SPORTS
Basketball court to honor Judge McWhirter
By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net
The late Vernie McWhirter, who died in November 2013, was devoted to the City of Saint Jo.
Now the city he loved so much has honored McWhirter with a basketball court currently under construction in Boggess Park.
The court will be operational in time for a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, which is slated to take place on July 4, during the city’s Independence Day activities.
“It’s exciting,” said Ronny McWhirter, Vernie’s son. “He’s helped so many in the community and this will make it easy to always remember him.”
Dick Cain, project chairman, said, “This is what we decided to do, instead of flowers.”
McWhirter served as the municipal judge from 2006-2013, and he also was the treasurer for the Saint Jo Chamber of Commerce.
“Judge McWhirter’s Court,” as the locals have called it, will play as a 40×70-foot court. See more on this story in the weekend edition of The Bowie News.
Hoops Dallas employees Angel Lopez (left), Ben Nichols and Larry Lang mount a pole for the new Judge McWhiter Court at Boggess Park in Saint Jo on Wednesday. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)
New Saint Jo Boy’s Basketball Coach Terry McLennan said the school’s family atmosphere is what prompted him to join the Panther family.
“This is an opportunity to be an important program but also part of a great community,” McLennan said. “I’ve been looking to get back to a small town environment like the one I grew up in and played ball and this should do that.”
McLennan played basketball in Hubbard outside of Waco. McLennan comes to town after being the assistant girl’s basketball coach in Grand Prairie.
McLennan contends he’s a defensive style of coach but says his team will focus on intensity.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
New Saint Jo Boy’s Basketball Coach Terry McLennan said the school’s family atmosphere is what prompted him to join the Panther family.
“This is an opportunity to be an important program but also part of a great community,” McLennan said. “I’ve been looking to get back to a small town environment like the one I grew up in and played ball and this should do that.”
McLennan played basketball in Hubbard outside of Waco. McLennan comes to town after being the assistant girl’s basketball coach in Grand Prairie.
McLennan contends he’s a defensive style of coach but says his team will focus on intensity.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
After some coaching time in East Texas, Bret Botard will be the new girl’s basketball coach at Bowie.
Botard said it’s a chance to work with Bowie Athletic Director Tyler Price once again. Price was Botard’s assistant when he coached at Nocona.
“I wanted to get back into the area,” Botard said. “It’s a good community.”
Botard graduated high school in 1995 from Del Valle High School, outside Austin, and went to Texas Tech. He started his coaching career in Lubbock followed by returning to his alma mater where he was an assistant for his high school coach.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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