Exhibit honors athletic greats
DENHAM SPRINGS — Memorabilia from the biggest moments in Denham Springs High School sports history fill every room on the top floor of Old City Hall.
The Denham Springs High School Athletic Hall of Fame and sports exhibit opened in the historic building’s museum Sunday afternoon.
The exhibition honors 15 former players and coaches from the high school.
Dru Nettles, former defensive back and current head football coach and athletic director at DSHS, emphasized the importance of the hall to the Denham Springs community.
“Denham Springs has a long history of success in sports,” Nettles said. “The community can come and relive memories of their high school days.”
The exhibit, open through June, showcases the history of the high school in athletics, going back to 1923, when the school won the boys’ basketball state championship.
On display are historic photographs, team jerseys, championship trophies and the plaques for the inaugural class.
It even includes a Golden Spike award, won by Ben McDonald in 1989. The award is given out annually to the best amateur baseball player in the country.
McDonald went on to play baseball for LSU before a career as a pitcher in the major leagues.
Other notables are a Jacksonville Jaguars jersey worn by Joey Chustz, a Seattle Storm jersey worn by Katrina Hibbert and an All-Star game jersey worn by Tasmin Mitchell, who later played at LSU.
Former athlete and head basketball coach Leslie McDowell said the Hall of Fame is a good way for people to see the history of DSHS athletics.
“It gives a good idea of what history has brought” Denham Springs, McDowell said.
He coached during the 1956 boy’s basketball state championship season — the last time DSHS has won a state basketball championship.
Another former basketball coach, Alton Leggette, spoke fondly of his memories at DSHS and of the people he worked with.
“It was a great experience for me,” Leggette said. “These were great people. I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Legette coached boy’s basketball from 1965 to 1978. During that time, Leggette took his team to the playoffs three times and won a district title.
Sadly, not all the inductees were able to make it to the opening. Coach Louis “Loody” Carlisle, former head football coach, died July 27. Carlisle had a 66-31-9 record from 1965 to 1974.
“He touched a lot of people,” said Donna Carlisle Erdey, Carlisle’s daughter.
Carlisle’s grandson, Trey Felder, said his grandfather got to see his plaque before he died.
“The Hall of Fame was extremely important to him,” Felder said. “Coaching was his life.”
The exhibit is open until the end of June in its temporary location in Old City Hall. At that time, it will be moved onto the school’s campus.
The following people have been selected to the Hall of Fame:
Louis Carlisle, coach, 1965-1985
Alton Leggette, coach, 1965-1978
Butch Wax, coach, 1967-2009
Ben McDonald, athlete, 1982-1986
Ivy Brown, athlete, 1956-1960
Glenn Glass, athlete, 1982-1986
Cecil Harris, athlete, 1964-1968
Grady Hornsby, coach, 1929-1971
Leslie McDowell, athlete/coach, 1944-48 & 1956
Sarah (Meadors) Mestepy, athlete, 1996-2000
Jana (Garrison) Orillion, athlete, 1982-1986
Drexel Robinson, athlete, 1969-1973
Kelvin Robinson, athlete, 1976-1980
Randy Rushing, athlete, 1957-1959
Roger West, athlete, 1955-1959