Ann (Rogers) Gallman; Bruce Henderson; Loss at Hapeville

Ann (Rogers) Gallman – An Outstanding basketball player

Ann Gallman is still a very visible aspect of athletics at Calhoun High School. The function in which she serves today does not allow fans to see the outstanding athletic performances the Lady Jacket basketball player showed a loyal fan base back in the 196566 season. Today Ann Gallman operates in the capacity of selling or taking tickets at nearly all athletic contests at Calhoun High.

Let me quickly leave that point and go back to her senior year at CHS in 1965. It is difficult for young people to visualize adults with whom they associate as having been outstanding athletes in the past. Ann Rogers graced the courts of Northwest Georgia schools over half a century ago – that is over 50 years. Those 50 years have not erased her performances from this old mind.

Things have changed greatly on the athletic scene in the past 50 years. Some things don’t change. The high school basketball teams play with a different setup than they did in the past. Still, the ball had to be dribbled, players had to be guarded and players had to put the ball in the basket. It was in this last area that a young Ann Rogers excelled.

It is a pleasure to see young people put on outstanding shows. From Freda Hunt’s performances years ago at Red Bud, to outstanding performances by many of Coach Frank Hall’s girls at Fairmount High right on through Jana Johns and her leading performances during the past season for Coach Jerry Pruett at Calhoun High School, the show for Gordon County fans has been outstanding for decades.

This writer has had occasion to delve into Ann Gallman’s history. Without specific details, just allow me to call to the attention of readers that in her senior year the story of each of her ballgames was one to amaze the heart. Points scored excelled 25 points in her games. Her records of performances and honors of recognition were outstanding. Let’s note some of them: Named to all-state team; lettered three years; top scorer in Northwest Georgia area; twice named to 3AA Regional All-Tournament team. There were others but these will suffice to show her outstanding career.

Without a doubt, Ann Rogers Gallman posted Hall of Fame numbers. In the hearts of Northwest Georgia fans she left an impressive image.

Bruce Henderson and a Football game not to be forgotten

We are going back to the same year as Ann Rogers’ outstanding basketball to look at an outstanding performance in a football game.

Let me set the scene of the CalhounRinggold game of 1965. Coach Charles Earnest’s Yellow Jackets opened the season with losses to Cartersville, Model, East Rome, Rockmart, and West Rome. The Jackets headed to Ringgold with a 0- 5 record.

Bruce Henderson, older brother to Calhoun Baseball Coach Chip Henderson, was an outstanding nose-guard on the Jacket team; more about Bruce in a moment. Names are not usually mentioned when relating less than desirable descriptions; the two men were supervisors over me where I worked and deserve all the attention I can give them. They were both older than me and I have not seen or heard from either of them in over half a century and they might be passed by now. Bruce Henderson deprived the two fellows from Ringgold of support to the most arrogant and stupid positions imagined.

The Company’s General Manager was Ray Bolick and his son was center for Ringgold. James Breeden was a high ranking supervisor in the plant. With no mercy and arrogant glee they gloated for two weeks about what Ringgold was going to do to Calhoun.

Now, about Bruce Henderson’s performance: Bruce played head on Mr. Bolick’s son. What a performance Bruce put on that October 8 in 1965. Bruce was a great instrumental factor in leading Calhoun to a 13-12 victory. The young man was named the Chattanooga area Player of the Week for his performance. Bruce went on to be named to the all-state team. It is a great memory. Those two men never mentioned the game to me from that day. Incidentally, Calhoun went on to win four games in a row before losing 21-20 to Lafayette in the last game of the season.

The game a team couldn’t lose – but did

I remember with fondness Henry Craig and Donald Hopper from their outstanding basketball days at Fairmount. Later in their lives they played for a Chitwood Rug adult men’s team. Both Henry and Donald were tall players. To go with them were two other tall players; there was Harold “Tom” Dooley out of Resaca and big Jimmy Leonard from the Damascus community. Jimmy Leonard teamed with a tall Bobby Nance to lead an outstanding Calhoun team during the1958-59 season at Calhoun High. In addition to the four tall boys a shorter guard from Dalton played on the team.

Now, for the game we could not lose: In 1963 our team went to Hapeville and dressed in the same dressing room with the Hapeville City Champions. They only had six players and we dressed out some 12 including those five starters. I felt sorry for those six fellows. They had only one tall fellow and he had a pot gut. The other four starters were well under sixfeet tall. I wondered how they could even get on the court with the team we were going to put against them. All fans should recognize the import of what I am about to describe.

The two officials were two junior high kids; everything those Hapeville man tossed toward those old halfmoon goals hit the bottom of the net; our shots simply were not falling. A main point was all balls not going in came off the boards wrong all night long; we needed fans there who could holler “somebody rebound.” They were never close enough to rebound.

I quit feeling sorry for those fellows when they led us 100-40 in the third quarter. The final score was 120-60. There was no way we could lose.

— Jerry Smith is a lifelong resident and former teacher and coach in Calhoun and Gordon County. He writes one weekly sports column and one weekly news column for the Calhoun Times. His views and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Calhoun Times and its staff.