The "R" Club Meet & Greet and "50 Greatest Panthers" recognition, 10/14/17
On Saturday, Oct. 14, as a part of the annual Panther Alumni "Meet and Greet", the "R" Club held their reception at 3pm in the lobby of Russellville High School,” and the recognition was held at 4:40pm, scheduled between the Logan County Tobacco & Heritage Festival Parade and many class reunions that day and night. They also had the induction of the RHS Class of 1967 into the “Black and Gold Circle". This was the first class to move into this building as seniors and graduate in the Auditorium. The Principal was Mr. R.D. Reynolds, also the father of class member, Rhonda Reynolds Hurley-Jones. Mr. Dickie Switzer announced the classmates and Mr. Mark Reynolds, Class of 1972, and Mr. John Brett Reynolds, Class of 2004, presented the certificates, representing their dad and grandfather, Principal R.D. Reynolds. John Brett Reynolds announced the "50 Greatest Panthers". Seeing this much football talent in one place at one time was a rare event. Since 1935, Russellville High School has been known all over the state for their rich tradition in football. PANTHER TEAMS have recorded 512 wins; 3 state championships 1980, 1983, & 1990; 3 state runners-up 1964, 1966, & 1987; 13 regional championships; 23 district championships, and have had 3 undefeated regular seasons 1950, 1966, & 1984, not to mention the many WKC and SKY Conference championships. The "R" Club committee announced the greatest Panther Team and greatest Panther coach of all time: the 1950 "Golden Panthers" finished the regular season with a record of 10-0. They were ranked #2 in the state overall, and this was well before the class system started in Kentucky. They were crowned Western Kentucky Conference Champions outscoring their opponents by an average of 31-6 and recorded 5 shutouts. Also wearing “Greatest titles” are Coach Jimmy Haynes’ 1950 Panthers as Greatest Team, and Ken Barrett as Greatest Coach. Ken Barrett coached our Panthers from 1976-1997, winning 161 games and losing 102. Under his leadership, we won 3 state championships, 1980, 1983, & 1990, finishing second in 1987. He was the 1984 State Coach of the Year and is a member of the KHSAA and Russellville Alumni Association's Athletic Hall of Fame. Coach Barrett isn’t just a star for Russellville. This past week the Caldwell County native was inducted into the Caldwell County Athletic Hall of Fame. The "50 Greatest Panthers" who have played for the Russellville football program over the 82 seasons since it began in 1935, are as follows: Homer Chapman, John Williams, Owen Chapman, Kenneth Knight, Jim Sanford, Larry Ludwig, James Holman, Huey Hinton, Jere Hopson, Granville Taylor, James Sonny Duncan, Johnny Guion, Larry Johnson, Gary Silvey, Bennie Cox, Jerry Humble, Joe Hicks, Garry Todd, Fred Atkinson, Donnie Baggett, Ricky Stack, Henry Noe, Toby Nichols, Larry Duffey, Billy Costello, Bobby Tattitch, Virgil Benton, Dennis Cabbage, Kenny Hancock, Phil Todd, Jimmy Smith, Tommy Wilkins, Oscar York, Bernard Bellamy, Jonathan Cage, Sonny Green, Brian Fruits, Rodney Gordon, Eric Coker, David Britt, Darwin Washington, Brad Brown, Onassa Duncan, Andre Morris, Andy Britt, Courtney Coker, Teco Dickerson, Dustin Sydnor, Mikie Benton, and Tacorian Darden. Greg Owens said, “I would like to thank all R Club members that participated in this long and very gratifying process. I learned that ‘Panther Pride’ is alive and well in Russellville. The Panther Alumni that gave their time and expertise in selecting this awesome team took this task very seriously and wanted it done the right way.” It was a lovely event and a great evening to be a PANTHER!
Note: additional pictures may be seen on the "R" Club facebook page.