On Friday night, former players and local dignitaries celebrated the distinguished career of former legendary Blytheville High School football coach Larry Wright at the Ritz Civic Center.
The crowd included Mayor James Sanders, Blytheville High School athletic director David Hixson, former BHS athletic director Bill Mayo and many players from the 1973 Chickasaw club that went 10-0 in the regular season under Coach Wright.
Tom Sylvester, a former player of Wright and producer/director of the documentary "The Toughest," organized the event, which was highlighted by the playing of the film that features Wright.
"We tried to have dinner with Coach Wright and with all the players being scattered around, I decided to just use my fancy equipment and get together in Blytheville at the gym and do a documentary," Sylvester said. "Then I had to go around the country for those who couldn't make the trip to Blytheville."
The documentary was broken into different categories: nicknames, dancing, the 10-0 season, and the tragedy of the players death and injury season.
With Coach Wright impacting so many players lives over the years, here are thoughts from former players on Coach Wright.
Sylvester: "We just felt like he had impacted the life of so many players, he helped direct people go to college who didn't have a chance in the beginning or there kids went on to become doctors. Also, Coach Wright helped kids have food that would help them for his work outs."
Marty Orr and Leroy Bobo: "As an individual, I really appreciate him. I love him just like our parents. He is a big part of our lives and always will be."
Bruce Hay: "Everyone talks about how mean he was, and yeah he worked our asses off but he didn't do anything that he wouldn't do himself. He also did things that many coaches wouldn't do with putting in extra hours or helping out players at home."
Ed Regenold: "He touched so many peoples lives, He was fair with everyone."
Gregg Jumper: "He helped my self-confidence and I'm glad that he did because now everyday I'm reminded of him(Coach Wright)."
The players seemed to enjoy the reunion.
""It was a great, kind of like a little reunion, because some of the players haven't seen each other in almost 40 years," Orr said.
Hay added, "It was awesome. I just wishing the whole community could have seen it."
Regenold said, " Tom did a fantastic job, and everybody appreciated it."
Jumper added, "Thank you for bringing us all back together and that's a really big fraternity."
Former player Gary Briley echoed those sentiments.
" You have coaches and staff such as Coach Wright who brings all of us together. There was no black or white, we were all a family on that team," Briley said.
Briley went on to become an athletic director and coach at a school in Texas.
"Coach Wright also had a swagger about him that helped me go on and become the AD and coach that I was, also the work ethic he installed in me," Briley said.
Coach Wright enjoyed himself as well.
"I got a laugh out of it and glad I touched all their lives," said Wright, who was surprised with the documentary and grateful to all the former players for honoring him.
Also at the event Mayor Sanders honored Coach Larry Wright by proclaiming July 15 as Coach Larry Wright Day.
"It brings a new meaning to lasting impression. He has had a lasting impression on his students I assure you," Sanders said.
Coach Wright ended up having five Air Force Academy and Navy Academy graduates, four doctors/surgeons, along with numerous coaches, ministers, and other jobs.
Coach Wright's family said: "Coach Wright was completely surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the evening and was humbled and honored by the extraordinary tribute. It was an impressive effort by Tom Sylvester and everyone involved. Our entire family is extremely blessed by the way these student athletes went on to become such remarkable people - loving God and loving others through the many ways they serve their communities and our nation."
jfondren@blythevillecourier.com