This has been a two-year project, updating what Jerry Byrd Sr. had in a 2004 book on Louisiana high school track and field. This is a 346-page book, with some feature material and mostly pages of state-meet champions, plus state records and honors.
Would like to put this into a bound book or booklet, but that has not happened -- yet. Hopefully, it can be produced in the near future.
If you want a link to download the book online -- you will need to download the file -- please give me your e-mail address and I will forward the link ...
From Tommy Henry: Awesome, just awesome. Far above and beyond, a wonderful and lasting contribution to LHSAA track and field history.
ReplyDeleteFrom Chaz Caiado: This is amazing. I'm looking forward to scouring through this. Let me know if you ever get this in the booklet form. I would love to let coaches know about this. Once again, thank you for including me in this.
ReplyDeleteFrom Richard Cuicchi: Congratulations on your accomplishment. It was indeed a "labor of love" on your part for this impressive compilation of history. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFrom Sandra Dyson: You will never know how much this means to many families. Wow! Wow! I can’t finish looking at all of this tonight, but it will certainly keep us entertained for some time. Don has not seen it and he will enjoy it more than me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteFrom John deGravelles: Thank you. If I’m not already there, please put me on the list of those who will purchase your book when it’s in hardbook form.
ReplyDeleteFrom David Anderson: This is such an awesome project. Thank you for continuing Jerry Sr's work.
ReplyDeleteIn my very first track race as a senior at Bossier High school, I won the 2-mile at Woodlawn. Mr. Byrd found a story in that effort and put it on the front page of the Journal. Little did I know that it would lead to a career coaching track and field and becoming a lifelong fan of the sport. Two other times that season, Mr. Byrd wrote stories that included me winning and featured me winning the Haughton Invitational with three large pictures on the front page (my parents still have it hanging in their house in Shreveport).
In my early years as a high school coach, I sought out Coach Woodrow Turner and he was a tremendous influence on my beginnings as a coach (we shared more than one seafood dinner at Don's there on Kings Highway and he and his wife always invited me into their home in Shreveport. Thank you for honoring him as a well-respected and successful coach in Louisiana.
Years later, when I was coaching at Ruston, Mr. Byrd and I visited at a local track meet and he recalled with great detail "my story" of how I had never run track and made it to the 1977 state meet. To be detailed and remembered by the guy I consider to be the greatest journalist ever to cover high school track in Louisiana is both an honor and a privilege.
Looking through your files I found that I coached eight athletes that were voted the Outstanding Track and/or Field athletes. ... My memory isnt that good. ... Honored as the LSWA Coach of the Year in '92, '04, '05 and '06, I can't help but think that Mr. Byrd remembered my humble beginnings as a scrawny Bossier Bearkat miler and showed me just a little favoritism.
As I pore over this historical piece, I am grateful for his efforts and yours and all of the other contributors. On behalf of all Louisiana track and field fans, please allow me to say thank you and a job well done. Jerry would be so proud.
From Gerry Robichaux: A celebration of high school athletes over the years by a great team.
ReplyDeleteFrom Coach Juan Plaza: I’d like personally thank you for putting in the effort you did to produce something that is so valuable to so many track & field aficionados.
ReplyDeleteFrom Gary Moore,Woodlawn Class of 1977,Wow!...I ran the Mile and Two Mile for Woodlawn and did make it to the State Meet in the Mile Run with the fifth best qualifying time in our Class AAAA. The honorable late Jerry Byrd from the Shreveport Journal and Gerry Robicheaux had great write-ups weekly for all local track meets..they were very instrumental in my success as a Track athlete and student. Seeing write ups and pictures of your accomplishments were very motivating. I credit Jerry Byrd,Gerry Robichaux, and Nico Van Thyn along with my then Track Coach John Dilworth with furthering my Track career at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where I lettered as a Freshman. These journalist are timeless and we as student athletes and the public were blessed to have them as sports writers. Gary Moore, Woodlawn High School Knights, Class of 1077
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