TUPATALK: An annual show to remember

I hope many participants and observers at last weekend’s Bartlesville Athletic Hall of fame Induction Celebration enjoyed a night to remember.

Although unable to attend, due to illness, I felt a vicarious thrill about what it means for an individual to have the past and present linked together with a loving bond of attention in front of so many loved ones and friends.

There’s something very humbling and very appropriate about an inductee, or an inductee’s representative, to stand on that podium and look around at crowd that exudes so much love and well-wishes — especially when many are family members, former teammates and lifelong friends.

The spotlight definitely was well deserved by this year’s inductees — Ricky Jackson, Jerry Benedict, Erica Derryberry, Terry Hughes and the 1982 Bartlesville High softball team.

The Hall of Fame is still a few years away from its 100th inductee and ye the tradition has done so much good in tying together our sports tradition and in creating an unforgettable highlight for so many wonderful, deserving people.

I think of Terry Hughes and all the memories I entertain of him during the past quarter-century.

Many years ago, coach David Benne invited me to a weekly pick-up game with coaches and some other individuals. From that experience, I remember Terry draining those three-pointers like a hungry man eats potato chips. Swish! Swish! Swish!

Terry also has been a class act in my association with him as a coach and an administrator.

I recall Erica as a young married coming in to guide the Bartlesville High softball team. She might have wanted to use her time in less arduous ways, but she stepped up to fill a need.

Jerry has always been a nice person to me and a devotee to local golf. Through old newspaper articles and interviews, I felt I got to know Ricky Jackson well. He seems to me to have been an incredibly gifted individual physical skills and a good teammate.

I’m so glad coach Jerome Gibson, assistant Annie Collins and other coaches and the players from the 1982 team received a well-deserve accolade.

I’m grateful for the great work of the Bartlesville Sports Commission in overseeing the Hall of Fame, and for all that it does.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: TupaTalk column