Together again, 40 years later, the Southwest Patriots of Duck Richardson (story and videos)
Left to right: Eddie Ashley, David Burch, Kevin Sark, Michael Hunt, Donnie Hester, Carl Tyler< Carl Hardnett, Terry Fair, Fred Pitts, Shelton Hudson, Alonzo “Mickey” Patrick, Adonna and Chasity Richardson (granddaughters of late coach Don Richardson), Eric Hightower, Glenn Harden (behind Hightower), Clint Whitehead, Elvin Malone Sr. (Jeff Malone’s dad), Henry Goss, Bobby Jones, Henry McCarthy (and Ronald Taylor aiding McCarthy).
Photo: Michael A. Lough/The Sports Report of Central Georgia, www.centralgasports.com
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
There was a wheelchair for one, a walker for the father of another. Some wore a dashing or sporty hat. And more than not looked like they were in, so to speak, playing shape.
Apparently, four-hour practices had an effect that lasted four decades.
The memories came flowing back for Terry Fair, Bobby Jones (middle), and Michael Hunt (glasses) at the reunion of Southwest's 1978-79 basketball team. (Editor’s note: The video is a little raw, as the sitdown developed, and is 23 minutes long covering plenty)
Video: Michael A. Lough/The Sports Report of Central Georgia, www.centralgasports.com
The last time Terry Fair was on the court? When Southwest beat Northeast 40 years ago.
For pretty much the first time since they walked off the court to end that legendary season, the Patriots of 1978-79 gathered at the Coliseum to commemorate the milestone.
And some hadn't seen each other in awhile.
Video: Michael A. Lough/The Sports Report of Central Georgia, www.centralgasports.com
The only two players not on hand were Dewayne Tharp and Jeff Malone, that latter represented by his dad who fit in as though he played.
Head coach Don Richardson was represented by his granddaughters Chasity and Adonna, who heard plenty about the man who went 463-90 in his high school career and died in 2011.
hugs when he got to the Coliseum.
Video: Michael A. Lough/The Sports Report of Central Georgia, www.centralgasports.com
Fair, Michael Hunt, and Bobby Jones sat in the Monument Room for much of the second quarter and talked about what had brought them together, pretty much for the first time since they were in the building as players hoping not to get Richardson angry enough to get in their face with his smoker’s breath.
Yeah, there was a fog of smoke back in those days, and Richardson’s habit wasn’t interrupted by practice, and maybe sneaking a puff while a game was going on.
As Fair talked about the conditioning and drills where there wasn’t a ball in sight, his face showed that he was just about reliving the pain of those exercises.
The Patriots received plaques, courtesy of the GHSA, during the halftime ceremony.
Video: Michael A. Lough/The Sports Report of Central Georgia, www.centralgasports.com
Fair was one of the later arrivals, but not late, and the moment – and those familiar but aged faces – seemed to get him from the start. He gave a solid, heartfelt hug – not a soft “Hey, how’s it going?” and move-along hug – to every teammate and manager he saw.
Players and managers were interchangeable in the hugs and handshakes, and finally the time came for the acknowledgement.
followed the halftime ceremony, and a gathering at Buffalo Wild Wings completed the evening.
Video: Michael A. Lough/The Sports Report of Central Georgia, www.centralgasports.com
The GHSA surprised the group by presenting each member with a plaque marking the season, and it also provided special basketballs for each player to sign and take home.
“That was awesome,” said guard Henry Goss. “The GHSA did us right, they really did.”
There was talk of somehow perhaps organizing another reunion in something of a public setting, to allow so many who followed the Patriots 40 years ago the chance to relive those days with those who made them so memorable.