Greg Goodnight and his sister, Diane, can’t agree on who got the call first. Siblings rarely can. But each remembers the elation from the message delivered a few weeks ago.
Their grandfather, Clarence Goodnight, was finally getting his due.
Few in the Lubbock ISD athletics hall of honor board of directors had heard of Clarence Goodnight before stumbling upon his historic achievements. It was Sam Ayers, secretary of the board, who discovered that his grandchildren still resided in Lubbock.
Greg and Diane spent most of their life living in the Hub City — besides a short respite where Diane headed toward Waco to be closer to the rodeo — where Clarence Goodnight became the first athlete in LISD history to win a state championship. Since their grandfather lived New Braunfels, they only got to see him a few times a year, but they knew all about his exploits on the track.
But it wasn’t from Goodnight’s regaling of his triumphs.
“He didn’t talk a lot about that,” Greg said Saturday after Goodnight was inducted into the LISD athletics hall of honor at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. “But we did take a lot after him. Our father always told me, ‘You got more of your granddad’s traits than mine,’ and I always took that as a high compliment, because our granddad was such an accomplished man.”
Goodnight’s athletics successes came more than 100 years ago, when he ran for the Lubbock High track team in 1916 and 1917. In two short years, he earned the nickname of “West Texas Jackrabbit” by being the only person in Texas to win the 440-yard, 880-yard and mile run in the same track meet.
Diane got her grandfather’s love of athletics, playing basketball along with running. Goodnight joined the US Army Veterinary Corps in Europe after graduating from LHS. Unbeknownst to Diane, when he wasn’t running, Goodnight shoed horses.
“That was a total shock to me,” Diane said, “because I do horse stuff, and I had no idea he did that.”
Goodnight — who died in 1982 at the age of 87 — was one of six individual inductees and two teams who were honored Saturday night. He made more history by being the oldest athlete to be inducted, a feat that is of great pride to his grandchildren.
“It meant a lot to both of us,” Greg said, “because we grew up honoring him and admiring him, and then all these years later, he’s been gone a long time, and for that to happen, it’s amazing.”
Wayne Dotson emotional remembering his baseball exploits at Estacado
Wayne Dotson tapped his fingers against the sides of the dais as he attempted to collect himself. Emotions came rushing to the surface as Dotson thanked the swarm of people who helped him get to the LISD athletics hall of honor.
There were his children, his wife, his parents and so many others who got Dotson to where he is today. Not just an accomplished athlete in his heyday, earning a first-round draft selection by the Detroit Tigers in 1983, but those who supported and loved him even after an arm injury ended his professional pursuits.
During his induction speech, Dotson spoke of a 1,000-mile journey starting with one fateful step. For Dotson, that step was heading to Detroit, to the pros, and a world that could only be discovered by taking a chance.
“I was young, 17, going off to play ball,” Dotson said. “Never left Lubbock, going into an area I’ve never experienced. People, places and things. But I was ready. I felt ready. I felt like I had to support what I needed to do. I gave it my best. I went with the same attitude I always had. I’m the strongest, but I also had to get my mental together, and that part there was the biggest part of where I’m at today.”
Former Coronado, LCU softball standout Amanda Parsons makes more history
It’s been a banner year for Amanda Parsons.
In April, she received her gold ring from Texas A&M University, which her grandfather presented to her. A month later, she finished her master’s degree with a 4.0 GPA. And in June, she was announced as the first-ever softball player to be inducted into the LISD athletics hall of honor.
Being the first to do something isn’t uncommon for Parsons. She spent four years starting every game for the Coronado softball team, holding the program record for career hits. Parsons then became the first player to sign on with the Lubbock Christian University softball team, which also won the national championship in its first year.
Since her playing career came to a close, college softball has exploded in popularity. Parsons said seeing it happen before her very eyes, and in her hometown, no less, is as important to her as the hall of honor induction.
“It’s just been incredible because this is such a great game,” Parsons said, “and for young girls and women to be success and get recognition that they deserve, it’s so much fun, and I’m grateful that I was able to help pave the way on some level for it.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: A century later, Lubbock High’s Clarence Goodnight get his due in athletics hall of honor
Reporting by Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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