Tonight, 16 new members headed to the Greyhound Athletic Hall of Fame

Former Paris football coach David Buchanan will be the guest speaker for this evening’s festivities

 

PRESS RELEASE I For The Citizen

 

PARIS, KY – David Buchanan could simply be introduced as a “Football Guy”, but that would not do him justice. One will quickly notice this by reading his mission statement, “…to pursue excellence each day in every detail to build a championship caliber program and mentally tough young men of the highest character, discipline, and determination.” Those are not the words of a man who is focused solely on scoreboard numbers.

Growing up, David observed his dad walking the sidelines as a Head Football Coach. He would go on to extend his playing days at Centre College before diving into his own coaching career as an Assistant Coach with the Paris Greyhounds in 1988. In his fifth season at Paris, Buchanan would be hired as Head Football Coach. In four seasons, he would lead the Greyhounds to 31 victories, 2 district titles, 1 state quarterfinalist finish, and be named 1994 Kentucky Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coach of the Year. Buchanan was inducted into the Paris Greyhound Hall of Fame in 2000.

 

After his time at Paris, Coach Buchanan served as Head Football Coach at Mason County High School (19 Seasons – 150 victories) and Mercer County High School (7 Seasons – 50 victories). Over the course of those 26 seasons, he would lead his teams to several successful championship seasons (Region: 2001, 2003; District: 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015; Conference: 2001, 2003; State Quarterfinalist: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017; State Semifinalist: 2001, 2003). Buchanan would also earn numerous Coach of the Year Awards during his tenure (18 times).

Buchanan has always been one to give back to the game of Football. This has been seen in his time serving as President of Kentucky Football Coaches Association and hosting his annual Quarterback Camp. David currently heads up Buchanan Gridiron Solutions, which offers camps, workouts, and consulting to players and coaching staffs.

Even with all the gridiron success and awards earned, the real victories are hearing or reading comments made by his former players. The respect and gratitude shines through their words for this man they know to this day as Coach.

David resides in Harrodsburg with his wife Stephanie Trosper Buchanan (a 1988 graduate of Paris High School). They have 3 children: John Combs (married to Caroline), Emma and Trosper.

“It is an honor to be the Greyhound Hall of Fame Speaker,” Coach Buchannan shared through an email. “The tradition of the orange and black is special. I am very thankful for my eight wonderful years at Paris High School!”

The Greyhound Hall of Fame Banquet will be held this evening, August 18th inside the Bourbon County Park Recreation Building, where the 16 new inductees of the 2022 Hall of Fame Class will be introduced. Social hour will begin at 6:00pm with the banquet/meal to follow around 7:15. The inductees will also be honored at the Paris football game tomorrow night, August 19th, where the Grid Hounds will tangle with their old school rival, the Frankfort Panthers at Blanton Collier Stadium. Game time is set for 7:30.

 

Below is a brief bio of each new hall of fame member. Read more about the inductees in next week’s Bourbon County Citizen sports section and the on line edition. You can also view it on the official Greyhound Hall of Fame page on Facebook. 

****

ASHLEY ALLEN, a 1991 graduate of Paris High School, Allen, a five-year starter for the Paris Ladyhounds basketball team, held 12 school-records when she graduated, with some of those records still in place today. She’s currently the program’s all-time fifth leading scorer with 1,697 points. In addition, Allen was a key member of the Ladyhound slow-pitch softball team, where she was the ace pitcher and leadoff hitter, leading the team to two district titles and a region runner-up finish.

WILLIAM B. BUSSELL, graduated from Paris High School with the class of 1975 where he played football for four years and participated on the track team for four years. Bill was a member of 1973 Undefeated State Championship football team, as well as the 1974 State Championship Track Team and 1975 Regional Championship Track Team. He was regional champion in the discus and shot put.

CHARLES “BUDDY” BOYD, from the class of 1961, lettered four years in football and track, and two years in basketball at Paris High School. He was selected as one of the Kentucky All-stars for the sixth annual Kiwanis Senior Bowl football game where the played against the West Virginia All-stars in Williamson, West Virginia. During the all-star game, Buddy caught 4 of the 5 passes thrown his way.

CLARK STURGEON, a 2001 graduate of Paris High School, was a 4-year starter on the football team and he also played tennis and baseball. During his senior year of football, he recorded 160 tackles (fourth on Paris’ all-time tackles list) and was selected to the All-District Team. Clark also recorded 21 tackles in a single game.

COURTNEY FIELDS, from the class of 2002, played basketball for the Paris Ladyhounds under Hall of Fame Coach Judy Cox. She finished her outstanding career with 1,759 points, 596 rebounds, 374 assists and 496 steals. She’s currently the program’s all-time fourth leading scorer and ranks No. 1 for career steals and single game assists, while becoming the only Ladyhound player in the history of the program to record a quadruple double (19 points, 14 rebounds, 14 assists, 11 steals) in a single game. Courtney was a five-time all-district selection and a four-time all-region selection.

DANNY DOYLE MCKINNEY, from the class of 1965, was on the varsity football team for three years playing the wingback position. He was on the first Greyhound team to play in the KHSAA state playoffs, scoring a career 21 touchdowns. Danny was a key part on Paris’ track teams, helping them to win three straight region team titles. Unfortunately, Danny passed away in his sleep on February 17, 2022.

DWAYNE “WHIZ” RICE, a 1981 graduate of Paris High School, was a three-sport participant for the Greyhounds that saw him play football and basketball for two years, while being a part of the track and field team for five years. Still today, “Whiz” as known by his teammates and friends, still holds the school-record in the 800 and 1600 meter runs, while running a very important leg on the “still” school-record 4×400 meter relay team. He helped his team to a CKC Title, Region Runner-up finish and seventh in the state his senior season. He’s currently the school’s head softball, bowling, and cross country coach.

GAYLE FLORENCE graduated from Paris High School in 1962. Gayle played football for five years, where he was a three-year starter at tackle and selected for the annual high school all-star game. He also played baseball for two years, basketball one year and participated in track and field two years. Gayle, unfortunately, passed away on November 17, 2020.

JAMES WIRTH ROSE was a former Greyhound player, coach, and lifelong Methodist evangelist. Rose filled a position in Paris for Blanton Collier, and his brother Gayle followed. These American All-Star brothers played three years for the Greyhounds. As a coach, Jimmy still holds records for winning the most basketball games in a single season (49) and for scheduling the first integrated basketball game in Southern history, between Olive Hill and Booker T. Washington Schools.

 JANET CROOKS-REED, class of 1978, qualified to state in her specialty event (440 yard dash) four times, where she won a state title, placed second, and third twice, helping the Ladyhounds to a State “Team” Runner-up finish in 1974 and 1975, a fourth place finish in 1977. She was also a four-time region champion in the 440, and a part of several relay teams that advanced to the state meet and won region titles, with her 880 yard medley relay team winning the state relay title in 1976. During her junior season, Janet competed at state in four events, where she won the 440 yard dash in a State 1A record time of 59.30. That record will never be broken!

JOHNNY FAY, class of 1962, began his football career at Paris High School in 1959 after being spotted playing basketball by Coach Ben Pumphrey. He went on to play football three years, where he played left halfback, ran back punts and kickoffs. During his career, he scored 15 touchdowns and helped his team achieve a 9-1 record his senior year. Johnny received a football scholarship to Georgetown College.

MAURICE GARRARD SR., a 1977 graduate of Paris High School, excelled in football, basketball, and track & field. Garrard had a sensational senior year on the grid iron that saw him score four touchdowns in a single game, while rushing for over 1,000 yards. Maurice was also part of the Greyhound basketball team that took down Bourbon County in what many still call today, the biggest upset in district tournament history. For the track team, Maurice helped Paris win two KHSAA State 1A track titles (1974 & 1976) and four straight region titles, as well as two CKC Championships. He ran a leg on the “never to broken” two-time state qualifying school-record 880 and Mile Relay teams.

MICHAEL JACKSON SR, is a 1995 graduate of Paris High School, where he played football and a participant on the track team. He was part of back-to-back undefeated district football champions and two teams that won at least 10 games. He helped the Greyhounds reach the region championship game, something they have only accomplished once since that 1994 team. During his senior season, Michael took a chance and blitzed in the district championship game versus Raceland to make a tackle-for-loss on a two-point conversion attempt by the Rams, which led to a Paris win and the district title with no time left on the clock. Michael was voted in as a preseason top 50 senior in the state of Kentucky.

 STEPHEN SCOTT QUIGLEY, class of 1988, played all four years on the football and baseball teams. “Squig” as known by his friends and teammates, had eight interceptions as a senior, which is second all-time for a single season and his 13 career interceptions for his four-year career remains a Greyhound record after 35 years. He was also a member of the 1984 state runner-up football team, as well as a member of the 1985 team that was ranked No. 1 in the state. Stephen had a long battle with cancer and was taken from this life in 2004 at the young age of 35.

TERRY “TURK” RICE, a 1983 graduate of Paris High School, was a two-sport star for the Greyhounds that saw him excel in football and baseball. Terry, who was known as “Turk” by his teammates and friends, was a key ingredient on the undefeated 1981 and 1982 Greyhound State Championship football teams that won 27 games in a row. Although he wasn’t the featured back, when called upon to run the ball, Terry got it done, including breaking a 49-yard TD scamper during the 1982 state championship game, while scoring another key touchdown against Nicholas County that helped Paris stay unbeaten his junior season. Terry was named to the Honorable Mention All-State team his senior year and received a football scholarship to Kentucky State University. “Turk” was also a member of the last District Championship baseball team at Paris, and as a sophomore, he led the Bat Hounds in hits (43), stolen bases (29) and had the top batting average of .457, helping that Paris team win a school-record 17 straight games.

TOM ATKINSON, class of 1965, earned nine varsity letters: football (4), baseball (3) basketball (1) and track (1). He was the starting quarterback on the first Paris team to make the KHSAA Football Playoffs back in 1963. During his two seasons at that position, the Greyhounds finished with a 19-3-2 record that saw them lose a state region playoff game to eventual State Champion Elkhorn City (based on statistics) despite the game ending in a tie. He was also a punter, averaging a little over 40 yards per punt his junior season and nearly 43 yards per punt his senior season. Tom also excelled on the baseball team, where he was selected to the All CKC team in 1964.