Rusk County investigator talks football at Rotary Club

Greg Brown, left, Kilgore High School principal, joins Courtney Stoner, center, and Linda Clayton, right, of the Kilgore Rotary Club to present Stoner as the Student of the Month for Rotary. Stoner is the daughter of Marty and Kelly Stoner. William Brown, an investigator with the Rusk County District Attorney's office and a longtime high school football official, was the guest speaker for Kilgore Rotary Club on Wednesday.

Brown went over all of the rule changes that have occurred in high school football this year and told stories about his long years of officiating games.

This year, facemask penalties of any kind are 15 yards, a change from either having a 5- yard penalty or a 15-yard penalty in the past. Also, there have been some clock changes which affect the high school game but mainly affect the college game.

Brown detailed some other changes in the rules but mainly spent time talking about some of the things that has happened to him while officiating games.

He spoke with respect of Mike Vallery the current head coach at Kilgore High School, but he also spoke very fondly of the late James Cameron, a successful coach at KHS.

William Brown, Investigator with the Rusk County District Attorney's office, left, accepts a book from Sammy D. York, President of the Kilgore Rotary Club, after speaking to the club Wednesday on football rule changes for the year. He is a longtime high school official. "Coach Cameron was a great coach and a great man," Brown commented. "He always had his team ready to play and they always played hard. I can recall one time when Sulphur Springs was beating Kilgore and Coach Cameron asked me to tell the opposing coach that it was his birthday and to call off the dogs. I sent the message over and, it happened."

Brown also talked about some great games he officiated in the 2A and 3A classifications, as well as some great athletes he has seen in the larger leagues as well. He was complimentary of East Texas football, from A to 5A, and said there have been many great athletes that have come from East Texas to play in college and professional football.

He talked about being an official and having to focus on a certain area to do his job. He said that, by the roar of one crowd or the other, he could tell if a play had been successful.

He said officiating has been a great joy for him since he started in 1982, and he said he would continue to do it until it was not fun any longer.

In other Rotary news, Courtney Stoner, a senior at Kilgore High School, was presented a certificate as Student of the Month. Stoner is the daughter of Marty and Kelly Stoner of Kilgore. She is a member of the National Honor Society, is a cheerleader, plays soccer for Kilgore High School, is a member of the Anchor Club and serves on the KYSSED board. She also coaches an Under 8 Soccer Team on Saturdays. KHS Principal Greg Brown and Linda Clayton of the Kilgore Rotary Club presented her plaque to her.

Recognized for birthdays in September were John Lockman, Keith Hooks, Charla Rolph and Nick Hearne. Bob and Claudia Miracle were recognized for having a wedding anniversary.

The annual fish fry is set for Nov. 8 in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church. John Lockman is again chairing this fund raiser.

This, Charlotte Hold, the Gregg County Extension Agent, will be the guest speaker for the Kilgore Rotary Club.

Kilgore Rotary Club meets each Wednesday at noon in the ballroom of the Meadowbrook Country Club. Guests are always welcome.