This past Monday afternoon, March 8, 2010, approximately a hundred people gathered at the Bradley High School building for a brief ceremony dedicating the school baseball and softball fields as “Travis S. Gore Park.”
For readers who have not been to Bradley in the last few years, the baseball field remains where it has been located since at least 1950. The softball field is located in the north portion of what was once the football field, with home plate near what would have been the northeast corner of the north end zone of the football field.
Current Bradley Schools Superintendent Gammye Moore, in the purple jacket, below, began the ceremony by announcing its purpose and identifying the honoree, who, notwithstanding the presence of many members of his family, demurred that he was under the impression that he was coming to a ceremony honoring Bradley’s current basketball coach, Bennie Harris.
Those making brief remarks included former Bradley School Board President Andrew Whisenhunt, current basketball coach Bennie Harris, former Bradley Elementary School Principal John K. “Buddy” Black, former (early 1950’s)basketball coach Joe Langdon, Mollye McCalman, and former faculty member Richard Johnson.
Coach Bennie Harris, below, with Travis, told a humorous story of how he once was working as a law enforcement officer and realized that there was a vehicle behind him, following his every move. Thinking this rather unusual, he stopped his patrol unit and the vehicle behind him also stopped. It turned out to be Travis Gore, wanting to hire him as Bradley’s basketball coach.
Travis was presented with a plaque, which he is holding in the photo below.
Below, left to right, are Coach Bennie Harris, John K. “Buddy” Black, and Travis Gore.
Below, left to right, are Coach Joe Langdon, Travis Gore, and Andrew Whisenhunt. Coach Langdon was Travis’ coach when Travis was in Bradley High School.
Before refreshments were served, the ceremony adjourned to the newly-erected gate on the road going into the baseball and softball fields from Highway 160. Travis and many members of his family gathered for a picture below the gate.
For the curious, “S.” is for Sherman.
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