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Former CHS coaches in UIL top 100
Clarendon High School basketball made headlines this year with the Broncos’ first ever state championship last month, but two former CHS coaches have also received notable recognition.
In celebration of 100 years of UIL Texas high school basketball, the University Interscholastic League with the help of some of the state’s foremost experts and historians, the UIL earlier this spring honored 100 of the top coaches to walk the sidelines in UIL History in both boys’ and girls’ competition.
Only two names from CHS made those lists – Coach Carl Irlbeck for boys’ basketball and Coach Jimmy Avery for girls’ basketball.
Irlbeck played for Clarendon College in 1959 when the Bulldogs won the Western Junior College Conference championship. He then coached basketball at Nazareth, Clarendon, Abernathy, Plainview, Plainview Christian, Monterey, and Hart. He’s known for his crew-cut hair and cowboy boots, which he used to stomp the floor and get players’ attention.
Irlbeck took the Bronchos to the state tournament in 1971 and overall has had 25 teams advance to regionals and coached nine state champions in four sports – three in basketball, three in tennis, two in cross country, and one in volleyball. He has taught for more than 59 years and coached for 55. He’s been inducted into the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame and the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame and has a career record of 1,065 wins and 501 losses.
Avery coached for 32 years. He began his career at Petersburg followed by Levelland, Spur, Shallowater, Lubbock-Roosevelt, Clarendon, Big Spring, Tuscola, Grady, Trophy Club Byron Nelson, and Ponder.
Coaching boys basketball at CHS, Avery led the Broncos to bi-district championships in 1995 and 1997. He won a state championship Tuscola Jim Ned in 2008, made two other appearances in the state tournament, and coached a state championship in cross-country in 2003. Avery has a career record of 813-315.
Coach Avery has been honored with the Chuck Moser Coach of the Year award, was named the Big Country Coach of the Year twice, and was the 2A South Plains Coach of the Year in 1993.
CC rodeo team third at Snyder
The Clarendon College Men’s Rodeo Team competed at Western Texas College rodeo in Snyder this past weekend and won third place as a team with Cole Franks winning the bareback riding championship and Dawson Gleaves with the bull riding championship.
Franks won both rounds with an 87-point ride in the long go and an 84 in the short round to win the average. Weston Patterson was 78 points in the long go; and while he failed to make a qualified ride in the short go, he still finished 6th in the average.
In the saddle bronc riding, four riders made it back to the short round. Trey Elshere was the only one to ride both horses and scored 73 in the long go and 77 points in the short round for 3rd in the average. Patterson won second in the long go with his 80-point ride, Brody Wells had a 79-point ride tied for 3rd place, and Cash Wilson was 78 points for 5th place.
Team ropers Kreese Milligan and Dawson Reedy had a 6.7 time in the team roping for a spot in the short go but missed their steer in the short round.
In the bull riding, Dawson Gleaves was 85 points in the long go and tied for 2nd place, 89 for 1st in the short go and the average while Reedy was 83 points in the long go for 4th place but bucked off in the short go but still earned 5th in the average.
The Bulldogs still hold the number one spot in the regional team standings but not by much. It will come down to the wire in the team standings and a couple events as the team competes in their last regular season rodeo this weekend at Tarleton State.
The top two teams and top three individuals in each event will advance to the College National Finals Rodeo held in Casper, Wyo., in June.
Don D. Thornberry
Don D. Thornberry, a lifelong resident of Donley County, passed away on April 18, 2021.
Born on the family ranch in Donley County in 1935 to William C. “Bill” and Mary Thornberry, Don graduated from Clarendon High School and New Mexico A&M University (now New Mexico State). After college, he returned to Donley County and was a proud rancher all of his life. Ranching was the life he loved and cherished, and, apart from fishing trips to Creede, Colorado, there was never any other place he wanted to be.
Don served the community in a number of ways, including as a member of the Clarendon School Board, the Outdoor Entertainment Association, the Donley County Hospital Board, the USDA Farm Services Administration Board, and the Donley County Appraisal Board. He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church of Clarendon.
Most of all, Don was devoted to his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Tookie Thornberry, and their sons Mac and his wife, Sally; Lance and his wife, Judy; Drew and his wife, Lesa, and cherished grandchildren Chase Thornberry, Cortnee Thornberry Smith, Amber Thornberry Lewis, Ashlen Thornberry, Will Thornberry, and Mary Kemp Thornberry. He is also survived by eight great grandchildren, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jackie and William Clark, sister-in-law Pat Thornberry, niece Haley Clark Esters, and nephews Richard Thornberry, Sandy Thornberry, and Mark Clark.
Don leaves a legacy of faith and integrity, as well as a strong work ethic, to his family and all who knew him.
After a private family burial, a memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Clarendon on Thursday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m. A reception with the family at the church will follow.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Clarendon or the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Billy Ray Cates
Graveside Services for Billy Ray Cates, age 51, of Bonham, Texas was held on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley under the direction of Wise Funeral Home. Errol Hainer will officiate.
Billy Ray passed away on Sunday afternoon, April 11, 2021 at his home in Bonham.
Billy Ray was born in Childress on September 21, 1969. He was an all-around great guy who was always there to lend a helping hand. He enjoyed watching movies and listening to music. Billy Ray was a dedicated friend. He loved his family dearly, but his heart and soul belonged to the Lord. Billy Ray will greatly be missed.
He is survived by his mother and father, Janette and Jerry Wagner of Lamasco, Texas; brother, Carl Cox and wife Christy of Bonham, Texas; sisters, Julie Anne Edwards and husband Dale of Seiling, Oklahoma, Stephine Lacky and husband Charlie of Hedley, Texas, Latisha Clark and husband Chris of Josephine, Texas, and Shanna Wagner of Whitewright, Texas; extended family, and a host of friends.
A cause dear to Billy Ray’s heart was the Liberian Kingdom Outpost. If you would like to donate in Billy Ray’s honor you may do so by donating to Legend Bank.
Online guest register at www.wisefuneralhome.com
Lions to host Jones 5K, Polar Plunge this Saturday
The Clarendon Lions Club will host the ninth annual Chance Mark Jones Roar & Run 5K and first Polar Bear Plunge this Saturday, April 17, at the Clarendon Aquatic Center.
The events seek to raise awareness of Child Abuse and are held in honor of the late Chance Mark Jones, who passed away in January 2011 as a result of abuse.
Registrations for the 5K and plunge are open through the day of the event for $25 each event or $40 for a combo registration.
The Lions Club is also encouraging all participants to wear costumes for both the 5K and the plunge with a prize being award to the best dressed person in each competition. The crazier the costume, the better, the club says.
The year’s 5K will begin at 9:00 a.m. Following the race, at about 10:30, the Polar Bear Plunge will take place inside the Aquatic Center, with registered plungers being the first people to jump into Clarendon’s brand new swimming pool.
Race and plunge registrations are available at the Clarendon Visitor Center at the Mulkey Theatre, at the Enterprise, or online at https://bit.ly/2Qp85lE.
For more information, contact Lion Ashlee Estlack at 806-662-4687 or Lion Roger Estlack at 806-874-2259.
City election early vote starts Monday
Clarendon voters can begin casting early ballots next Monday, April 19, to decide two positions on the city council.
Aldermen Jacob Fangman and Terri Floyd are seeking re-election and are joined on the ballot by former alderman Tommy Hill and junior high principal Travis Victory.
Mayor Sandy Skelton is also running for re-election but has no opposition on this year’s ballot.
Early ballots can be case at the Donley County Courthouse Annex during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Monday and running through April 27. Early voters can also take advantage of extended voting hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 22 and April 26.
Election day will be Saturday, May 1, at the Courthouse Annex.
Owls advance to regional track meet
Four Hedley High School athletes are advancing to regionals after placing at the Area Meet on Monday.
Cara Lambert is the only Lady Owl to advance after winning the 300M Hurdles with a time of 50.24 and finishing second in the 3200M with a time of 14.00.
Running for the Owls and moving on to regionals, Joshua Booth won the 1600M with a time of 5:12.85, and Tyler Harper was fourth in the 1600M at 5:23.00. Iziak Weatherread placed fourth in the 3200M with a time of 12:34.22.
Also running at the Area Meet were Emma Lambert in the 100M dash and fifth in the 200M dash; Weatherread also ran sixth in the 1600M, Hayden Alston was fifth in the 3200M, and Astin McAllister was eighth in the 3200M.
Food bank needing more volunteer help
The Bread of Life Ministry is asking for volunteers to help distribute food boxes to families in Donley County.
The food bank operates out of the First United Methodist Church and provides approximately 250 boxes twice a month, usually on the first and last Mondays.
Workers are needed at 10:30 a.m. on those days, and distribution can take until about 4 p.m. Lunch is provided for those who can help.
For information, call Katherine Monroe at 806-204-1235.
City honors Broncos, urges prevention of child abuse
The Clarendon City Council approved two proclamations during their regular meeting April 8 and took action on leftover money in the USDA water infrastructure project.
City officials congratulated the Clarendon Broncos on their first state basketball championship with a proclamation with Coach Boston Hudson and each member of the team getting their own personal copies of the proclamation.
A second proclamation was approved declaring April as Child Abuse Awareness Month to encourage prevention and reporting of child abuse.
The city council also discussed excess funds leftover in the USDA water infrastructure project totaling about $248,000. Aldermen approved moving forward with getting bids to replace an original cast iron waterline under Gorst Street running from Front Street to Fourth Street.
Greenbelt Water Authority General Manager Bobbie Kidd and Board Member Walt Knorpp reported to the city council and discussed refinancing bonds held by the water authority to avoid an upcoming balloon payment and potentially develop groundwater sources.
A contract amendment was approved with Diversified Waste.
Fire Chief Jeremy Powell reported on the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, which put in more than 3,000 hours in the last year and has installed a generator to run the Fire Hall in the event the community loses power.
Aldermen approved the purchase of a reconditioned storm siren for the southeast side of town at a cost of about $5,500 with the city providing $4,000 and the CVFD contributing the balance.
Resolutions were approved to move forward with a downtown revitalization grant and a grant to replace lift stations on the north side of town.
In his report, City Administrator David Dockery discussed activities to get the Clarendon Aquatic Center ready for its Grand Opening on Memorial Day weekend. Training of lifeguards will begin on May 1, and the city council will hold a called meeting this Thursday, April 15, to open bids on paving the parking lot.
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