Once the ball got rolling, it certainly came upon us fast. Whether that was the 33 years since the first team in 1976 or the recent efforts leading up to this event, I'm not sure. The purpose of this blog, my purpose over the past six months, was to bring together as many former Rodger Monk, Ron Cobb, and Jim Triplett-coached AAU players -- and honor that trio of coaches for all they did for us players. And they did a great deal.
We made a new friend in D.J. Johnson, a much more recent (2001) graduate of George Washington High who went on to play at West Virginia State University. He is pictured at left above (click on photos to enlarge). The others (l to r) are Willie Jenkins, Dave Walker, Gay Elmore, Bruz Hicks, Jamie Phillips, Alex Nagy, Jeff Eddy, John Mawyer, Andy Spradling, Herbie Brooks, Mike Reed, Rodger Monk, Steve Vorholt, Ron Cobb, Mark Cline (above Ron), Brian Eddy, and J.T. Morris. Late arrivals Joey Bowles and Buster Duiguid, are pictured below. Others, Ron Dawson, Jeff Overstreet, and Brett Harrison, would be there Saturday night for The Reunion.
Many others, Dan Gardner, Randy Risher, Jimmy Miller, Craig Kay, Timmy Dagostine, Gary Orr, and Mark Rucker, sent their regrets but appreciated what was happening. A long list of others I just couldn't nail down addresses or numbers in time. Those include Boo Duiguid, Michael Calhoun, Larry Bryson, DeHan Jefferson, Ricky Trammell, Kenny Ross, Greg Nelms, Greg Fields, Jeff Hall, David Bennett, Steve Linville, Rodger Littleberry, Ritchie Holstine, Dean Winefordner, Kevin Hudson, Jay Hampton, Lionel Hampton, Lincoln Norman, Michael Plantin, Jeff St. Clair, Scott Bell, Andy Hayes, Steve Smith, Eddie Smith, Mark Peterson, and many others. We missed you guys. We will definitely do it again one day.
Joey Bowles shakes hands with Coach Rodger Monk. Much like his time on the court, Joey injected a great deal of life -- and heart -- into The Gathering.
Mike Reed, myself, Joey, Buster, and Alex stand behind Mark Cline. It's a good thing Mark was resting, he'd have to carry Mike, Alex, myself and Bruz on the golf course the following day.
This post is just the beginning of what I'm planning from this weekend. Thanks to my good friend Chip Ellis ( cellisphotography@suddenlink.net ), one of the greatest players I've ever suited up with, who correctly stated "I think I would have fit in well with this group," and my wife, Myssy, for the hundreds of pictures I have to post. They will be linked from here.
Thanks also to Mark Martin at WCHS and Fox Sports, Jack Bogaczyk, Frank Giardina, The Charleston Gazette, The Charleston Daily Mail, Chuck Landon at The Huntington Herald-Dispatch, and corporate sponsors Monk Builders, Overstreet Family Chiropractic (Barboursville, WV), Valley Insurance Systems, Dunbar Athletic Booster Club, Sleepy Hollow Country Club, and the West Virginia Power baseball organization.
Rodger gets a hug from Mike Reed, Jr., upon his arrival Friday night. Rodger calls Mike one of the greatest rebounders of all our AAU teams. He also got Wayman Tisdale in foul trouble when we faced Oklahoma in the semifinals in 1979.
Rodger Dale Monk (right) with his father Dale Monk on Friday night at The Club House in Appalachian Power Park. These men built so many of the homes in South Hills and as we learned through this Dale was great friends with my wife's grandfather, Dick Allen.
Carrying out the hardware on Friday night -- myself and Bruz Hicks. We played in many great games both together and against each other, but there should have been a lot more. We were roommates at the University of Charleston our freshman year.
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