All-South team was Jenkins tackle, Tom Brush.

In the 1958 football season, Randall Chandler paced the Cavalier defenders with 89 tackles, Brush with 86; England, 83; Elkins, 68; Mullins, 64; "Doe" Clark, 63; Howard, 59; Chaney, 44; Dann, 39; Polly, 34. Tom Brush made All-State in 1958. Coach Diachenko played Brush offense fullback this season. He carried the ball 141 times and averaged 6.8 yards per carry, but it was the position of defensive tackle that Brush really stood out. Tom has signed with U. K.

A magazine was published in 1958 called the Excel. It was about sports and was published by Percy Elkins and Clyde Quillen. Percy Elkins was the editor and Clyde Quillen did the art work. It states that the Jenkins football season in 1958 was opened with Ketron High School, Kingsport. It stated that Jenkins was riding a 10‑game winning streak and had retained 14 lettermen from last year's EKMC and Big Sandy Bowl Champs. In the Kentucky-West Virginia all-star game played at Williamson each year, West Virginia defeated the Kentucky All-Stars 21 to 6. Jenkins had several boys playing in the all-star games including Gary Harrison, Russell Asbury, Bill Elkins and Frank Hodges. The cheerleaders in 1958‑59 were Anita Wright, Eloise Pritchard, Karen Goins and Ina Kay Goins.

1963, 1964, 1965 Cavalier Basketball Team

One of the basketball coaches at Jenkins was a man by the name of Virgil Osborne, who coached at Jenkins in 1963, 64 and 65 basketball seasons. In 1964 Jenkins was 23 in the state. In 1964‑65 Jenkins was 21 and went to the semi-finals of the region. Osborne was head coach for several years. He took Virgie to the state tournament in 1961‑62, defeating Long Jack in the first game, then lost to Breathitt County. Virgil Osborne's record for coaching was 264 wins and 48 losses.

1970‑71 Cavalier Basketball Team and Football Team

In the 1970‑71 Basketball season the basketball coach was Bill Back and the football coach was Tom Brush. In the 1968‑69 football season the team had a record of 9 and 1. The coach was Tom Brush. In the first game, Jenkins defeated Elkhorn City 18 to 12, they defeated Hazard 34 to 13, Fleming-Neon 67 to 14, Prestonburg 31 to 0, John's Creek 30 to 6, Whitesburg 24 to 6, Cumberland 51 to 7. They lost to Pound 2 to 13, defeated Wheelwright 60 to 0 and Pikeville 60 to 13. Some of the players on the team were Steve Narramore, Jimmy Bentley, David Toth, Jimmy "Bear" Bellamy, Mike Sergent, Joe D‑19Cooper, David Kelly and Larry Bray.

In the 1967‑68 basketball season the coach was Don Burton and the assistant coach was John LeGuire. The co‑captains were Eddie Conley and Joe Cooper. The 1967 football team was coached by Tom Brush and the team defeated Fleming-Neon 12 to 6. In 1967 the team won 7 games and lost 4.

In the 1965‑66 football season the head coach was Raymond Ricketts and the head basketball coach was James Frances.

In 1963 Jenkins won the district 2, class double A title. They tied for the regional fourth class double A title. The title was awarded to Cumberland on statistics by having the best overall record. The Cavaliers won the EKMC title. Phil Greer, Kenny Blair, Robert Collins, Thurman Hall were All-EKMC and Phil Greer was All-State.

Bits and Pieces in Sports

The Mountain State League Standing in the 1950 season was 1. Norton, 2. Hazard, 3. Big Stone Gap, 4. Middlesboro, 5. Jenkins, 6. Morristown, 7. Newport, 8. Pennington Gap. Jack Hall led the league with a batting average of .389. He also broke the record with four two-base hits in one game.

The basketball coach in 1936 was Lauder. Pound defeated Jenkins 11‑18 in overtime in 1936 with Mullins the high point man with 8 points. Ticcoº was appointed most valuable player of the tournament in 1936. The 1936‑37 basketball season record was 11‑7. The prospects for the 1937‑38 season were good with Ticco, Elam, Darnby, Mullins and Greer.

The Jenkins Jaycees sponsored four teams of baseball for boys between the ages of 11‑15 in 1949. Those teams were Burdine, Dunham, Main Street and the Mudcats. The Mudcats won the champion­ship in the Junior Baseball League.

The Jenkins Athletic Field, Inc. was organized in 1947 as an independent non-profit corporation by local citizens interested in the promotion of recreational opportunity in the community. When the charter was received, Consol donated the land. Since the formation of the association it has spent approximately $40,000 for improvements and enlarging the field. Some improvements were the installation of the best lighting system in Eastern Kentucky and the construction of a 10‑foot high aluminum fence, dugouts for the players. A new 24‑passenger Dodge bus was purchased, which is available upon lease to the Jenkins Baseball Club, Jenkins High School and other local athletic organizations.

The following was given by Gene Auxier and is about the Mountain State League or Professional Baseball. In 1948 these were the teams D‑20that made up the Mountain State League: Pennington Gap, Va., Morristown, Tenn., Newport, Tenn., Harlan, Hazard and Jenkins. The Mountain State League was organized on January 11, 1948 at Middlesboro, Kentucky. Officers of the League were: Virgil Q. Wacks, President; Dr. Hobert Fulton, Secretary-Treasurer; and G. L. Abel​a was on the Board of Directors for Jenkins. The President of the Jenkins Cavaliers was G. L. Able. Mr. Able and his board of directors have been working on the field which will be one of the best by next year. The Jenkins Cavaliers were made of the following people: Cotton Thomas, Sam Hancock, Brenton Mays, Walter Barris, Tommy Morris, Joe Cline, Joe Dotson, Joe Stephens, Jack Hall, Don McArthur, Bug Huffman, Willie Jones, Johnny Mack, Jack Pearl, and Pearl Strong. The batboy was Creech.

From the Quadrangle, the high school newspaper of Jenkins High School — in 1937, Jenkins defeated Fleming-Neon in basketball 29‑25. In scoring Ticoº had 5 points and Hastings had 10 points.

Outstanding in high school football at Jenkins were Walter Malick, Red Horner, Tony Dann, and Elmer Bradley. In baseball, Class D, Ivan Brush, Ray Russell, Tony Dann, Bug Huffman, Warren Yonts, and Lee Peterson.

There have been many great teams and players at Jenkins, but because of time and material limitations, we were not able to include every person that played sports or every team. We have, however, tried to hit a few of the highlights. Walter Malick, as most people say, was probably one of the greatest ball players here in the 1930's. There have been other great players during the years such as Jimmy Bentley, Jerry Conley, Steve Narramore. Back in the 50's Bill Elkins, Tom Brush, Garry Harrison, and Frank Hodges who went on to Class Triple A baseball. Of course, there are many others but this was just a quick survey.

One boy that stands out was Charles Reed from McRoberts. In four years at Jenkins, he participated in track, football, and basketball — football one year, basketball four years, and track four years. In his junior year, he scored 160 points and in his senior year over 200 points and in the conference meets he was long jump, triple jump and low hurdle champion two years straight in 1969 and 1970. For two years, in 1969 and 70, he won the Most Valuable Player Award at the Mountaineer Relays. He was the Most Valuable Player in 1970. He holds the school records in long jump, 21.9 — triple jump, 45.2 — he tied the school record in 1970 in low hurdles held by Joe Cooper, 20.8. Charles went on to Cumberland College. In the Davidson Relays, he won the long jump champion­ship in 1972, the NAIA District 24 triple jump champion­ship in 1971. He won 20 trophies and medals at Cumberland in 1971 and 72. He was runner‑up in 1971 in the KIAC long jump. He was the triple jump champion in his freshman and sophomore years, fourth in point totals as a freshman, second in point totals as a sophomore. He won the Outstanding Athlete Award at Cumberland in 1972. In football, he D‑21scored 112 points and was most valuable player in 1970, outstanding back award — honorable mention All-State and in the Elkhorn City game, the first game of the 1970 season, Charles scored 26 points as Jenkins defeated Elkhorn City. In four years of basketball, he averaged 22 points as a senior, was Most Valuable Player, 1970 — All‑EKMC 1970, All Wheelwright Invitational Tournament 1970, Best Field Goal Percentage 1970.

Another athlete that we haven't mentioned is Joe Cooper, who was very instrumental in track and basketball, and did a good job in football his senior year.

Bobby Bowman managed the Jenkins team of the Mountain State League in 1950. Bowman and Claude Creech, vice president of the club, will make the rounds of baseball in Florida to scout for new players for the Cavaliers. Bowman began his baseball career in Jenkins in 1930, then in the old Lonesome Pine League.

The Jenkins Cavalier basketball team of 1949‑50 had a 12‑15 record. The team consisted of Curtis Belcher, Maynard Adams, Larry Hillman, Coach Saylor, Ray Goff, Dobey Howington, James Chandler, Ray Vinson, John Henry Smith, Jim Prunty and Kyle Estes. Maynard Adams won all Big Sandy Conference. Earl Howington, Curtis Belcher and Jimmy Chandler were chosen All-District.

Jenkins High School did not have a football team in 1943. In 1944 they defeated Whitesburg twice 13‑0 and 13‑6. Fleming defeated Jenkins twice 20‑0 and 27‑6. The coach was Ray G. Russell. The basketball team that year was coached by Sayler, a graduate of Union College. In the first game of the season they defeated Kingdom Come 100‑13. The cheerleaders for the year were: Mary Lou Bartley, Mary Lou Shubert, Roberta Hayes, Martha Jane McClelland, with Jeraldine Malick as their captain.

The 1945‑46 Dunham basketball team started practice on the ground; however, Principal G. W. Parks and School Superintendent C. V. Snapp, were able to provide a gym. They ended the year with 5 victories. The team consisted of Lin Garden, Eddie Joe Cooper, Spurgeon Foster, Charles Davis, Edward Osley, William Coleman, Richard Moore and Willie Earl Brown.

The 1946 football team played a very tough schedule but was able to win half of their games. They were led by such people as Ray Burgess, Richard Smith, Truman Conley, Wayne Collins, Jimmy Kelly, David Powers, Jimmy "Moon" Mullins, and Greg Bates. The coach of the 1946 team was Coach Saylerº and his assistant, Joe Pendleton, a former Cavalier graduate who played under Saylor.º

Woody Crum, son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Crum, was an outstanding performer for Union College in 1948. In two games against Morehead and Berea, Crum was the high point man. Crum was captain of the Jenkins team during his senior year.

D‑22 The coach of the Dunham Blue Devils in 1948 was Mr. Cornett. The starting team members were Curtis Crenshaw and Edward Oden as forwards, Edward Osley as center with Charles Davis and Willie Coleman as guards.

The Jenkins basketball team in 1948‑49 consisted of Edmond Anderson, Doby Howington, Jack Robinson, Joe Bates, Maynard Adams, Billy Elswick, George Pendleton, Kyle Estes, John Smith, Curtis Belcher, George Cline, Orville Goff, Billy Anderson and John Ed. Sergent.

Curtis Belcher, a 6′3″, 220‑pound Jenkins lad, received a letter from Coach "Bear" Bryant asking him to be a guest at the UK‑UT football game. While there Belcher was asked to report for spring training for a try‑out with UK. He was a senior at Jenkins in 1949.

The 1947 football team under the direction of Coach Parr had a good season. The following boys scored points for Jenkins: Sergent, Williams, Sexton, Anderson, Blevins, Belcher, Prunty, Stanley and Hensley. The forwards were Bobby Adams, Stanley Goff, Hensley, Pendleton, Billy Anderson, Tackett, Estes, Sweeny, Collier and Cline.

From the football program that was put out on September 4, 1971 when the Jenkins Cavaliers played Elkhorn City. The coaches for this season were: Tom Brush, head coach; Robert Collins and Jack Little, assistant coaches. The backs for Jenkins were William Gales and Ricky Sparks. The cheerleaders for 1971 were: Gaye Bellamy, head cheerleader, Sheila Brown, Julia Damron, Sharon Evanoff and Debbie Evans.

The Jenkins High School Baseball team in 1951 reached the finals of the State High School Tournament in Louisville. The Cavaliers won the region by defeating Belfry 4 to 2. The Cavaliers were defeated by St. Joseph High School in extra inning play 14‑13. The members of the team were Jackie Brown, Bill Jordan, Raymond Ricketts, Gary Howard, Ray Pritchard, Leonard Elswick, Jack Horner, George Asbury, Conrad Hall, Earl Howington, Jonah Anderson, Ronald Litton, Bobby Cantrell, Ronald Ervin, Frank Asbury, and Tommy Williams. The coach was Cleston Saylor and the principal was Roger L. Wilson.

D‑23 Coaches — Jenkins High School

Football

Basketball

Baseball

Track

Golf

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Thayer's Note:

a My print edition has Able thruout (except once when it has Abels), but Tony Abel, Les Abel's son, confirmed in an e‑mail that his father is meant, whose full name was George Lester Abel. An interview with Les Abel is in Section G, pp65‑66.

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