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Page 1: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

The Captain Shreve Enterprise-

Shreveport, Louisiana Captain Shreve High School Price 50¢

Page 2: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

Page2 THE COACH

Excellence is evident thrDugiJDut his cfJreer 1977 is the eleventh year in the exis­

tence of Captain Shreve High School. It is also the eleventh year Lee Hedges has been head coach of the Shreve foot­ball team and his record over the past ten years speaks for itself: one state champion, for district champions, eight playoff teams and an overall record of 155-67-1 0.

Where did it all begin? A coaching career. Where does a

coaching career start? How does a coach become a coach? It all started for Lee He.dges on the athletic fields of Fair Park High School.

The ideals, the values, the philoso­phies that Hedges would carry through­out his coaching career were formed at Fair Park High School while he was starring in the Indians' athletic pro­gram. Hedges was a four year letter­man in three sports: baseball, basket­ball and football. In his senior year he made what was then called the "All­North Louisiana Team" as second team halfback.

From this you gather that Lee Hedges was a good high school athlete with loads of God-given natural ability, but that really wasn't the case as long­time personal friend , and Captain Shreve Principal Stanley Powell ex­plains, "Lee Hedges was an outstanding high school athlete as we all know and as his athletic achievements at Fair Park clearly point out. Lee, however, was not one of those athletes blessed with tremendous physical abilities or natural-God given talent, but he has one of those intangibles that always make the difference. What Lee had was the incredible desire to be better than what he was; so he put forth a special effort, worked extra hard and became the out­standing athlete that he was then, and the excellent coach he is today ."

Breakdown 1948 Graduate of Fair Park 1953 LSU 's Fighting Tigers 1952-53 Minor League Baseball at Baton

1955 1956-59 1960-65 1966 1967-

Rouge Assistant coach at Fair Park

Head coach at Byrd Head coach at Woodlawn

Assistant coach at La. Tech head coach at Captain Shreve

After graduation from Fair Park, Hedges attended college at LSU in Baton Rouge, where he starred on both the baseball and football teams. He lettered in both sports and is currently third ranked on the all-time minutes played list at the Baton Rouge school.

While on the football team at LSU , Coach Hedges became one of only two Shreveport players-Byrd's David Woodley is the other-to ever play quarterback for the "fighting" Tigers. Hedges also played on one bowl team while at LSU , the 1949 Tiger squad which lost the Sugar Bowl to the nation­al champions, the Oklahoma Sooners, · ·· 35-0.

In The Minor league

Football, then as now was Lee Hedges' main sport, but he still loved to play baseball and he spent two years, 1952-53, playing minor league base­ball for the New York Yankees organiza­tion on a Class C team at Baton Rouge.

Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55 serving his country in the armed forces, but he returned in the fall of 1955 to begin his coaching career as assistant football and head baseball coach at his old alma mater, Fair Park High School.

In the fall of 1956, Lee Hedges re­ceived his first head coaching job as he moved across town from Fair Park to Byrd to become head mentor of the yellow Jackets, a perennial football powerhouse. The Jackets did not lose their touch under the tutaledge of Lee Hedges as they compiled four straight winning seasons under him from 1956 through 1959. The best of these seasons was 1958 when Hedges took the Yellow Jackets all the way to the state finals, only to lose 14-7.

1960 brought another change in Lee Hedges' coaching career as Caddo Parish opened a new high school, Woodlawn. Hedges moved in as the first head coach in Knight history . Dur­ing his five years at Woodlawn, 1960-1965, Hedges instilled a winning foot­ball tradition that has helped Woodlawn football teams be annual playoff con­tenders almost since the school's in­ception.

Hedges' best year at Wood lawn came in 1965 when with Terry Brad­shaw calling signals at the quarterback slot, the Knights rolled all the way to the state championship game where they lost a heartbreaker, 12-7.

"The tvill to excell nnd tile tvill to min, tlley en• dure. Tiley are nuJre hn· portnnt tllan tile events that occusion tlletn.'

Vince Lombardi

The wind of change moved across Lee Hedges life again in both 1966 and 1967. In ' 66 he moved from the high school ranks to the college ranks as an assistant coach on Joe Aillet's staff at Louisiana Tech University . Then in '67 Hedges moved back into a high school coaching job, taking over the reigns of the then newly-opened Cap­tain Shreve High School.

Captain Shreve has been open eleven years now , yet in the short space of ten years , Lee Hedges has built the Gator football program into one of the most respected in the state.

Eight playoff teams, four district cham pions and that g real undefeated 1973 state championship team-and all of this in just ten years. As long as Lee Hedges is on hand the future of Captain Shreve football will be very bright. VERY BRIGHT INDEED!

Page 3: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

On Friday night , October 14, 1977, the Captain Sh~eve Gators downed the Minden Crimson Tide, 14-0. It was the Gators third straight victory, and their third straight district victory, giving them a 3-0 district slate for the '77 season , but it meant more than that­much more than that to Coach Lee Hedges.

That win , for the only head football coach Captain Shreve High School has ever known, was number 155 in the coaching career of Hedges and it made him the winningest high school football coach in Shreveport-Bossier history.

Hedges ' overall record now stands at 155 victories, 67 losses and 10 ties, for a winning percentage of about .690. Coach Hedges' 155th victory moved him one up on his own former high school coach , F .H. Prendergast, whom Hedges played under while attending Fair Park High School. Prendergast com­piled a 154-78-13 record for a .655 win­ning percentage during his 23 years as head mentor for the Indians.

Lee Hedges is a very humble man, as he unconciously shows in his follow­ing statement about becoming the win­ningest coach .

Hedges Reflects "The win brings back many memo­

ries for me. I wasn ' t trying to keep up with how many I had won. It was a good effort by all our guys. I hate to get sort of sentimental about it, as I wasn't aware prior to reading about it in the paper ."

Tennis goes all the way

Football is not the only sport which Lee Hedges coaches well. For in 1977, Coach Hedges coached the Gator tennis team to state titles in girls' doubles, boys 'doubles, girls' singles, and mixed doubles.

Asked why Shreve has had such suc­cessful tennis teams, Coach Hedges replied , "We have excellent players at Shreve. They have played tennis from around ten years of age and are coached by excellent tennis professionals at local clubs. "

When asked how much he enjoys coaching tennis , which he has been coaching for 17 years, Hedges answer­ed, " I enjoy it very much. It is different from football in that I can play it to a certain degree."

How long and how often has Coach Hedges played tennis?

" I have been playing tennis for about 16 years. During the summer I play about three times a week, but I don't play very often during football season."

THE COACH

The record belongs to Hedges By Donald Garrett

Captain Shreve High School really doesn't realize just what it has in Hedges . He is without a doubt the finest high school football coach in North

. Louisiana , probably in the whole state. Maybe last years ' Gator football player , Teddy Casten , puts everything in the proper perspective for us when he says, "Coach Hedges is an incredible man. He is respected by everyone he comes in contact with . It is incredible that he can be so successful year in and year out with both good and bad materi­al. It just goes to show you what type of coach he really is . Coach Hedges is so far ahead of the rest of the field of high school coaches , that it is incredible . Overall , all I can say is that I have gained tremendously by having Lee Hedges as a coach and as a friend. Captain Shreve has something special going for them that should not be over­looked . Coach Lee Hedges is a gem and I cannot commend him enough. "

Page~

There you have it. What more can be said that hasn ' t already been said about Lee Hedges , except maybe this:

WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY defines " incredible " as "beyond belief." And that ' s it , that ' s the key to what Lee Hedges has meant to this community, what he has meant to the four high schools , Fair Park , Byrd , Woodlawn and Captain Shreve, at which he has work­ed , and what he has meant to the I iteral­ly thousands of lives that he has touched in his coaching . Junior Lee Hedges is trul y an 1-N-C-R-E-D-1-B-L-E man!

Page 4: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

Page4 THE COACH

Respect is the nfJme Df the gfJme

"'I l1old it tnot•e itnpot·tnnt to l1nt.~e the plnye•·s' confidetJce tlun1 to hnve tl1eh• tdfection."

By Donald Garrett Coach Lee Hedges is many things to

many different people. However, one thing is for certain: He does things that are remembered by everyone.

He is remembered especially for things he does with his football teams , like capturing the state championship in 1973 with a perfect 14-0 record. But he is also remembered for smaller, but equally important things, like building respect on his team.

Lee Hedges has had the "pleasure" as he puts it, of coaching some real fine athletes such as Trey Prather, Terry Bradshaw, Roland Harper and Bo Harris. And just what has it meant to Coach Hedges to have these people as players?

Family backs up Hedges

''Behind every successful man there is a woman;" and behind Coach Lee Hedges there is his wife Nell and two sons, Russell and Doug.

Mrs. Nell Hedges, the former Nell Womack comes from Minden, where she graduated from Minden High School in 1951. She· has taught typing and other business courses for thirteen years, the last eight years at Shreve. For several · years at Shreve, she was also a co-adviser for THE CAPTAIN SHREVE ENTERPRISE , the school newspaper. Nell also taught at Fair Park and Wood­lawn high schools after receiving her B.S. degree in Business Education from Louisiana Tech University in 1954.

Nell and Lee have two sons out of their 23-year marriage. Russell Hedges graduates from Shreve last year and plans to attend LSU-S in the spring. While at Shreve, Russell was a member of the state championship tennis team. He was also in the Fellowship of Chris­tian Athletes and Key Club , in which he served as treasurer.

Doug Hedges, a junior at CS, has also played on the tennis team for the past three years since coming to the school in the ninth grade.

Vince Lombard i

· "I was real fortunate to have people like Trey, Terry, Roland and Boon my teams . They were all fine individuals as well as athletes , and I like to think I taught them a little bit about football while they played under me. I cannot, however , take any credit for players like Bradshaw reaching pro ball. That credit goes to the players themselves. They're the ones who had the God­given ability and desire and then went out and worked hard to get where they are today."

Lee Hedges, the man with the seri­ous-looking face and staunch features, doesn ' t care about the people he coach­es just as football players . He cares about each and everyone of them as in­dividuals.

He Breeds Respect

Ex-Gator quarterback Rodney Bell (1976-77) relates an experience he had that brings out the truth of this state­ment:

"It was on a Friday night after a game a couple of years ago when I spent the night with a friend , but I forgot to tell my mother where I was going to

be. When I didn't come home she got worried and started calling ever body she could think of to find out where I was . Finally , she called Coach Hedges, who got up in the middle of the night and went down to the police station looking for me. Coach did find me sound asleep at my friend's house. This goes to show you the kind of man Coach really is. He cares about his play­ers not just as athletes, but as people and he ' ll do anything he can to help them. "

By teaching his players that "the measure of an athlete is not what he can do in comparison to others, but against his own best self , " Hedges wins there­spect of his players every year, and this year , 1977, is no different.

This excerpt from what senior full­back Mark Magner writes about Hedges illustrates this point beautifully: "To me as an athlete , Coach Hedges is a man I work my rear off for. I have so much respect for this man and his ex­perience that I'd like to be with him on a football field 24 hours a day to maybe pick up just a little bit of his knowledge. As a person, Coach is one of the warm­est and most understanding persons I know. I can talk with him and you know he ' s listening ; no problem is too small for him. I will long remember and cher­ish my days with Lee Hedges."

And Mark Magner will remember these days with Hedges, as will practi­cally every other athlete who has been a part of the Gator football team, both present and past.

Coach Lee Hedges is not only re­spected by his players; he draws re­spect from each person he comes into contact with. Lee Hedges -- yes Lee Hedges breeds respect.

Page 5: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

~~~ ~~gg~~~

I I A

Ill ~~IGH

L~l;~llmJ By Donald Garrett

Twenty-two years as a coach , twenty-one years as head coach , eleven years the head coach at Captain Shreve numerous playoff appearances , two state finalists, and one stafe champion ­ship . Success seems to follow Lee Hedges wherever he goes.

For all that h.e has accomplished , and for all that he has done, honesty , humility, integrity and modesty still waik hand in hand with Lee Hedges.

Hedges doesn ' t try to teach these traits to his students and athletes. He merely, without trying, leaves an im­pression of himself on his students and athletes through the example he shows of himself in his daily approach to life.

Work is the key About what he wants to leave with

his students and players , Hedges says , "I probably try to teach all my students as much as possible, but you can ' t please everyone you teach. So , whi le teaching and coaching I don ' t try to leave any impressions with my students and athletes except that: Nothing comes easy; you have to go out and work for it. That they know a good hard days work isn ' t bad . If you ' re going to do something, do it the best · you can. And if you set a goal or play a game and then get beat or fall short and you know deep inside yourself that you've done the very best you could, then hold your head up high because you ' ve done all you could do ."

Over the years Coach Hedges has helped many young men become better persons as well as athletes and just what has this meant to Hedges?

"It's a good feeling to know you have helped someone in someway to become a better person. I like to think my being associated with them, and them with me, has helped each of us."

The American College Dictionary defines a legend as being a non-histori­cal or unverifiable story handed down by tradition from earlier times and pop­ularly accepted as historical.

People create legends, but a man makes his own legend . Lee Hedges has probably never seen himself as a legend; far from it. But Coach Junior Lee Hedges has been building a legend over the past twenty-three years, and as long as he continues to coach foot­ball, the legend will grow and GROW!

THE COACH Page 5

"Coaclt. Hedges treats you like a real person. Be gives you a tva•••n feeling of coming and playing for his tean•."

Page 6: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

PageS

QUOTES ABOUT COACH

"One of the finest men I ever met."

Tommy Powell

This is what Coach Tommy Powell, who has been at CS since its opening in 1966, thinks of Coach Hedges. Once a coach at Oak Terrace, where he coached Terry Bradshaw, Powell says, "I con­sider it a privilege to work for him. It has been a highlight of my life . "

In 1966, Powell became assistant football and head track coach at CS.

He went to Vivian High School, where he graduated in 1955. While there, he played football, basketball and ran track. He later went to La. Tech for his college education on a track scholar­ship, majoring in math and minoring in science. He went on to receive his mas­ter's degree from Northwestern State University.

Coach Powell has been married to the former Beth Sanders for 18 years, and they have three children, Amy, 15, Jennifer, 11, and John, 6.

When Coach Powell was asked how he felt about coaching , he answered: "I love coaching because it has been one of the things that 1 wanted to do air my life. I love coaching at CS because I have found that the boys here love to participate and do things to the best of their ability. It's a pleasure to coach such great guys.

When asked what the characteristics of the perfect athlete are, he answered: "A team player, who wants to win be­cause of the team; not for himself."

THE COACH

"A man of honor." Albert Leviston

Coach Albert Leviston not only calls Hedges, "A man of honor," but adds, "with his positive thinking, he is re­sponsible for the many young men un­der his leadership to take a positive outlook on 'Life's Game' and move forward.

Leviston has been at CS for nine years teaching physical education and general math, and coaching. Before coming to Shreve, he was a physical education teacher as well as football, basketball, and baseball coach, being the head coach in basketball and base­ball at Eden Gardens High School for two years. Leviston has also taught at Carrie Martin High in Bossier City and Beore Washington Carver in Shreve­port. He has taught chemistry, biology, general science, general math, Algebra I, and driver's education.

"As a coach there is none better."

Alden Reeves

"If there is anyone who can't get along with Lee Hedges, he needs to have his own personality checked out. He has influenced more people's lives than he could ever know, and will con­tinue to do so," according to Coach Alden Reeves.

Reeves has coached the baseball team for three years and has been as­sistant football coach for ten years. As soon as Reeves left Louisiana Tech where he played ·football and base­ball, he came to teach at CS. A graduate of Jonesboro-Hodge High, Reeves signed as a free agent with the Wash­ington Redskins, after his graduation from Tech .

Coach Reeves has been married to the former Adrane Ray for ten years, and they have three children, Amy, 8, Bo, 4, and Andy, 3.

Leviston went to Bossier Colored High School (Butler Elementary), where he played football and basketball and to Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, on a basketball and baseball scholarship where he majored in phy­sical education and minored in bio­logy. After graduating, he was drafted in the Army where he served for two years, and he played basketball and baseball with his division team. He took his basic training at Fort Bliss where Coach Hedges was also serving at that time. He later went on to attend grad­uate school at Colorado University in Boulder, Colorado.

Coach Leviston is married to the former Elena Blackwell. They have two children, Brian who playes football for La. Tech and Casaundra, 10.

Asked how he feels about coaching, Leviston replied: "I feel that coaching is one of the greatest things a man can do. You get to see the reactions of youngsters when they are winning and losing. Being a coach influences the lives of many young people . It brings many contacts with people outside of athletics."

Coach Leviston 's hobbies include bowling, tennis, fishing, plus watching and officiating all sports.

When asked what he would do if girls came out for the baseball team, he answered: "If there is no rule that says they can't play, I would let them try out for the team."

What would Coach Leviston be do­ing if he weren't coaching? "I probably would have been an electrical engineer or a painter."

When asked what he would be doing if he were not coaching high school sports, Coach Reeves answred; "If I was not coaching high school sports, I probably would be working in a paper­mill in Jonesboro."

Coach Reeves was asked how he felt about coaching, and he replied: "I consider teaching to be my job, but I consider coaching to be my livelihood."

Page 7: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

"He is n dedicffted 1nnn, 1vi-tl1 dignity, loyulty ut1d mitl1 n keen ubility to hundle youngsters."

Clarence Conway

Coach Clarence Conway also says Hedges "respects the rights and feel­ings of all. I have never known him to abuse or belittle anyone. " Having taught physical education for seven years at CS so far, Conway went to Morgan Park High School where he played basketball for four years. After graduating from high school , he went to Southern University for his college education where he lettered 3 years on the basketball team, and he also letter­ed 2 years in tennis. After one year at Southern, Conway was drafted into the Army and served our country for 2 years. He returned to Southern after his Army discharge where he later received his B.S . degree.

Before arriving at CS he taught one year at Central High School and eight years at Bethune High School. While at Bethune, he coached the 1965 Cougar baseball team to a state championship. Two of the players that played on the state championship team, John Jeter, with the Chicago White Sox, and Matt Alexander , with the Oakland A ' s, played in Major Leagues.

When he arrived at CS, Conway taught physical education as well as helping Coach Powell with the track team. The next year he became an as­sistant football and baseball coach under Coach Reeves. That year the Gators went on to win district in both football and baseball. Presently Coach Conway is married to the former Nancy Mallette, and they have been married for 20 years.

THE COACH

When asked how he felt when he won the state championship in baseball at Bethune, Coach Conway answered, "The greatest thrill about getting to the state playoffs was beating Mansfield and Vida Blue in an extra inning game by the score of 2-1. Winning the state championship at Bethune was a great experience , but the 1973 state champ­ionship football team had to be the greatest thrill of my life. "

When asked what he would be doing if he was not coaching high school sports, "I would probably be working in the field of recreation or I would be an official, si nee this was my occupation before coming to teach in Caddo Par­ish."

"He ltas influenced many lives ·in his years of coaching."

David Boydstun

Head basketball coach, David Boyd­stun, also says, "As a coach, Hedges is a leader of young men and a molder of their character. He is a man of the truth and value to the youth of this area.'' Boydstun is in his seventh year of teach­ing at CS, where he began his teaching career in January, 1971.

Coach Boydstun went to Natchi­toches High School where he played basketball and ran track. After graduat­ing from high school, he enrolled at La. Tech. After two years there he trans­ferred to Northwestern State University to finish his college education. While at­tending La . Tech he played junior var­sity basketball for two years.

Page7

Coach Boydstun is married to the former Carolyn Comer. They have been married for six years and have two children, David , Jr. 5, and Jenifer, 2.

When Coach Boydstun was asked how he felt about coaching , he- an­swered:"! got into coaching because I enjoy being with kids, and I decided that was going to be my life's work."

"His record speaks for itself."

Johnny Burnam

"Coach Hedges is an understanding and respectable person," according to Coach Johnny Burnam who has been at CS for five years teaching drivers ed­ucation and physical education . He taught at Booker T . Washington for one year, where he also assisted the basket­ball team. Burnam went to BTW for high school where he played football and basketball· during his senior year, then later attended Grambling College where he earned a B.S. degree in physi­cal education.

Coach Burnam served during the Vietnam Conflict , but he later returned to recieve his degree. After graduating from Grambling , he went on to pursue his masters degree , at Southern Univer­sity. He also got his plus 30.

Asked how he felt about coaching Coach Burnom said: "I feel good about coaching because I love being around and working with kids." When Burnam was asked if his daughter was going to play football when she came to CS, he smiled, then replied, "By the time my daughter reaches high school, girls might be playing football." When asked how the basketball team was going to do this year, Coach Burnam replied, "I feel with a whole lot of work and dedi­cation by each player, our team will be as good as any high school team in the state of Louisiana. "

Page 8: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

PageS THE COACH

THE ·BEST . · '77

"Pla·,Jing for Coach fledges hus IJeen o tre· na.endous leurtting exJJerience."

Jesse Goins, flanker

" Be is one of tla.e na.ost fledieutefltnett I hove ever knotvn or tvill ever knotv."

Jeff PuHen, offens ive guard

" He is o tuon tvho st·icks to his tvord."

lsriah Smith, s·afety-kicker

"He tneons everytlling to tla.is teutn."

V.ictor Hart, defensive guard

1977 GATOR OFFENSIVE ENDS-BACKS: (left to right) Mark Magner, Jesse GIJins , Scott Graves, Carlton Jacobs , Trey Smith , Charles Herd, and Bubba Allen.

"He is the greatest man and coach I know or will ever know.·"

Bubba Allen, tight end

"You con always talk to him about uny of your problems."

I Bennie Lessman, defensive guard

"I think Couch Hedges is u great coach, dedicated to his job."

l.!awerence Kahlden, cornerback

"To me, Couch Hedges is a 'l'nan above all tta.en."

Mark Magner, fullback

"Couch Hedges is No..· 1. He is u 11'1NNI~R."

Johnny Wagnon, linebacker

THE COACH

"He is tla.e GREATEST."

Mike Otwell, center

"Coocla. Hedges is very cott.side1"ftte of all his players."

Chris Marler, offensive tackle

Page9

1977 Gator offensive linemen: (first row) Jeff Pullen , Todd ·Hughes (second row) Mike Otwell, Jimbo Sanders (standing) Greg Siano, Chris Marler.

"He is u great credit to the school, the city, and everytlti11g he stnnds fo·r."

Trey Smith, quarterback

1977 GATOR DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: (seated) Scott Pernici, Rod Maxwell, and Donald Miller (standing) Bennie Lessman, Mike Leonard and Ronald Brown .

Page 9: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

Page 10

"He is the foundation

to a chantpionship."

Donald Miller, defensive end

THE COACH

"He is by fa·r the best >}titth: ' coach I've ever seen.' }/

Todd Hughes, guard

"Coach is the gt•eatest;

he is poetry in tnotion."

Kenny Bonner, cornerback

"Couch. means a chance to be number one."

Scott Pernici, defensive end

1977 Gator defensive backs and line­backers: (kneeling) Dennis McCiought and Lawerence Kahlden (standing) Joe Papa, Johnny Wagnon, and lsiah Smith.

;.·· ·

SENIOR CHARLIE WILLIAMS says about his Coach, "I think he's the best coach in Louisiana. He's the kind of man who teaches discipline and team leadership , which I believe are the basics of any successful football team."

"He is an inspit•atiott to euclt and et.~ery football player."

Charles Herd, safety

"He hns shown nte tvhnt teutn tvot•k really ntenns."

Jim Sanders, offensive guard

"Couch is tvell-respected by each and every tneJnbet· of the tetnn.~'

Joe Papa, linebacker

"He is tut•Jiittg young boys into nten."·

Greg Baiano, offensive tackle

"There is n couch, tencher nnd friend all rolled up into one great man - Couclt Lee Hedges."

Clarke McCoilister, offensive guard

Page 10: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

THE COACH Page 11

Harper, Harris

Pro players remember Hedges Roland Ha.rper

Roland Harper graduated from Cap­tain Shreve High School in 1971 and then attended Louisiana Tech on a football scholarship. Harper, who had been an all-district running back while playing for Lee Hedges at Captain Shreve, was used primarily as a block­ing back for Charles "Quick Six" McDaniel during his career at Tech. Roland blocked well enough, however, to be picked on the seventeenth and final round of the 1975 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.

Not many seventeenth draft choices make it in the NFL, but Harper was an exception. Roland was so good, in fact , that he received the Brian Piccolo Award which is given each year to the player voted the most valuable Chicago Bears rookie.

In a telephone interview from Chicago, Roland recalled his days with his old high school football coach, Lee Hedges.

"Lee Hedges is a tremendous coach. At the time I knew him his whole life was football. Coach would calculate a play and the whole thing would work just naturally."

Former Captain Shreve and Louisi­ana Tech great Roland Harper, now with the Chicago Bears, and Family, wife Alice and children Roland and Noland, age 16 months.

Harper remembers an experience. that shows the truth of this statement:

"We were playing Neville in a play­off game a number of years ago and Coach designed a play in which I played a major part. We didn't think the play would work , but we wound up scoring two touchdowns off it and winning the game. "

"Another thing I remember about my days with Coach Hedges at Captain Shreve, was the unity we had as a team . That taught a whole lot ~ We had a good team and we played together as a team. Coach taught us that unity is the strength of the team. Hedges was very proud of the way we played as a team and he let us know that. "

When not playing for the Bears , Roland has a number of off-season oc­cupations . He works with a family fraternity , The Independent Order of Foresters. He is director of the Bears FCA and is employeed by Continental Sports Enterprises , a recruiting agency for the Bears.

Harper is married to former Captain Shreve student Alice Roberts and they have two children , twin boys , Roland and Noland , age 16 months.

So Harris At 6 ' -3 "·, 228 pounds , Bo Harris is

the starting strong linebacker of the Cincinatti Bengals . 8o's career really got its start , how~ver , on the practice fields of Captain Shreve High School under the direction of Lee Hedges . Playing fo r Hedges , Harris won all­district honors as a linebacker during his tenure at Shreve which stretched from 1968-1970.

After graduation from Captain Shreve in the spring of 1971 Bo enrolled at LSU-Baton Rouge. He was an. All Southeastern Conference linebacker for the Tigers and was drafted on the third round of the 1975 draft by the Bengals. Bo became a full time starter for Cinci­natti in his second year as a pro 1976.

I conducted this following interveiw with Harris , via letter, from Cincinatti where he is currently starring in his third NFL season:

What outstanding traits do you most remember about Coach Hedges during your years at Captain Shreve?

"There were three things I most remember: (1) patience , (2) general understanding of his players , and (3) his knowledge of football . "

Ex-LSU and Captain Shreve great Bo Harris, now starting linebacker with the NFL' s Cincinnati Bengals.

What did Coach Hedges contribute to your life as an athlete and/or as a person?

"Coach Hedges showed me to ap­preciafe the good things a person or football player has and to award that person accordingly. "

Can you recall any special experi­ences you had with Coach Hedges either on or off the football field?

"When I first met him , he made me feel at home. Th is helped me make up my mind about attending Captain Shreve High School after moving to Shreveport from Leesville. "

Would you p~ease sum up your feel­ings about Coach Hedges in a few words?

"To sum Lee Hedges up in a few words is impossible---he ' s ' ,orth -,uch more than a few words ·

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Page 12 THE COACH

"COACH HAS IMPROVED MY ATTITUDE 100% towards football, school

and everything else too. Coach Hedges is Captain Shreve Football," says

Senior Malcolm Davis.

Kenny Philibert "Coach Hedges has one trait that stands out in my memory and that is his ·

ability to teach and to do it with such patience," says ex-Gator quarterback , Kenny

Phi I i bert. Philibert continued on about his former coach, "Coach taught me to show re­

spect when you win and to be humble when you lose. This has helped tremendously

in making me a better person in my later life.

Kenny has two things he remembers well about Coach Hedges: "I was able to communicate with Coach and could talk with him about al)ything. Also, in the 1973 state championship game when Joel Thomas threw a touchdown pass you could teil how happy Coach was and he didn't get happy very often!

In summing up Hedges, Philibert said, "I consider him one of the greatest coaches ever. He's just a fantastic man on and off the football field."

Kenny Philibert is one of the finest all around athletes to ever come out of Captain Shreve High School, starring on the baseball, football, and track teams during his three years at Shreve.

Kenny was the starting shortstop in all three of his years on the Gator baseball team. He high jumped, pole vaulted and threw the javelina for CS track team and he quarterbacked the 1975 Gators into the playoffs winning all district honors in the process.

Philibert is currently in his sopho­more year at Northwestern State Uni­versity, where he is the starting quarter­back for the Demon football team.

Willie 8. Mosely "I remember Coach Hedges as being

a kind, easy going man, who really knows his business," says former Gator Willie B. Moseley . " Coach taught me to never quit, give it all you got, and work, work, work . I loved to be on the field with Coach, just learning from him and I' II always remember him as being a great individual."

Willie B. Mosely is the greatest run­ning back in the history of Captain Shreve High School. He holds all Gator single season and career rushing marks . Mosely , along with Carlos Pennywell , was the very heart of the Gator offense on the 1973 state Championship team, as Willie rushed for over a thousand yards that year.

Willie B. Mosely is now a senior at Northwestern State Universtiy, where he is starting cornerback and punt re­turner on the Demon football squad. During 1976, Willie B. was so good in returning punts that he was third rank­ed in the entire nation in Major College Football.

Teddy Casten "Probably the most outstanding trait

about Coach Hedges I recall," says Gator Teddy Casten , "is that Coach Hedges wasn't only concerned about you as a football player, but that he was sincerely interested in you as an indi­vidual. He was always concerned for the well being of his players after we got off the field and this was important. Overall , his devotion to his job and to his players was his most impressive trait in my mind ."

''Coach Hedges gave me,'' contin­ues Casten , " as well as other players on the team , the inspiration to perform well in whatever job we did . He led by example , and he meant so much to me that it was hard for me to let the man down. "

Casten recalls a special experience with Coach Hedges that has meant very much to him : "Well he proved one thing to everybody . He proved to us that if you work hard enough and don't quit that you will succeed no matter what it is you are trying to do. He proved this to us in last year ' s game with Woodlawn.

Even though we were down 14-0, Coach Hedges never gave up . We had all worked too hard . Sure enough we came back and won 21-14. Coach Hedges, as well as all of the team, was elated . I ' ve never seen Coach show so much emotion as he did after that game. He must have thought he was Dwight Stones the way he was jumping up and down! We were all pumped up! This was without a doubt the highlight of my three years with Coach Hedges at Captain Srheve. "

Teddy Casten is a 1977 graduate of Captain Shreve High School. During his three years at Shreve, Teddy was one of the student leaders of the school as both an athlete and student.

Casten , who is now attending col­lege at LSU-Baton Rouge and studying law, was class president both his junior and senior years. He was also a member of Key Club, FCA, the National Honor Society , and the Debate Team.

As an athlete, Teddy won all-district honors as a linebacker on the 1976 Gator squad and he was the starting catcher, with a batting average over .300, in both his junior and senior seasons for the Shreve baseball team.

Page 12: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

THE COACH

Hedges ranks at top with administrators, doctors

Stanley Powell, principal of Captain Shreve.

Donald Horton "I think Coach Hedges is a re­

nowned individual. One who makes de­cisions for the over all team instead of promoting the individual. Most of his decisions over the years have been right, and he ' s very serious minded about his job. "

Donald Horton is Shreve ' s assistant principal who is a graduate of BTW. He is in charge of and helps organize all school activities , including pep ral­lies and other school functions .

Horton started at Shreve some seven years ago , teaching senior English and Humanities. He then became admis­trat ive coordinator in 1975 and in Feb­ruary of 1977, became assistant pri nci­pal. Along with these extra duties he ' s still finding time this year to attend all of the football games .

Horton graduated from Booker T . Washington High School and taught there for two and a half years. Luckily we don't play them , but Horton says he wouldn't have any problems where his loyalties are concerned. He's a true Gator fan.

~.i··'i.~; Donald Horton, assistant principal

Stan Powell Principal

"Coach Hedges is an outstanding gentleman and coach." Principal Stan­ley Powell has known Coach Hedges since back in 1956 when he was the coach at North Caddo and Hedges was coaching the Fair Park Indians.

Powell has always had an interest in football and it even runs in the family. In hi'gh school he was halfback at Boga·· losa and now his son, Stan, is quarter­back with Huntington High School in southwest Shreveport.

Powell attends all football games and in the eleven years he's been at Shreve, prides himself in having only missed three games.

Powell and Hedges have been friends ' for quite some time and Stan was ball boy for the gators when he was younger.

Powell's family are Gator fans, but also pull for the Huntington team when Stan plays. They are very much a foot­ball family.

Miss Sandy McCalla

"Coach Hedges is super, the b~st. And he's done a lot for the guys."

Miss Sandy McCalla, assistant principal at CS, was taught by our great coach when she attended Fair Park High School.

McCalla attends all the football games and. is an ardent Gator fan. She's been a cheerleader sponsor for 17 years and a teacher for 18. She is not only busy with her assistant principal duties, but also is in charge of the pep rallies, the homecoming box and even the buying of the toy footballs given out at homecoming. Her work involves working out an agenda for each pep rally and super­vising all skits beforehand.

McCalla said this year's cheer­leaders are one of the best groups ever . They've needed very little super­vision and been able to work out most of their own problems. They do deserve. a lot of credit. But then, so does Miss McCalla.

Page 13

Dr. Bundrick, team doctor

Dr. Bundrick Dr . William S. Bundrick, who has

been the team doctor for the Captain Shreve Gators for eight years, se~s Coach Hedges as an outstanding indi­vidual. He comments, " To work with Coach Hedges from a medical stand­point has been just great. He puts the health and welfare of his players first, and not once has he ever questioned a medical decision. He is much more cautious than your ordinary football coach, always going beyond the call of duty. As a person I have tremendous re­spect for him and that it's been a great privilege to be associated with him as well as the whole coaching staff. "

Dr. Bundrick, when not helping the Captain Shreve Gators is an Orthopedic Surgeon at the Bone and Joint Clinic.

Miss Sandy McCalla, assistant principal

Page 13: The Captain Shreve Enterprise- Shreveport, Louisiana Captain ...ball for the New York Yankees organiza tion a Class C team at Baton Rouge. Hedges spent the biggest part of 1954-55

Page 14 THE COACH

SPIRIT ABOUNDS Coach Hedges may have the record

and he and his team may capture the eyes of most everyone attending a Gator football game, but several school organizations and school personnel help form the backbone of what CS football has become in the last 11 years.

If Shreve ' s cheerleaders and AI E. Gator , the marching bancl , ROTC , Pep Squad and , yes , even the newly-formed AI E.' s Army, did not come to the games , spirit might still exist , but a Captain Shreve football game would never be the same again. The cheer­leaders and pep squad are constantly chanting or doing cheers , trying to boost the morale of the players and keep the fan spirit up . Although during half­time , the marching band , directed by Mike Raleigh , performs outstanding routines , they also play during the game. Other participants during the games include ROTC, which raises the flag and ushers , while AI E.'s Army yells the latest cheers from the stands .

Clubs Help Too Other school organizations help

during the games at times , but even more so at the pep rallies . Each week a different club performs a skit at the rally ; others make posters , sponsor con­tests and decorate cars. Shreve's Student Council makes nearly all the plans for Homecoming Week , which of course is topped off with tonight ' s game against Natchitoches .

Even though the students at Shreve do most of the work for the rallies and games , without teacher sponsorship and heiR many things could not be accom­plished . Advising the pep squad are M iss Joyce Jordan and Mrs. Renell Moore, both physical education teachers , while the sponsor for the cheerleaders is Miss Sandy McCalla , also assistant principal at Shreve. ROTC is headed by Sgt. Maj. Henry Chiasson .

Another valuable organization is the Football Ad Staff which is sponsored by Mrs. Judy Horne. This staff is respon­sible for publishing the FOOTBALL PROGRAM for each home game. The programs sell for 25 cents for regular issues and 50 cents for the Homecoming issue and contain such in­format ion as team rosters , lettermen at Shreve, and biographical sketches of the coaches.

One of the single most important persons at Captain Shreve is the man who handles ticket sales and other finances of the football team. Matt Perdue does this along with his job as Student Council advisor and biology teacher .

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t: · .···

THE COACH Page 15

He's the only one.'

"I mill denunuf n cfunulit­nlent to excellence nnd victfu·y, becnuse tltis is tvhnt life is nll ubout."

Vince Lombardi

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...

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The .Coach This issue of Coach is a special issue

published by the sports staff of The Captain Shreve Enterprise from Captain Shreve High School at 6115 E. Kings Highway , Shreveport , Louisiana , 71115 , and printed by Harwell Printing Com­pany at 3756 Sunset Drive . Cost is 50 cents .

Donald Garrett Sports Ed it or Pat Booras . . . Assistant Sports Ed it or Ricky Cassidy . . . . Photographer Reporters ... Cindy Mitchell , Laurel

Spi.vey, Sharon Hightower Stephanie Luck Editor

The Enterprise Susan Smith Assistant Editor

The Enterprise Mrs. Gaye Gannon . . . Adviser

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Page 16 THE COACH

Member FDIC