Not that he had been ignored by members of the Hall’s board all these years. He hadn’t been nominated. But his son, Gaines Baty, and a few of his father’s former players got together a couple of years ago and started a campaign. It bore fruit.
I had the good fortune of covering Baty’s career at Bowie and was asked to say a few words about him at the final meeting of the board. I paraphrase:
“IT USUALLY takes many years, even decades, to become a legend. For some, like Buryl Baty, it only takes a few years. Baty came to El Paso from East Texas and in the space of four years – from 1950 through 1953 – did what no one had ever done before or done since. He turned Bowie High School into a football power. He finished first in the district twice and was favored again in 1954 but in October he and assistant coach Jerry Simmang were killed.when the driver of a big truck fell asleep and crashed into their car head-on. Assistant coach Fred Rosas, who had been sleeping in the back seat, survived.
“All of El Paso mourned. Buryl Baty had shown such talent and such love for the boys from the barrio that he endeared himself to El Pasoans forever. Bowie High School named its football stadium in his honor and the honor of his assistants. His name lives on.”
ANOTHER WHO had slipped through the cracks and is finally getting inducted is Bobby Lesley, who coached Eastwood High School to the state basketball championship in 1976. We told you about him in a previous column. He was a shoo-in this past week.
So was Steve Kaplowitz, the multi-talented El Paso journalist who has a sports show on KROD radio, has done television, writes a column for a local newspaper, has done play by play broadcasts of high school and college games, hosts the El Paso Sports Expo and hosts the Sunland Park Gala among other things.
OTHER INDUCTEES this year:
Frank Del Toro, one of El Paso’s most accomplished baseball players.
Natasha Lacy, former UTEP basketball star who went on to play pro basketball.
James Munyala, former UTEP track All-American.
Jimmy Melendez, the former incredibly successful baseball coach at Riverside High School.
Gary Crossland, former Austin High School star athlete who went on to be a highly respected coach and football official.
Want to cheer these outstanding folks? Tickets for the induction banquet which will be held May 1 at UTEP can be purchased by calling Hall of Fame president Bruce Reichman at 373-9126 or Cindy Spitz at 204-3366
TRIVIA QUESTION: When was the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame formed, who was the first president and who were the attendees at the first meeting? Answer at end.
THE PASSING away of Alvis Glidewell was observed at the final meeting of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame. Not only was he an outstanding basketball player at Austin High School and what was then Texas Western College but he became a successful coach at Irvin and Austin High Schools. He also served for years as a member of the board of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame.
I especially remember him as a player. He was lovingly nicknamed “Twitty Bird” because he was so quick he fluttered around the basketball court as if he had wings. No one could keep up with him on offense or elude him on defense.
Off the court he was a soft spoken, polite man who drew people to him instinctively. He left us with wonderful memories.
ANSWER TO trivia question: 1955. John Phelan was the first president. Attending the very first meeting were Phelan, Bob Ingram, Chuck Whitlock, Chris Fox and your friendly sports columnist.