1970 I of^'ursday, November 26, 1970
THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD, KINGS MOUNTAIN. N. C.
Page 3
>n
^ ^ates Recalls His 14 Years Of Coaching In KM
jOI VV.
X 4n
City
0 H(l.,
With the rosij?nation of Bill I
as head football coach and|
athletic diroctar of Kin-ffs Moun
tain Hiiiih Scho.>l, the "‘old breed” I
of eoaoht»s at that school has now |
moved on.
Bjites was the lost of the tcrew
of coaches which put the Moun
taineers on the football map in
tlu‘ mid-fiftiies.
Shu Cairlton, now at Ashbrook
in Ga.slonia, the late John iGam-
hie, h'red Withers and Don Parker
made up the staff which (mohed
KM to its first Southwest 3*A Con-
fercnce title in 1955.
They repeated in ’5(;, going un
defeated for the second straight
yc’-ar, and then Cairlton moved to
what was then Ashley High
School. Bates then came on tlie
scene and Gamble was named
headccach to replac'e Carlton.
With Gamble as head man and
Bales as top assistant, tiie Moun
taineers continuc'd their winning
w'ays until 19G1 when Gamble’s
health began to decline.* Confin
ed to a wlux-d chair with multiple
.scli‘rosis, Gamble retin’d at t.lu»
end of the ’01 'campaign and Bates
wa.s named head Ooach.
After a 4-5-1 ivcord in his first
yeir, 1901:, (Bates coijched the
Mountaineers to a co-title in the
SWe in *03, finishing 9-0-1, and
he led tlie KM club to an unbeat
en season and the conierence ti
tle in ’64.
Withers stepped down from the
coaching stall in ’63 and Parker,
who coached several outstanding
hadcetball teams at KM, retired
in ’67.
‘‘I’m the last of that old crew,”
said Bates. “And c'oaching all
boils down to the peofde you I
work with, .outstanding men likoj
Jolm Gamble, P'red Withers andj
Don P{irk(‘r. And, of course, thei
kids you’ll never forget. I honest
ly believe that 'peojde in athletic*s I
arc the finest you’ll ever meet.’*
1
“I had never rectlly considendj
getting out Qf coaching before. I
I’m not -really sure of it now. You j
never know if you’re making a'
mistake. But I had to give them
(the administration! an an.->wer.
I fell like I couldn't turn it down.
The pay will be better and Ml
be able to spend a lot more time
with my family.”
Bates said he had considered
leaving Kings Mountain before for
othe." co>?iching jobs but added *'a
coach has real good administra
tive support here. They don’t in
terfere with your business at all.
“The criticism that I’ve got
here Is real small considering the
pal.s on the back,” he added.
“Thai’s why I .say Kings Moun
tain is on(? of the real fine f^xjt-
ball towns -in North Carolina.”
Bates said several pc^rsons had
a big influence on his athletic
career.
“Red Moore, my 'high school
coach at C-owpens, S. C., got (me
to go to college,” said Bates. “The
only reason I went was to play
football. Then, Norman Harris at
Gardner-Webb and Jim 'Brakofield
at Wofford pushed me more into
the coaching aspect of athletics.
“After I began coaching, Don
Parker, Jolfn Gamble, and Fred
Withers here at Kings Mountain
and Shu Carlton at Gastonia play
ed a ihig part in my success.”
'Bates admitted that he had
been disgusted the past few
week.s but didn’t say whether it
had any bearing on his decision
to get out of coaching.
His big disappointment of late
was over the selection of all-con
ference t(?ams. He had only one
player (John Grier! on the team
despite finishing third in the con
ference with a 7-3 re<‘ord.
“The Shrine Bowls and All-Con
ference teams aren’t right,” he
said. “I talked to thrcK? coaches
the other night who said they
vot(?d for our quarterback, Geep-
or H(ward, for all-conference, but
if they did, 1 don’t see how ho
was left off the team. And I don’t
see how they could leave Johnny
Hogue, our defensive end, off.
You won’t find a better defensive
end anyw'here. And we haven’t
had a Shrine Bowler since 1957.
‘7t (his new job) is a soul-
searching thing,’ he adde^!.
“They've been after me and I had
to let them know .something. 1
had been disgusted. .
Bates said he has no idea who’ll
replace him. “With me out of the
picture, I think it .should be up
to Mr. Atkinson (KMHS Principal)
to work with the .s<*hool board in
finding a coach. I would be gl ad
to help in any way I can, but I
think the final d<*cisi(>n should be
left up to Mr. Atkinson and Mr.
Jones, the Suix?rinlendent.”
Bates recallecl some of his good
team.s and phayers.
“I’d have to call the '64 toaTn
my be.st but we had gfx>d t<*am.'
in ’59 and '60. whtm John was
head coach. I’d put that '69 or
’60 learq up jagainst anybody
right now. They didn’t have as
j much depth as our ’64 team hut
, the first unit was just as strong.”
Bates recalled names such as
James Robbs, Punch Park<*r, Don
Ki.sher, Fred Dixon. \Varr<‘n Go-
fortli, Lynn (’heshire, Hub(‘rt Me-
fJinnis. Pat Muri)hy and Riciiard
Gold, whom he said were n.'.'t only
gfKx! f»)>thall players hut “a good
M(^K & .mouf: & .morf: & mgrf:
;al. 2 — b.\tf:s ke; alus ...
nin/li of boys, ;jeriod."
3al»*s said football is better no*,
than it was* when he first begin
I'oaching. “But football play< :.
aren’t any b<*tter,” he said. "Nt/A
we havi' full programs. We u.'-eo
.o hav(- 27 boys on tne u^ain. now
we nave mat many n >ys on mre<*
tiMms. But the* playcTs were just
Its go(Kl back then.”
I Bates .said his biggo.st disap-
j »v>in«jrr‘nt didn’t come on m*"
: playinp heM.
i “In ’C6 or ’07 we had a hunch
! of boys that winil out and got
i into trouble.” he re Mlh' 1. “It
caused a lot of dissention on the
team. It had been going on oil
year and we didn’t find out until
lat<» in the season.”
Bates said his biggest disap-
p)intment on the field came in
'01 wh(m the Mounties were 10-0
during regular season but were
up-:ei 6-0 by Hickory in the o>pen-
ing round of the playoffs.
“W«‘ looked past Hickory to
Thoniawille,” .-paid Bates. “Frank
Bargev (the Hickory coach) had
his team bettor prepared. He
taught mo a Ic.sson about look
ing ahead.”
Askfxl if he’d do an>'thing dif
ferently if he had his coaching
l iUH'er to live over, Bates replied:
"I honestly don’t know. You see
a lot of things you think you’d
try to change. You can win a lot
n: game's on Monday tliat you lost
on F'riday night.”
2, City
ox 353,
y
:!X 352,
Cagers Open On Tuesday Night At BC
/p»i
m
'■V,
•- ■
f .
;t., City
ox 534.
thinks
recog-
i one,
driven
ps.
eciates
i wk
nakuT
fnggets j
Six men have applied for the
pest of 'head football coach and
athletic direV'tor at Kings Moun
tain High School, ac('ording to
pchoel Superintendent Donald
Jones.
Jones .said that several others
had h/,uircd about the job but
had not officially applied yet.
“We haven’t interviewed anyone
yet,” said Jones, “-but we intend
to start airound the first of Dec'cra-
ber.”
PEE WEE FOOTBALL TEAM — Here is the Kings Mountain pee
wee football team, which won its second bowl title Saturday in
Mt. Holly, blanking Cherryville 20-0. Sitting, left to tight, are
Chris Hammock, Chris Burke. Wally Davis, Tommy Burke, Jim
Turner, Johnny Gamble, Bobby Bridges, Scott Moss, Barry Led
ford, and Alcui Cloninger. Second row, Charles Loftin, Richard
Von Dyke, Chip Owensby, Thomas McNeil, Ted Webster, David
Owens, Frank Butler, Tommy Bridges, Scott Ellis and Tommy
Pee Wee Team
Blank Cherries
In Bowl Contest
The KM Pec Wee Team brought
home another ijost-season bowl
winners trophy Saturday by de
feating Chcrryville 20-0. This
brought their sccison’s -record to
eight wins against only two de
feats.
Kings Mountain kicked off and,
after each tealm liad exchanged
punts, Joey Oi'm-and pounced on
a loose ball on the KM 45 yardj
line. It took KM only five plays'
to score from there with Thomas j
MicNcM swooping right end for |
I the TD from 30 yards out. The|
I^AT failed and KM to(^ a 6-01
leid into the dressing room at
halftime.
Kddie Mauney received the sec-
,ond half kickoff on his own 151
.yard line and was still pulling
away fwm the Cherryvillo do-
.fenders when he crosse(i the goal
line 85 yards away. The extra
point try failed and KM led 12-0.
Glierryvillo had its best sus
tained drive 'during the third
quarter but Scott Rhea, who WcUs
out.standing both on offense and
defon.se, put a stop to it when he
Tocoverixi a fumble on the KM 20
yard line.
On the next play, Thomas Mc
Neil bn)ke loose on a fine 8()-yd.
Tun
game on ice for KM. Bkldio An-
dc'rson added the extra points
and KM led 20-0. At this time the
re.servt^ took the fiend and finish
ed the game.
Both coaches praised the de
fense for their fine play allow
ing Cherryvi-lle only four first
downs, reeovc^ring four ifumbles,
and intenepting three passes dur
ing the game.
The Little Mountaineers close
out.t'heiir soiuson next Siiturday
when they play the Wi»st Broncos
from Charlotte in the Little Tex-
^tHc Bowl to be played at Belmont.
W Coach Jimmy Littilejohn, in his
sixth year of working with the.se
young boys, says that he bclievt's
this is the 1)0.51 KM team he has
wer had.
'
Manning. Third row, Edgar Ingrom, John Smith, Dennis Putnom,
Jimmy Ormand. Kevin Lowery, Larry Hord, Dan Quin, Clyde
Kerns, Joey Ormand, Ronnie Wilson, Kevin Tinsley, Tim Spencer,
Bubba Robinson, Robert Herndon, Billie Cashion, Tracey Cook,
Eddie Mauney, Steve Hefner, Bill Easley, Sam Melton, Scott Rhea
and Steve Laughter. Not present when picture was made were
Steve Henderson, Eddie Anderson and Mark Shytle. Coaches in
picture are Jimmy Littlejohn ond Charles Bums.
Jones Says He Will Begin
Interviewing Coaches Soon
Both BC Teams
BegardedAsTop
Loop Contenders
King.s Mountain’s high school
basketball team.s will open sea.son
play next Tuesday night at Bes
semer City. Game time is 7
o’clock.
Bessemer City will already have
two practice games under their
belts and KM coaches Blaine
Froneberger and Alan Dixon say
their teams will have to put forth
a great effort to win.
Both Bessemer teams are re
garded as top contenders in the
Gaston County 2-A Conference.
The BC girls lost only two players
off last year’s team, which fin
ished second in the conference,
and the Yellow’ Jackets are re
garded as being even better than
last year, when they had All-1
American Tony Byers, a 30-point!
scorer, and Gary McNair, an 18- j
point scorer. !
Coach Dixon of the Mountain- ;
cers said he is still not sure of j
his fifth starter. He said (Ileeporj
Howard, Jim Jolly, A1 White and i
Ben Blown will definitely be in |
the starting lineup and that the j
fifth spot will 'pr(i)ably be man-1
ned by cither Chuck Carpenter or'
Vernon Crocker. 1
Bessemer City, under veteran!
coach Jackson Parker, is a well-'
balanced team. Heading the BC'
attack are 6-5 Charles Curry, 6*2
guard Wayne Goode and 6-2 for
ward Theodore Smith. Parker says
he has several young boys up
i-rom the ninth grade and jayvee
squads who are good prospects.
“Our boys are beginning to get
things in order," said Dixon, in
his first year as -Mountaineer
mentor. “We’ve installed our of
fense and look like we’re begin
ning to come around a little. De
fense is what we’re going to have
to do best.”
Lv
LN'
: '>^{1
ALL-AMERICAN RED HEADS — Pictured above are the All-American Red Heads who will appear
in Kings Mountain ot the Community Center on Sunday. Dec. 6. The Red Heads will ploy an all star
men’s team.
Bed Heads Play
Here On Dec. 6 ; Ffeshmen,
The job came open last week
when Bill Balt's, who had -been
on the KMHS coaching staff sint'c
19.56, resigned to take the post of
director of school-eammunity re
lations. Bates had been head
coach and athletic director since
1962.
Although several names have
been to.ssed about, Jones did not
mention any of the apidicants.
“I’m hesitant to call any names
because some don’t care for thoLr
SWe BASKETBALL CABD
November 23
Bums at Pleasant Gardens*
November 24
Lincointon at Stanly*
November 27
Oak Hill at Chase*
I
December 1
Belmont at Stanley*
Ohorr>*ville at Dallas*
Kings Mountain at Bessemer City
Shelby at Plctisant Garden*
December 4
Chaise at Oak Hill*
for the score that '|)Ut the Dallas at Chcrryville*
irt ,>n if*#' fnr FVlHi#' An. n/w.:fvrvmt. f'ltxr nt f'.ritcjf*
B<'ssemor City at Orest
Mt. Holly at Eiist Rutherford*
Stanley at Linc'olnton*
Plea.sant Garden at Sliolby*
December 8
Stanley at Belmont*
Pleasivnt Garden at Burns*
East Rutherford at Mt. Holly*
Taylorsville at Rutherford ton*
December 9
Fossemer City ot Kings Mountain
December 11
Oherryville at Bt'Imont
Lincointon at Burns
Crest at Chase
Rutherfordton at East Rutherford
Kings Mountain at Shelby
December 15
Burns at Btdmont
Chase at Rutherfordton
Shelby at f’herryvllle
East Rutherford at Crest
Lincointon ot Kings Mountain
December 18
Belmont at Kings Mountain
Bums at Chcrryville
Fkist Rutherford at Cha.se
Rutherfordton at Crest
Sludby at Lincointon
January 5
Belmont at East Rutherford
Kings Mountain at Bums
Cherryvillo at Chase
Crest at Shelby
Lincointon at Rutherfordton
January 8
Rutherfordton at Belmont
Shelby at Burns
Chase ot Kings Mountain
Ilast Rutherford at Chcrryville
Ci*cst at Lincointon
Jonuory 12
Belmont at Lincointon
Burns at E«ist Rutherford
Shelby at Chase
RuMiorfordton at Cherryvillo
Kings Mountain at Crest
January 15
Pclmont at Shelby
Chase at Burn.s
>r!hcrry\ lllo at Crest
Lincointon at East Rutherford
Kings Mountoin at Rutherfordton
January 19•
Cha.so at Belmont
Crest at Burns
C'herTyville at Lin(.x)lnton
East Rutherford at Kings Mtn.
Uulherlui'dlon at Shelby
present employer knowing,” he
commented. “I really prefer to
wait and announce who the per
son is. We have had some coaches
from this area to apply and I
would hate to put them on the
spot by mentioning their names.”
Jones said that no member of
the present KMHS coaching staff
has applied for the post.
“But they know we will look at
them first,” said Jones.
Jones said that Bates and for
mer KMHS basketball coach Don
Parker would be asked for advice
on naming the new’ coach and
athletic director. Bates said he
would “be glad to help In any
way I can but the final detlBion
should bo left up to Mr. Jones and
Mr. Atkinson.”
Jones s:iid the new coach would
bo named “as s(X)n as possible.”
January 22
Crest at 'Belmont
Burns at Rutherfordton
Linc'olnton at Chase
Kings Mountain at Cherryville
Shelby at East Rutherford
January 26
Belmont at Cherryvillo
Burns at Lincointon
Chase at Crest
East Rutherford at Rutherfordton
Shelby at Kings Mountain
Jonuory 29
Belmont at Burns
Rutherfor<lton at Chase
(’herryville at Shelby
Crest at East Rutherford
Kings Mountoin at Lincointon
Februory 2
Kings Mountain at Belmont
Cherryville at Burns
Chase at East Rutherford
Crest at Rutherfordton
February 5
East Rutherford at Belmont
Bums at Kings Mountain
Chase at Cherryvillo
Shelby at Crt^st
Rutherfordton at Lincointon
(Continued On Page Eight)
Those colorful sensational and
very exciting ALL-AMERICAN RED '
HEADS Basketball Team arc slat
ed to be in Kings Mountain Dec.
G, at the Community Center.
The RED HEADS, Queens of
big time basketball and undisput-
ed world champion women’s bas
ketball team will be appearing
through the sponsorship of the
Kings Mountain Recreation De
partment.
Tlie “RED HEADS”, a truly great
basketball attraction will meet
the All Stars men’s team. The
game will be played by regula
tion men rules. Last season the
RED HEADS played 203 games,
all against men teams. The RED
HE-\DS won 169 of these games.
Leaders Lose
But Hold Lead
In Bowling
HEADS feature top
in bowlina ipncr girl basketball talent found any-
in bowling league action at .Moun-' - _
tain Lancs Bow’ling Center this
week.
Men’s leader Quality Sandwich
dropped four ga’mes to Vincent’s
Union 76 Monday night but man
aged to hc^d on to a one-ga.me
load over Albert Brackett and
Dillin, ■“
ond.
where — and “Living it up on the
court” has been their trade mark
—and “How They Play the Game”
has become their way of life.
The ALL A.MERICAN RED
HEADS “Magfc at the Gate”
make's this attraction great, and
Healing, still lied for sec-1 as always the Red Heads arc
I drawing them through turnstlies
In ladies’ league action Tues-1 in tremendous numbt'rs. Roy
day, fiirst place , Plonk Brothers! Pearson said that his organiza-
droppt'd three to Griffin Drug but i tion was most pleased at bc'ing
held on to a two-game lead over' able to get this much sought after
second place Griffin. ! attraction to appi'ar in Kings
Mull Ramsey sparked Union 76 ; Mountain.
to its big victory over Quality
Sandwfch, rolling a 138 line and ^ ,
353 set. Gerald Hipps had a 120 i I^^^Hingers Jewelry edged into
line and 351 set for the losers i liftb place by winning thrte
Dilling Heating and Brackett I ^^om the American Lt'gion
split a four-game set, stopping dropinxl tlie Lc^'oit
Central
Open Season Dec.
Kings Mountain's eighth and
ninMi gr.ido ba.'iketball team>
open 197(1-71 play on Dex’emher 4
against Cramerlon Junior High at
Central (jvm.
The freshman team tliis year
will :-)e coarluNl by Tammy Pruitt
and Jolin BlaPx’k will again han
dle the eighth grade team. Both
teams will eempete in the Bi-
County Conferi'nci'.
Pruitt will have mo.-dly the
='a.Tie team which Icvl the Central
team to a banner st'ason last
year. Top praspects include Butch
Blalock, John Plonk. David Lee
Bc'll and Wayne Le-ach.
Top prospects on ri.nlKk’s
eighth gradi' squad include Carl
o.sebcro, Tony Falls, Sie.e South-
.veil, Kenny McC >y. Mike PaysoU:;
and David Lancaster.
The comnleto schedule:
DATE TEAM PLACE TIME
Dec.
4 Cramerlon Home* 7:0(i)
9 Cramertjii Away 4:(!0
14 Grier Away 4:0(t
IT Gaston Day (Sih) Home 4:0*1
17 Crest (Oth* Home
Jan.
11
-Vshley
Home
4:00
14
Gaston Dav
iSth) Away
4:00
18
Ml. Holly ‘
Away
4:00
21
B. Imoin
Away
4:00
25
Shelby
Away
4:00
28
Griof
Home
4:00
Feb.
1
Crest ‘9th)
Away
4:00
4
Ashlev
Away
4:00
11
Mt. Holly
Home
4:00
1.5
EoLmont
Home
4:00
IS
Shelby
Home
4:00
either club from taking over the
lead.
Ronnie Culbertson rolled a 127
team into the cellar.
Glenda Belk’s 113 line and 23('
set topped the winners. Bel(\
line and 347 set to pace the^Din' ! ^
ing team while Bob Herndon’s 134 ' losers.
stopped the
line and 381 set
Brackett attack.
Plonk Oil Co. moved out of the
basement and into a tie for fifth
by sweeping four games from
Ranny Blanton. Richard Bridges
led the winners with a 120 line
and 345 set and Bob Ramsey top
Clarenc'o Plonk claimed scoring
honors in the mixed league Thuis
day, rolling a 134 line and 37t‘
set in Reading the Tubes to three
wins over the Radios.
Jenny Oates scored a 126 line
and 366 set to lead Bob Ramsoj ’s
team to three wins over Dilling
HERALD
SPORTS
'Watetbed'!
MEN'S LEAGUE
pod the losers with a 124 line and' Ranny 'Blanton and Bob
322 set. Herndon split a four-game sot.
Griffin Drug edged a step closer
to the top of the ladies' league
standings with a three-game to
one edge over Plonk’s. Bobbie Mc
Kee scort'd a 129 line and 320
set for the winners while Betty
Fite had a 123 line and Louise
Dover added a 297 set for the los
ers.
Drewes Tax hurt Oates Shell’s
chances of moving up in the
standings by sweeping four
games. Becky Barnette’s 128 line
and Pat Panther's 308 set led the
winners while Jenny Oates toppe^d
the losers with a 114 line and 320
Teams
Won
Lost
Quality S:indwioh
26
22
Albert Brackett
25
23
Dilling Heating
25
23
Union 76
24
24
Ranny Blanton
22
26
Plonk Oil
22
26
LADIES LEAGUE
Plonk Bros.
29
19
(Griffin Drug
27
21
Oates Shell
24
24
Dn'wes Tax
23
2.5
Dellinger’s Jc'wc'lry
21
27
American Lt'gion
20
28
'Uie Rest is up to you'
TIMMS FURNITURE