Flashback: The World of Sports – Track and field, Special Olympics, Olympics and power lifting




40 Years ago an Olympic High Jumper practiced in Pleasanton. Susan Ridgway watches as Audrey Reid checks equipment before working out at Eagle stadium.

40 Years ago an Olympic High Jumper practiced in Pleasanton. Susan Ridgway watches as Audrey Reid checks equipment before working out at Eagle stadium.

50 years ago this week:

•A young Poteet farmer, Kenneth Stephens, whose peanuts averaged 96 bushels to the acre last year, was honored as the outstanding conservationist in the Atascosa SCD. “We’re on a tall ladder out there at our farm,” Stephens told the Lions. “We’re just a little way up the ladder, but I’m hog enough to want to get to the top.”

•Record toss by Charles Gasch. Poteet all-around athlete hurled the discus 146 feet 4 inches for a new record in the Strawberry Relays. Leandro Gonzales, Jourdanton ace, took both the mile and the 880 yard run. Tommy Lee, Pleasanton Eagle pole vaulter, soars over the bar. He vaulted 10 feet 9 inches to tie for second behind Richard Hoffman, Somerset, who cleared 11 feet 4 inches. Tommy’s effort was good enough to set a new Pleasanton mark…old record was held by his older brother, Bobby Lee.

40 years ago this week

•Eleven adult students from St. Matthew’s and St. Andrew’s Catholic churches were awarded the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) teacher’s certificate. Those receiving certificates are: Mrs. Joe Echigo, Mrs. Georgia R. Garza, Sister Luz Maria, M.C.M and Sister Delores Venegas, M.C.M all from St. Andrew’s parish. St. Mathew’s parish recipients include: Mrs. Anne Benz, Mrs. Betty Dornak, Mrs. Mary Carol Klumb, Sister Lorraine, I.W.B.S, Mrs. Deanna Myers, Brother Theodore, M.S.F, and Mrs. Joanne Vyvlecka.

•A 20-year old Jamaican girl who has twice represented her country in the Olympic Games was a guest here last week of Miss Susan Ridgway and her parents. Audrey Reid of Trelawny, Jamaica and Susan are classmates at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. The star athlete continues to rise above her latest jump scores as she works out at Eagle Stadium. She loves the fresh clean air of Texas, but jokingly says our skies are not as blue as those in Jamaica.

30 years ago this week

•Special Olympics participants and sponsors from Pleasanton for this year’s event are: Marty Salazar, Christina Patlan, Robert Salazar, “Junior” Olivarri, Ray Alexander, Jean Schott, Marla Hufford, Gracie Guzman, Albert Salazar, Eva Herrera, “Doc” Shaw, Fred Sharp and Bobbie Sutton. These youngsters participated in events such as throwing, kicking, sack races, runs, dashes, broad jumps, wheel chair races and of course the tugof war, which is a favorite among the participants.

•Annette Carlaine Smelley, the 10-year old from Pleasanton, has been selected as a finalist in the 1983 South Texas National Pre-teen Pageant. The next step would be the Miss National Pre-teen Pageant. Her hobbies include canoeing, swimming, reading, hiking, biking, singing and gymnastics.

20 years ago this week

•Winners of the 1993 American History Essay Contest sponsored by the Atascosa Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution: David Glenn, Jourdanton 8th grade, 3rd place; Kristina Gonzales, Pleasanton 5th grade, 1st place; Ross Powell, Pleasanton 6th grade 1st place,; Kendra Whitmire, Jourdanton 5th grade, 2nd place; Jeni Giles, Jourdanton 8th grade, 2nd place; Cassie Newman, Jourdanton 8th grade, 1st place; Leslie Rakowitz, Pleasanton 6th grade 2nd place; and Elaine Schroeder, Pleasanton 6th grade, 3rd place. Winners received certificates. First place winners received medals and will advance to State competition.

10 years ago this week

•For the second year in a row, Pleasanton’s Gracie Espericueta has finished second in Class 4A at the girls state power lifting meet. Espericueta, a senior who competed in the super heavy-weight division lifted 990 pounds in the squat, dead lift and bench press and placed second. Another Iron Maiden, Charity Ros competed in the 123- lb weight class and placed 12th with a total lift of 625 pounds.

• Ashlee Sewell a fifth grader in Pleasanton and a student at Tri-City Tae Kwon Do, competed in a national karate championship tournament and placed first in forms and in sparring. Sewell competed against four 11- year old boys and came out victorious.

ESTHER POKLADNIK, delves into the Express shelves for news of the past. She may be reached at : epokladnik@pleasantonexpress.com.


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