Kessinger, Moore highlight latest WM HOF class

Kessinger, Moore highlight latest WM HOF class

Let's play word association.

Ready?

First word: West Memphis.

Ummm, that's two words.

Oh brother.

OK, words association.

First words: West Memphis.

Bill Kessinger.

Anymore?

Yep, Grafton Moore.

Excellent!

Now, can I direct your attention to Southland Gaming and Racing on Thursday, Sept. 15 for an experience that promises to be electric?

If you're a West Memphian or a Blue Devil Sept. 15 will be the day for you.

The second class of inductees into the West Memphis Sports Hall of Fame will be honored that night and two giants, Kessinger and Moore, will highlight the list of five to be inducted.

The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. while the banquet/ceremony starts at 6 p.m. Tickets for the event are $25 per person or $250 for a table of 10.

It's not as if the rest of the inductees are any less worthy of the Hall, but Kessinger and Moore are two of the biggest names in any walk of life in our city's last 50-plus years.

The other inductees are also giants in the world of Blue Devil athletics. Jocelyn Love, a basketball star for the Lady Devils who helped lead the team to the 2003 state championship and who went on to further fame in college as one of the all-time leading scorers in UALR history, will be inducted and will currently be the youngest person ever to be inducted.

Clayton 'Foots' Wynne isn't a name that's familiar with nearly all West Memphians, but all this guy did in the 1930s and '40s was play football and basketball at the University of Arkansas, where he was named an All-American in 1943 by Pic Magazine.

Wynne was also drafted in 1943 by the Pittsburgh Eagles of the NFL, where he also played for the old Boston Yanks and New York Giants.

Survivors of the Wynne family were hard to find. He has two granddaughters living in California, whom we contacted, but who won't be attending the event at Southland.

Old 'Foots' will still be honored.

Last, but certainly not least in my book, are the 1963 football Blue Devils, the first team to be inducted into the local HOF.

Some very familiar, if not well-known, West Memphians were on that team. They were undefeated and unscored upon in conference play that year.

Not only that, the team featured 12 (count 'em) players who signed Division 1 college scholarships in either football or baseball.

Their coach.

None other than Mr. Kessinger, who came to West Memphis in 1962 to coach football, but who is best known as the superintendent of West Memphis Schools for 40 years.

Sadly, Mr. Kessinger passed away last January. He'll be represented by his wife Shirley, his son Mike, daughter Kathy Daniel and her husband Tommy, and Mr. Chicago Cub himself Donnie Kessinger, Bill's younger brother.

Moore played for the 1963 Blue Devils and he will be inducted twice that Thursday night. It will mark three three inductions into two Halls of Fame for Moore, who was inducted in July into the Arkansas High School Coaches Association HOF in Hot Springs.

But Grafton will also be inducted for his coaching prowess in a 23-year career as head football coach in which he guided the Blue Devils to nine conference championships, over 200 wins and two state championship game appearances.

As you might guess, ticket sales for the event have been brisk. You can still buy tickets at the WMSD's administrative office on South Avalon.

But, you'd better hurry. Last year's initial ceremony sold out and with the '63 Blue Devils bringing what's expected to be about 30 players in, space will be limited.

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By BILLY WOODS