Sports
1977 State Champion Softball Team Inducted into CHS Hall of Fame
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Submitted by Kimberly Dougay
The 1977 LHSAA State Championship Softball Team All Divisions Lady Wildcats and coaches Shirley and Kenneth Browning were inducted into the Central High School Hall of Fame at the football game, Friday, October 18, 2013.
Having both been inducted in the Hall of Fame previously, Shirley and Kenneth Browning have been actively involved in the Central Community for their 40 years of marriage. Shirley was inducted for her volunteer efforts coaching , sponsoring all girl groups including cheerleaders, kittens, athletic hostesses, twirlers and flag corps, which she united under her one leadership to form ”Spirit Corps.” Kenneth Browning was inducted for his leadership and athletic achievements at Central High School, and also inducted as a member of the Central’s 1966 AA State Championship Football Team. The Browning’s have one son, Dustin, whom they were expecting during their journey to the State Championship. Dustin, a State Trooper, is a Sergeant at Louisiana State Police Headquarters. He has four sons: Alexander, 9, William, 8, Jackson, 5, and Benjamin, 4.
Shirley Browning’s teaching career spanned 31 years. A1969 graduate of Central High School, she graduated in Health and Physical Education from L.S.U. in 1973, and began teaching at the new Central High School with Principal Charles Kinsley.
There were no sports for the girls at that time, so together Kenneth and Shirley established basketball, coached by Ida Phillips, and volleyball and softball, coached by Shirley and Kenneth. Kenneth had two coaching jobs: to help coach the team, and coaching the coach, since Shirley was a novice.
Under the leadership of four-year veteran players Dawn Davies, Lorraine McCaa, and Stephanie Turner, the Central Wildcats captured the 1977 Softball State Championship with a 5-2 win over the Lady Wolves of Redemptorist in the finals of the State Tournament held at Denham Springs North Park.
The victory, coached by Shirley and Kenneth Browning, , ended a three day, five-game single elimination performance which culminated in a victory over Redemptorist on the eve of Central’s Athletic Banquet! This victory marked the third time Central ruined Redemptorist’s title hopes in the 1977 season. Earlier, Central downed Redemptorist to win both District and Regional Titles.
This was before the days of Title 9 and equality for women’s sports. If you were to look in the yearbook, you would notice that the girls wore the same uniforms for all three sports and many of the girls played all three sports!
The Browning’s efforts to start these sports were supported by the Administration Principal Richard C. Meyers, and Athletic Director Sonny Jackson.
Other coaches such as Mac Watts, Louis Peterson, Richard Day, and Bill Ensminger were always willing to help. Mr. Day’s motor home and parents’ cars were the main mode of transportation. On the occasion that the team could get a bus, Kenneth Browning’s sisters Jenny Womack and Sylvia Carroll volunteered their time to drive the bus.
Volunteerism and parental involvement was key to the success of this program.
This 1977 LHSAA Softball State Champions all Divisions team were impressive as players, and, more importantly, as people.
These Lady Wildcats were the forerunners to the successful programs for girls at Central High School now. They could best be described as athletic, attractive, and, most importantly academic, as you could see by their bios: teachers, coaches, nurses, master teachers, law enforcement, business owners, accountants, engineering, and the ministers.
Shirley Browning would go on to be named 1977 Softball Coach of the Year, and Bellingrath Hills Teacher of the Year. She remained at Bellingrath for 21 years, during which time she and Kenneth started the soccer Program at Central High School in 1993 with the help of Principal Glen T. Gentry, Coach Randy Blanchard, and Mike and Calvin Hereford.
The program was very successful, going to State Semi–Finals the first year against other long-established successful programs such as Baton Rouge High School.
Shirley Browning remained at Bellingrath Hills with the new Central Community School System for the four years before retiring in 2011.
Kenneth Browning retired after a very successful career as an electrician with Local #995 for 40 years, doing E&I work, and a specializing in lead cable splicing.
The 1977 LHSAA State Championship Softball Team, and Coaches Kenneth and Shirley Browning, would like to thank the Central High School Hall of Fame Committee for this honor. Special thanks to Jami Gremillion Glaser for all of her efforts and Louise Henderson for her assistance.
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