ALUMNI NEWS VOL. 24, NO. 1

Education for Time and Eternity March 2020A newsletter for alumni of Oneida Baptist Institute

ONEIDA BAPTIST INSTITUTEPO BOX 67

ONEIDA KENTUCKY 40972-0067

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

Oneida, KYPermit No. 4

More Homecoming photos from 2019

Larry A. Gritton, Sr. returns to OBI

Coach Larry A. Gritton, Sr. (center) was honored at a ceremony in the OBI Sparks Gym-nasium on December 7. A plaque recognizing 410 coaching victories “and the countless lives he touched for God’s Kingdom” was presented by OBI president Larry A. Gritton, Jr., while Larry A. Gritton, III (“Trey”) had the honor of unveiling the banner which now hangs along-side several retired jerseys. Many of Gritton’s former OBI players as well as several former Oneida coworkers were in attendance.

Gritton and his wife, Linda, served on the Oneida staff from 1973-1993. Gritton taught many subjects, including French and Bible. He also coached cross country and led his 1992 boys’ team to a state runner-up finish. Gritton also served as athletic director and principal. Mrs. Gritton was a teacher and middle school principal. The Grittons raised their three chil-dren, Holly, Larry Allen, Jr., and Jeremy at OBI.

In 1993 God called the Grittons to Cur-tis Baptist School in Augusta, Georgia. While serving seven years there, Gritton led his 1994 and 1997 basketball teams to the Georgia In-dependent School Association’s state champi-onship.

While coaching basketball at OBI, Grit-ton amassed 410 victories and averaged over 20 wins per season. His 1983 team still holds the state record for points averaged per game over the course of an entire season. That team

The former players who came to the recognition included Larry Watts, Jonathan Elam, Ralph Balltrip, Rick Barnes, Ken-neth Martin, David Barkes, Chris Rogers, Oliver Hawkins, Jr., Michael Bingham, Bruce Davidson, Jeremy Gritton, Charles Caldwell, Steve Say-lor and Barry Williams, as well as former assisant coach Clin-ton Gay.

averaged 95.5 points per game, and it was before the three-point line ex-isted in high school basketball. Had the three-point line existed then, that average would have been well over 100 points per game.

Gritton won over 650 games in his overall coaching career at four dif-ferent schools. Coach Gritton led his Mountaineers to the 1977 49th Dis-trict Tournament championship and the 1992 13th Region Class A Cham-pionship. Gritton’s 1984 team won the All A Classic Championship before the event went statewide in 1990.

Although Gritton’s coaching resume is impressive, perhaps his most lasting legacy will be the lives he touched and countless young people he pointed to Jesus. The many former players who attended the event are a testament to the impact Gritton had on their lives. Many players who were

(Continued on page 2)

We had a good crowd for the annual Hymn

Sing at the Oneida Baptist Church.

Our barbecue lunch is always a high point in the day--- best when eaten with friends.

Mr. Gritton (’93) welcomed Ken-neth “Boo” Woods (’02) into the OBI Athletic Hall of Fame.

Smiles from the classof 1954.

Need to contact us? Amanda Louise Roberts, Alumni Director

E-mail: amanda.roberts@oneidaschool.orgAmanda Roberts’ phone: (502) 387-2833

OBI web site: www.oneidaschool.org

Education for Time and Eternity March 2020OBI ALUMNI NEWS Education for Time and Eternity March 2020OBI ALUMNI NEWS

What are YOU up to?Do we have your most current contact information? If not, please let us know how to reach you. We would also like to hear what you are

doing these days. Any new accomplishments you would like to share? Update us!

In Memoriam 2019-20Millicent Sams Mithoeft ’53 Louise Wilson Berger ’67Carl Edward Queener ’61 Bill Smith ’57 Grethel Hicks Preston, former student

How can you help OBI? Use...

Kroger Community Rewards!

We participate in the Kroger Community Rewards program. Shoppers carrying the Plus card need to register online at www.Kroger.com for a Kroger account and add OBI (PJ 703) as the non-profit organization they want to support. A percentage of each pur-chase will be donated to OBI. Sign up today!

Mr. Oliver Hawkins, Sr. He was on our staff from 1976-1991 and served as principal for many of those years. Died 6/19. Mr. Dan Midkiff, former staff, died 6/19. Mr. George Goeddey, former staff & volunteer, died 7/19. Ms. Elizabeth (Beth) Alexander, former faculty, died 6/19.

not able to be here sent notes of apprecia-tion for Coach Gritton.

Former players who did attend included the following:Larry WattsJonathan ElamRalph BalltripRick BarnesKenneth MartinDavid BarkesChris RogersOliver Hawkins, Jr.Michael BinghamBruce DavidsonJeremy GrittonCharles CaldwellSteve SaylorBarry Williamsand formeer assistant coach Clinton Gay.q

(Continued from page 1) Homecoming 2019 was wonderful! Anniversary classes for Homecoming 2020

Want an easy way to give? Go to our web site and click the “Give/Volunteer” tab, then the “Donate now” button to give via credit card, debit card or PayPal: http://www.oneidaschool.org/ support.shtml

In what other ways can you help OBI?• Pray for our students, faculty and staff.• Tell prospective students and families

about all that our program offers.• Come and visit us to see what we’re do-

ing. Better yet, bring a friend or a group from your church for a campus tour.

• Consider joining our ministry team as a full-time volunteer.

A donation in memory9/4/19

Hello.

My name is Sandra Berg-er - Anderson. My mother, Louise (Wilson) Berger, graduated from OBI in 1967. She was born in 1949.

My mother passed away in January 2018, and her re-mains were buried in her family burial plot in Oneida, Kentucky (Brock - Wilson Cemetary) in May 2018.

Please accept this dona-tion of $500 from my father, Duane, in her memory, and please mention her name in your quarterly alumni peri-odical. I have included a pic-ture of her as well.

Thank you.Sandra Berger Anderson

Is your calendar marked for Saturday, October 17? Can you join us for our annual Homecom-ing celebration? Better yet, come for the whole weekend! There will be plenty to keep you busy!

We especially hope to see you if you are in one of our anniversary classes:

5 years ......................................................2015 10 years ....................................................201015 years ....................................................200520 years ....................................................200025 years ....................................................199530 years ....................................................199035 years ....................................................198540 years ....................................................198045 years ....................................................197550 years ....................................................197055 years ....................................................196560 years ....................................................196065 years ....................................................195570 years ....................................................195075 years ....................................................194580 years ....................................................1940

Don’t miss your special day!Roxann and Steve May looked through Mountain-eers of days gone by...days when they did the photogra-phy and printing!

Homecoming 2019

Younger Homecom-ing guests and their children enjoyed the annual Fall Festival. Face painting, games, pumpkin painting, tie - dye, inflatables and more.

We took group photos of anniversary classes

in the Gritton Gym. The Class of 1979 was

ready to go!

Homecoming 2019

Left: Our guests enjoyed hunting for bargains in the Gift Shop.

Below: Darryl Hensley (’79) and Austin Gatza (’16)helped alumni take on our girls’ volley-ball team.

Below: Earlybird visitors could watch the livestock show at the farm.

Above: Jen-Hsun Huang Hall, our new girls’ dorm and high school building, was open for tours. Guests were impressed!

Above: Paul Arnett (’87) and Pat Arnett (’83)