SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Brown controls running dynasty at Boys Ranch
Cal Farley founded the residential children’s facility known as Boys Ranch, located in the Texas Panhandle, back in 1939.
Since 1994, former Bowie Junior High School coach and teacher Kenneth Brown has worked for Boys Ranch Independent School District – and he’s been part of one of Texas’ most storied traditions – Roughrider boys’ cross country.
“While coaching at Boys Ranch, he’s been very successful in cross country,” said former Bowie athletic director Gayno Shelton in a note written to me.
That might be an understatement.
Boys Ranch has won a district title in boys’ cross country EVERY year since 1981.
Since Brown took over the controls of the program from Buddy Sparks in 2002, the Roughriders have garnered six regional championships and two state titles.
This year, Josh Bush will represent Boys Ranch at the University Interscholastic League state meet – scheduled for today. The 2A boys’ race is set for 3:10 p.m. at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.
In 1987, Brown had just graduated from Oklahoma Panhandle State University with a degree in natural science. He drove from his hometown of Spearman for an interview with Shelton.
“I had put out more than 100 applications,” Brown remembered.
After the process, Brown had to know if he had the job or not. Then Bowie Junior High principal Clyde McMurray green-lighted hiring Brown, and Shelton was elated.
“Gayno sort of adopted me when I worked in Bowie,” Brown said. This weekend, Brown was expected to visit with Shelton here in town.
After three years in Bowie, Brown worked at independent school districts in San Antonio and Sanford-Fritch before landing at Boys Ranch.
When Brown started, he was a teacher, coach and house parent, which he considered “tough.” Read more in the weekend Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Kenneth Brown. (Courtesy photo, used with permission)
Bellevue’s girl’s basketball team led at halftime but a quick 9-0 Jacksboro run in the opening moments of the second half would prove the difference in a 28-25 Lady Eagle loss June 15 in a Nocona Summer League game.
Leading 12-9 at the half, Bellevue continued to shut down the inside game of the Tigerettes. Jacksboro switched tactics and began firing from outside. Three 3-pointers in the span of just under two minutes gave Jacksboro an 18-12 lead.
Bellevue kept things close, however, getting on the second half scoreboard with Mattie Broussard’s basket and free throws cutting the deficit to two, 18-16. A Haven Jones 3-pointer put the Lady Eagles up 19-18 midway through the second half.
The Tigerettes had just one 3 -pointer the rest of the way but got inside for a pair of buckets to take a 25-21 lead with 4:50 to go. Both offenses shut down late.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Most school-age athletes start off playing everything. By the time they graduate, they whittle it down to just one or two.
New Bowie girl’s track and overall cross country coach Shawnda Childers is no exception. While at Iowa Park she competed in volleyball, cross country and track before cutting out volleyball and focusing on track and cross country to close out high school.
Childers did not stay with athletics while moving on to Midwestern State University, where she received her bachelor’s and master’s Degrees. After graduation, shestarted coaching in Electra. She came to Bowie for one year, then went back to her old stomping grounds in Iowa Park where she spent the next four years.
The return home also put her in contact with now-Bowie Coach Griffin Fields, who was a coach there at the time. From Iowa Park, she spent the next three years at City View.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
New Saint Jo Girl’s Basketball Coach Grant Gooch isn’t completely unfamiliar with the area.
“We went to Muenster quite a bit when I was a kid,” Gooch, who will be going into his 20th year as a coach, said. “We’d load up the cooler from the meat markets. It’s good to be back.”
Gooch worked with Saint Jo Athletic Director CJ Hantz when the pair were in Throckmorton. Gooch comes to town from Menard where he spent three years at the West Texas school.
Gooch says coaching and education kind of come naturally to him.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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