From Baytown to Highlands: a boy’s early sports doorway
A Baytown student recalls polio recovery and shy beginnings at Highlands Elementary and Baytown Junior High. He credits coaches Don Gibson and Harold Barfield for sparking athletic interest, then describes moving to Robert E. Lee High School with its famed sports legacy. An attempted baseball stint faded due to banked family finances and limited talent.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Old Baytown
Buzzy Byers
Buzzy
Harrison
Highlands Elementary
Baytown Junior High
BJH
Don Gibson
Harold Barfield
Robert E. Lee High School
Longtime Texas fast pitch softball star's vivid journey
Harrison recounts starting at age 12 marking a strike zone on a tin barn in Highlands and carving a lifelong softball path. From six-day mail routes to DuPont, he built a sprawling career across Houston area leagues, state tournaments, and Old Timers events, winning 1978 state title with Texas City Bucks and a Caldwell Merchants finish. His tale covers dozens of teams, away games, injuries, and the lasting bonds with friends and rivals. He and his wife Debbie retire in Fulton and stay active in the Rockport Fulton Chamber of Commerce.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harrison
Highlands
Robert E. Lee High School
Lee College
National Guard
United Rubber
Baytown
DuPont
la Porte
Roseland Park
Tommy
Baytown Hawks
Liberty
Cleveland
Shepherd
Tarkington Prairie
Dayton
Houston
Larry Casey
J.E. ‘Jaybird’ Bird
Danny James
Ken Rupp
Mike Henderson
Glen Adams
Bill Morisak
Joe Twardowski
R.C. Jannise
Texas City Bucks
Sam Cooper
Sam
Caldwell
San Angelo
Long Beach
Calif
Nacho Hernandez
Houston Nine
Vista Bombers
Vista
Texas
Louisiana
California
Anahuac
Matagorda
Port Lavaca
Bryan
College Station
Dime Box
Texas City
South Houston
Alabama/Coushatta Indians
Pasadena
Nationals
Redding
Wayne Abke
Buster Haack Realty
Hempstead
Gourmet Foods
Cypress
San Antonio
Debbie
Fulton
Rockport/Fulton
Also Mentioned on This Page
Caldwell Merchants
Gene
Debbie Harrison
Corpus Christi
Rockport-Fulton Area
Chamber of Commerce
Baytown Express Park & Ride
San Jacinto Mall
Medical Center
San Jacinto
Harris County
Houston Metro
Garth Road
Interstate 10
METRO
Ridemetro.org
Harriscountytransit
Texay
SAM Houston
Mexico
U.S
M/V
Portofhouston.com
Port Aeee Eee
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!