The gym floor at Huntingdon Middle School will have a different look in the years to come, as the Huntingdon Special School Board held a ceremony between the HMS Fillies and Mustangs games with Paris Inman on Saturday, January 10, to honor a pair of former coaches.
The court now bears the names of Bill Ezell and David Hale, both of whom coached at HMS for many years and had a significant impact on students and youth throughout the community. The signatures of Ezell and Hale appear on opposite sides and at the end of the floor where the Fillies and Mustangs play.
The two basketball games between HMS and Inman took a back seat as former students, players, staff, and community members filled the gym to honor two coaches whose influence reached far beyond the court.
Ceremony
Director of Schools, Dr. Johnathan Kee, presided over the ceremony and spoke about the purpose behind the dedication.
“One of the greatest things that we can teach our kids is to live a life of gratitude,” Kee said. “Today, as a school system, we’re taking time to pause, reflect on the history of this school system, and give thanks to individuals who have had a powerful impact on this community and our kids.”
Kee said the ceremony was not focused on wins or championships, but on influence.
“The impact these two guys had on this community and this school system is immeasurable,” he said. “They always talk about their students. Even today, they reflect on the players and students they got to teach and coach.”
Former Students Address the Coaches
Former HMS player Payten Butler spoke about her time playing for Coach Hale and the role he played in her life.
“He was honestly one of the most influential people in my life,” Butler said. “He was a great coach and a great teacher. He was hard on us, but we always knew that he loved us. He had a way of making people feel special.”
“I couldn’t take this opportunity without sharing some of his favorite sayings,” she said. “He used to say, ‘This ain’t no church picnic,’ and ‘You better push that pencil.’ When referring to himself, he would say, ‘This is 185 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal, slim in the waist and pretty in the face.’”
She added that Hale’s impact went beyond basketball.
“Coach Hale had a huge impact on me, not just in basketball, but in life,” Butler said. “He’s a great man and a man of Christ, and I want to thank him for everything.”
Tracy Brewer, a former basketball and baseball player at HMS and HHS under Ezell, shared that his relationship with his former coach continued long after his playing days ended. He recalled times he would stop by the school just to talk.
“We would talk about family, baseball, and life,” Brewer said. “It started with sports, but it was really about doing things right. That’s the way he lived, that’s the way he coached, and that’s the way he taught.”
Brewer said Ezell often told him, “I’m proud of you.”
“You never get too old to hear that, especially from someone you look up to,” he said.
“Coach Ezell has been my coach, my mentor, my role model, and for more than 30 years, my friend,” Brewer said.
“and I get to say it back to you today. I’m proud of you, I love you.”
Plaque Presentation
Former HMS assistant coach and teacher Mike Partridge, along with former administrator Lynn Twyman, presented Ezell and Hale with plaques honoring the dedication.
Kee noted that the gym itself held special meaning, recalling summer days when the doors were opened and students flooded inside simply to be around the coaches.
“They trusted them. They knew they were cared for,” Kee said. “In this gym, these two men changed lives.”
Final Words From Each Coach
Following the presentation, Hale and Ezell both addressed the crowd. They expressed gratitude and reflected on their years at HMS.
Hale thanked the community for its support, saying, “When I came here, you all took me in. The staff, the people, and most of all, the students. You made me feel like I belonged.”
“I was never concerned about wins,” Hale added. “The blessing of this game is what it teaches you about life, how to treat people, how to love one another, and how to deal with what life brings.”
Ezell echoed those sentiments.
“What I feel today is gratitude and humility,” Ezell said. “God’s grace is sufficient, and He had a plan for us. This place, these people. You gave us our life.”
Both coaches spoke about the gym as a safe place for students.
“This gym was a place where kids could come, feel safe, feel loved, and be happy,” Ezell said. “That’s what mattered most.”
