January 18, 2020 Issue, Page 14 of 14

Page Text

Page 16 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, January 18, 2020 Former Elk City coach inducted into track hall of fame a telephone interview. “It plaining it’s about the unity Five years later, the boys wife, Betty, is from Elk City never has been. I’ve always cross-country won the and their two sons, Jarrod of students, teachers, par- lived life and organized my school’s first state cham- and Sean, were born here. ents and administrators who days to try to be the best that pionship. The school won He said he appreciated his guide success. If one piece I can be at my job and to six state titles in boys cross wife’s support of him in his falls apart and success is not try to get the best I can out country from 1996 to 2005. career and deciding to move realized, then it’s a catastro- of the people that are being “So, the sport I created in from Elk City for Heard to phe for that student, he said. guided by me.” Elk City to augment the track continue his career in Shaw- He recalled times of how the He credited the people distance program wound up nee. teams had spent lots of time who were in his life and who being a successful program He said he has good mem- off the field together, such as in and of itself,” said Heard, ories from coaching in Elk dinners and camps. worked with him for this He said his track and who also was the PE teacher City and recalled the first honor. cross-country teams were “I’m going to receive this for Grandview Elementary years in which he tried to be School. “And I really fell in blessed to win nine state ti- honor on behalf of all the the best coach he could be. tles, and the school had eight people who have been with love the with cross-country in process.” He said if he could come runner-up teams. He also ap- me on the journey,” he said. A pole vaulter in high back here to speak, he would preciates the times he spent He mentioned all the peo- want to speak to the parents school and college, Heard trying to encourage students ple who coached him and who were here at the time Mark Heard, who coaches at Oklahoma Bap- expressed gratitude in be- in their academic endeavors, and as well as the ones here tist University, used to coach at Elk City High those in the profession he ing inducted into the hall of including some who wanted tried to emulate and said he now. fame. He grew up in Norman to drop out of school, and he School. He was inducted into the Oklahoma wants to live up to what it “Success and failure is and attended the University hopes that he held athletes to Track Coaches Hall of Fame on Friday in Mid- means to represent all those not on the shoulders of one the high standards of putting west City. Photo submitted. people. of Central Oklahoma. His person at all,” he said, ex-pats full effort By Don Munsch, Editor the Oklahoma Cross Coun- Heard lives in Shawnee. A former Elk City High try and Track Coaches Win- He coached at Shawnee School track and cross- ter Track Clinic at the Reed High School for six years country coach was inducted Conference Center at Shera- before moving on to OBU, into the state track and field ton Midwest City. where he is an assistant hall of fame Friday in Mid- Heard said induction into coach overseeing vertical west City. the hall of fame is a hum- jumps, horizontal jumps and Mark Heard, who left Elk bling moment in his career combined events. While in City in 2007 and is now a and that he was “blown Elk City, where he spent 23 coach at Oklahoma Baptist away” by it. years, he coached the cross- University, was inducted in “[’ve never even thought country and track teams, and the Oklahoma Track Coach- about that being something he started the cross-country es Association Hall of Fame that was a thing for me,” program in 1991. with three other coaches at Heard said Wednesday in We look forward to seciug what Thank you Chamber of Elk City! Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. (9 InterBank SOLUTIONS 1501 E 20th St, Elk City, OK 73644 - 580-225-6977 (580) 225-5580 * 1620 W. 3rd St. Elk City, OK 73644 Thank yout, Le City Chamber, a GREAT PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA An AEP Company Good LUCK BOUNDLESS ENERGY” in 2020 “No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others.” Alfred North Whitehead Thank you Chamber for all of your hardwork this past year and years prior. D>. We look forward to 2020 knowing you Great Plains Bank will give it your all to bring new and exciting things to our town. -LhkC. Cily- chen TERRY S FURNITURE mrysumiureshonroomcom EEE F4IGLZIO5 SHOWROOM gpbankok.com 2001 SOUTH MAIN Cash or Check Monday 90 Day Lay-A-way s, Through GREAT PLAINS NATIONAL BANK ELK CITY, OKLAHOMA ft alae Special Financing aturday 9-6 MEMBER FDIC