If the world seems quieter today, there’s a reason. Gary Lynn Risher passed away Sept. 15, 2022, at Lackey Convalescence Home in Forest, Mississippi. He died from complications of multiple myeloma. His family and friends were by his side faithfully, especially in the final weeks of his life. He was 81 years old. Even into the […]
Several ’70 Bearcats Receive Post-Season Honors Three members of the 1970 Forest Football Team received top honors in helping lead the Bearcats to a second-straight Little Dixie Conference Championship. The ’70 ‘Cats finished their amazing season with a perfect 11-0 record under first-year head coach Gary Risher and new assistants James C. “Bo” Clark and […]
Football Season, School Year, Integration: “When I was 17 years old, I didn’t think much about the bigger picture. At 17, the world is what you experience each day. In previous years, a few of us had watched E. T. Hawkins football games. They played on Thursday nights. They were good. They were fast. They […]
A RESOLUTION HONORING THE 1970 FOREST HIGH SCHOOL BEARCATS FOOTBALL TEAM ON THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF WINNING LITTLE DIXIE CONFERENCE TITLE AND FOR AN OUTSTANDING 1970 SEASON. WHEREAS, the Forest (MS) High School Bearcat Football Team in Forest, Mississippi, began its 1970 season as the defending Little Dixie Conference Champions; and WHEREAS, in the previous […]
REVISED – SEPT. 16, 2020 Agenda/Script for A Celebration of a Championship Season: 1970 Forest Bearcat Football Team Honored on 50th Anniversary of Winning Little Dixie Conference Championship, 11-0 Record, First Integrated Squad Time Frame for Day’s Activities: Friday, Sept. 18, 2020 5 p.m. : Everyone invited to meet at Embrace Church (across from football […]
(team photo) Sonny Gibbs, manager (43) Howard Chambers (14) Walter Hatch (42) Raymond Robinson (16) Randy Dilley (33) Tye Gaddis (17) Mike Massey (37) Ken Gordon (20) Joe Buddy Madden (40) Dave Gibson (23) Lee Evans (44) Ricky Dilley (24) Billy Thompson (50) Bobby Latham (25) Willie Bowie (52) Wardell Reed Grady Austin, manager (58) […]
The 1970 Forest Bearcat football team received so many honors for their championship and undefeated season it took several people to display the trophies! Honors represented include the Rotating Forest/Morton Golden Chicken trophy; Forest/Morton winner trophy; North Little Dixie Conference trophy; Overall Little Dixie Conference trophy; and the rotating Little Dixie Conference award. From left […]
Seniors on the 1970 Forest High School Bearcat Football Team are shown receiving letter jackets following their championship season. Seated from left are Lee Dukes, Bobby Latham, Bob Smiley, Elbon Johnston, Rodney Russell and Mike Massey. Standing from left are head coach Gary Risher; Bubby Johnston, Billy Thompson, Ken Gordon, Joe Buddy Madden, Dave Gibson, […]
Former Forest High School head football coach Gary Risher (shown holding football) and members of the 1970 Bearcat squad held an initial meeting in the fall of 2019 to discuss plans to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of a championship and undefeated season. The 1970 Bearcats captured the school’s second-straight Little Dixie Conference Championship en route […]
Reprinted from The Clarion-Ledger November 1970 By Palmer Manning FOREST – The Forest Bearcats used control at the line of scrimmage and two last-period touchdown runs by halfback Billy Thompson for a 22-10 victory over Monticello and the Little Dixie Conference championship here Friday night. The win gives Forest a final record of 11-0, while […]
