All tagged mentorship

The Unwavering Passion of Dr. Ray Horton and the Legacy of the Class of 1995

When he took on the role of head coach at Lexington Middle School, his message was simple and direct: "execute, dominate, and always talk with your pads and not your mouth." His practices were not for the faint of heart. I can still vividly recall the drills that defined our first week of organized football: the Oklahoma, the belt-line drill, and the county fair drill. But my personal favorite was the "bull in the ring," a drill that was as much a life lesson as it was a football exercise. It taught us to keep our heads on a swivel at all times, a metaphor for the constant awareness and readiness required in life.

A National Treasure: The Lasting Impact of Mr. Donnie Holt's Males Only Service Club

Mr. Holt’s mentorship was all about building character. He constantly instilled in us the importance of doing the right thing, even when no one was watching. I can still hear him telling me, "Thomas, you don't always have to get the last word; sometimes just be a good listener." This was a foundational lesson in humility and respect. He went the extra mile to prepare us for the world. He hired someone to teach us proper restaurant etiquette, a skill many of us had never been exposed to. We learned how to set a dinner table, distinguishing a soup spoon from a salad fork, and understanding that these small details mattered.

The Heart of a Champion: A Legacy Built Beyond the Scoreboard

That simple philosophy of treating people with respect and kindness was the foundation of his coaching and teaching. It was also the secret to the success of his girls' basketball team. Williams's first year was a challenge, with the team securing only one win. But he was relentless, and he assembled a coaching staff that shared his vision: Coach Maury Holt, Assistant Coach Angela Pittman, Assistant Coach Tyrone Terry, and later, Assistant Coach Alexis Fowler. Together, they transformed the program, with the team going undefeated in their fourth year—a historic first for Lexington Middle School.