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Source Of The Red Bull Name
Included in the obituary of Jack C. Skaggs (1920-2010), M/Sgt. USAF Retired, is the following:
"In the mid 1930's his family settled in Rodessa, LA where he was a member of the first graduating class and was the quarterback and safety for the Rodessa Red Bulls, the mascot he named."
1939
1939-40 school year teacher assignments for the new school:
Shreveport Times 10-Sep-1939, Page 6
The first high school principal was Gladys Pitts Hendrick (1902-1979), a Rodessa native.
Mrs. Hendrick shown in 1947...
Shreveport Times 19-Oct-1947, Page A-Seven
...and in 1961.
Shreveport Times 21-Oct-1961, page 2-B
From her obituary:
Shreveport Times 26-Aug-1979, Page 14-A
In their first football game ever, the Rodessa Red Bulls defeated McLeod, Texas 12-6.
Shreveport Times 21-Sep-1939, Page 15
Shreveport Times 25-Sep-1939, Page 7
O. C. Willis was named to the Class B All-North Louisiana Team, while Jack Skaggs made the second unit. Receiving Honorable Mention was (?) Mayfield,
Shreveport Times 24-Sep-1939, Page 10
1940
The Rodessa High band won first place in its class at a band festival held in Alexandria.
New Orleans Times-Picayune 21-Apr-1940, Page 18
1941
Rodessa High's school newspaper, the Bull'sye, wins a national award.
New Orleans Times Picayune 24-Apr-1941, Page 9
1945
C. L. Perry is named high school principal. He had earlier served as principal of the Rodessa elementary school from 1931-1933. He also taught at nearby Vivian High. Here he is shown being named assistant superintendent of Caddo Parish schools for business affairs in 1948.
Northwestern State College Alumni Columns (newsletter) March 1948, Page 2
Source Of The Red Bull Name
Included in the obituary of Jack C. Skaggs (1920-2010), M/Sgt. USAF Retired, is the following:
"In the mid 1930's his family settled in Rodessa, LA where he was a member of the first graduating class and was the quarterback and safety for the Rodessa Red Bulls, the mascot he named."
1939
1939-40 school year teacher assignments for the new school:
Shreveport Times 10-Sep-1939, Page 6
The first high school principal was Gladys Pitts Hendrick (1902-1979), a Rodessa native.
Mrs. Hendrick shown in 1947...
Shreveport Times 19-Oct-1947, Page A-Seven
...and in 1961.
Shreveport Times 21-Oct-1961, page 2-B
From her obituary:
Shreveport Times 26-Aug-1979, Page 14-A
In their first football game ever, the Rodessa Red Bulls defeated McLeod, Texas 12-6.
Shreveport Times 21-Sep-1939, Page 15
Shreveport Times 25-Sep-1939, Page 7
O. C. Willis was named to the Class B All-North Louisiana Team, while Jack Skaggs made the second unit. Receiving Honorable Mention was (?) Mayfield,
Shreveport Times 24-Sep-1939, Page 10
1940
The Rodessa High band won first place in its class at a band festival held in Alexandria.
1941
Rodessa High's school newspaper, the Bull'sye, wins a national award.
New Orleans Times Picayune 24-Apr-1941, Page 9
1945
C. L. Perry is named high school principal. He had earlier served as principal of the Rodessa elementary school from 1931-1933. He also taught at nearby Vivian High. Here he is shown being named assistant superintendent of Caddo Parish schools for business affairs in 1948.
Northwestern State College Alumni Columns (newsletter) March 1948, Page 2
1948
Rodessa punter Bay Worsham kicks without wearing shoes.
Lubbock Evening Journal 10-Nov-1948, Page 9
Shreveport Times 02-Aug-1952, Page 8
Rodessa punter Bay Worsham kicks without wearing shoes.
Lubbock Evening Journal 10-Nov-1948, Page 9
Shreveport Times 02-Aug-1952, Page 8
1949
The Rodessa Red Bulls were district football champions in 1949, posting a 5-0 record against league opponents. Entering the state playoffs, they boasted an 8-1 season record, then defeated Cotton Valley 13-0 for the Class B Northwest Louisiana Championship. They would next face Tallulah High for the North Louisiana crown and a spot in the state title game against the champion of the south.
Monroe News Star 30-Nov-1949, Page 11
Monroe News Star 01-Dec-1949, Page 23 (Rodessa vs Tallulah) 3
Unfortunately, like Mooringsport's Canines (1932) and Oil City's Tigers (1946 and 1948), the Red Bulls were unable to defeat this nemesis in northeast Louisiana, falling by a score of 20-19.
Monroe News Star 02-Dec-1949, Page 14
Two weeks later Hahnville defeated Tallulah 19-7 to take the Class B state crown.
Four Rodessa players - Pete Zylks, Bay Worsham, Lincoln Gamble, and Bobby Hooper were named to the 1949 1-B All-District team.
Shreveport Times 22-Dec-1949, Page 18
Four Rodessa players - Pete Zylks, Bay Worsham, Lincoln Gamble, and Bobby Hooper were named to the 1949 1-B All-District team.
Shreveport Times 22-Dec-1949, Page 18
For his efforts season-long, fullback Bobby Hooper received post season honors - being named to the Class B All-State second team.
New Orleans Times-Picayune 17-Dec-1949, Page 18
1950 Rodessa Bull Session (yearbook), courtesy of Sally Young Busboom
1950
Rodessa wins the Class B crown at the North Louisiana Track Championships held on the campus of Louisiana Tech.
The 100-member Atlanta (Tex.) High School marching band performs a "Salute to the Armed Forces" at the Rodessa-Sarepta football game. Local boosters wanted to use their appearance to generate interest in their own band program.
The Atlanta Citizens Journal 05-Oct-1950, Page 4
Cheerleaders for the 1950-51 school year.
Shreveport TImes 03-Nov-1950, Page 10
The Rodessa football team had another successful season that included wins over local rivals Oil City (7-0*) and Mooringsport (44-15). Making the state playoffs again, they first traveled to Arcadia to play the Hornets. Two key players, including future Louisiana Tech gridder Bay Worsham, were injured and did not participate.
* Per Oil City High Bengal (yearbook)
The Red Bulls' coach, Pat Riser, was a graduate of Ruston High and Louisiana Tech.
The winner would play Delhi, who had already defeated defending state champion Tallulah for the Northeast crown.
The Red Bulls defeated Arcadia 20-6 to again become the Class B Northwest Louisiana Champions..
The Red Bulls turned their attention to Delhi.
The game was played at Tallulah's larger stadium.
The following week, their season ended as they fell 33-12. Delhi later lost in the state title game 19-7 to Clinton,
1951
Jerry Alexander, a 1947 graduate of Rodessa High, lettered three years in football (1948-1950) and four in track (1948-1951) at Louisiana Tech and graduated in 1951.
1951 Louisiana Tech Lagniappe (yearbook), Page 196
1951 Louisiana Tech Lagniappe (yearbook), Page 213
Jerry was named Tech's Best All-Around Athlete his senior year.
Ruston Daily Leader 30-May-1951, Page 6
Louisiana Sports Hall-Of-Fame inductee Scotty Robertson began his coaching career at Rodessa. The following school year he moved down the road to Vivian High, and later coached at both his high school and college alma maters (Byrd High (Shreveport) and Louisiana Tech). He spent several years in the National Basketball Association, notably serving as head coach of the New Orleans Jazz (1974) and Detroit Pistons (1980-1983).
Rodessa High assistant coach Scotty Robertson and head coach Pat Riser.
1952 Rodessa Bull Session (yearbook), courtesy of Sally Young Busboom
Scotty as a member of the Bulldog basketball team during the 1950-1951 season.
1951 Louisiana Tech Lagniappe, Page 205
Rodessa High assistant coach Scotty Robertson and head coach Pat Riser.
1952 Rodessa Bull Session (yearbook), courtesy of Sally Young Busboom
Monroe News Star 17-Dec-1951, Page 7
1952 Rodessa Bull Session (yearbook), courtesy of Sally Young Busboom
Garner and Worsham earned football scholarships to Louisiana Tech.
1952
In May 1952, Head Coach Pat Riser left Rodessa High for Leesville, his alma mater.
Dee Skaggs, a 1945 alum, became Rodessa High's first and only assistant coach, going into it's final school year.
What turned out to be an injury-plagued final football season played out as follows:
Quarterback Dunk Conly intercepted a pass and returned it for a score, but later broke his foot, causing him to be out several weeks.
Ed Powell, a 200 lb. center, gets a separated shoulder and is out several weeks. Tackle Charles Dyer fractured his left arm, while reserve wingback DeWayne McKellar has a broken collarbone.
Starting halfback Bobby Flores is forced to give up football due to a shoulder separation.
15-Oct McLeod, TX - Loss, 0-12 (Homecoming)
(D) = District Game
Final season record: 1 win, eight losses, 1 tie
Glenda Hartsell served as Rodessa High's final homecoming queen, presiding over a game won 12-0 by the visiting Longhorns from McLeod, Texas. Of note, McLeod was the Red Bulls' first ever opponent in 1939.
Rodessa High football had drawn to an end. The following year, residents Bennie McKellar, Edmond Powell, and Robert Sellman would be members of the first North Caddo High football team.
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