S. T’bonne inducts 10 into Athletic Hall of Fame

It started as just an idea – nothing more than a casual thought. But for South Terrebonne Athletics Director Francis Labat, his vision for a Gators Athletic Hall of Fame is now a reality.

“As athletic director, one of my goals a long time ago was to start this, but every time I got the idea started up, I wasn’t getting a lot of support,” Labat said. “It wasn’t because people didn’t want to help or anything. It’s just that everyone was so busy and everything. … But we were able to get it going, and so far, people have really enjoyed what we’ve done with this.”

The latest batch of South Terrebonne hall of fame athletes were officially inducted into their rightful place in school history Friday at a ceremony held at halftime of the Gators football game against Assumption High School – a ceremony the entire South Terrebonne community has come to look forward to each year.

“I’m impressed and am in awe by a lot of this,” Labat said. “I’m not a graduate of South Terrebonne High School. I’m an out of town guy, but I’ve made Houma my home and I’ve been here for 30 years. Looking at the results and the history of this has really opened my eyes and our community’s eyes about the level of athletes we’ve had come through this area.”

The idea came to fruition three years ago when the Gators nominated their inaugural Hall of Fame class.

That class was an All-1960s class and Labat said his plans were to honor each decade one at a time each year with ceremonies being held the final home football game of the season.

Plans changed because of the talent-rich decade of the 1970s, which forced Labat and his selection committee to break that decade up into two years – including the 2010 class.

Since the Hall of Fame was created, Labat said the idea has served its original purpose – to honor the school’s rich athletic tradition and to give current and future South Terrebonne athletes and coaches a better understanding of the school’s history and something to shoot for in their own endeavors.

Plaques are given to each of the award winners, and their pictures are laid onto a wall in the back of the school, which serves as a monument to the school’s athletic history.

“To me, it’s like this builds on the tradition of the school,” Labat said. “The people in the future can look forward to that as well – seeing their moms and dads’ pictures up there and maybe shooting to one day get their own pictures up there, too.”

Michael Niette Sr.:

Niette was a three-year letterman in both football and track, earning All-District honors in both sports, as well as being a State qualifier in the long and high jump events.

Niette is a Houma resident and is a QHSE Manager for Supreme Services.

Bryan Life:

Life was a three-year letterman in football, track and baseball, earning All-District honors for two years in football and three years in track and baseball. He was the 1974 Terrebonne Parish Athlete of the Year, and was a key member of the 1973 Gators State Championship Track and Field Team.

Life went on to be a pitcher at Nicholls State before getting a degree to be a physical therapist at South Alabama.

He resides in Pensacola, Fla., and practices physical therapy.

Cynthia Whitfield-Pellegrin:

Whitfield-Pellegrin was a two-year letter winner on the Gators’ state championship gymnastics team on 1975 and 1976. She was named the state’s best All-Around gymnast in 1976.

Whitfield-Pellegrin is the first female to ever be inducted into the Gators’ Hall of Fame.

She resides in Houma and is a real estate broker and co-owner of Re-Max Good Earth Realty.

Barry Pellegrin:

Pellegrin was a three-year letterman in baseball, and a two-time All-District pitcher. Pellegrin earned the District MVP award in 1976 when he led the Gators to the State Quarterfinals.

He also pitched at the collegiate level for Nicholls, where he was also an All-Conference performer.

Pellegrin resides in Houma and is a production operator.

Richard Curlin:

Curlin moved to the Houma area during his junior year of high school and became a two-year letter winner in both football and track, earning All-District honors in both sports.

He held the Bayou District record for shot put for three years, and was a state qualifier for two years in the event.

In football, Curlin was just as effective, becoming a four-year letterman for the Nicholls football team.

Curlin resides in Bourg and is the head football coach at South Terrebonne, as well as a World Geography instructor.

Burnell Thomas:

Thomas was a three-year letterman in basketball and a two-year letterman in football, earning All-District honors in each sport.

He was an integral part of the Gators’ district championship team in 1977, earning the district’s MVP award that year.

Thomas resides in Houma and is a driver for Morrison-Terrebonne Lumber.

Lionel Wallis:

Wallis was a three-year letterman in basketball and a two-year letterman in football.

Wallis was an All-American selection in basketball and still ranks in the Top 5 in the school’s history in points scored. In football, Wallis was the Bayou District’s Most Valuable Player in 1977.

He went on to play football for LSU and was a starter in three separate bowl games.

Wallis resides in Baton Rouge and is a detention officer for the City of Baton Rouge.

Thomas “Skippy” Ezell:

Ezell was a four-year letterman in football and a three-year letterman in both basketball and track, earning All-District honors in all three sports.

Ezell was an Honorable Mention All-State selection in football his senior season and still ranks as the Gators all-time leading passer.

Ezell went on to play football at Grambling where he was the 1978 SWAC Freshman of the Year.

He lives in Houma and is a manager for Boots and Coots in Cairo, Egypt.

Kenny Wallis:

The younger brother of Lionel Wallis, Kenny, was a two-year letterman in basketball and football, earning All-District honors in both sports. The younger Wallis ranks No. 4 in school history in receptions and No. 3 in reception yardage.

Wallis is now a manager for FedEx in Tomball, Texas.

Thomas John Boudreaux Sr.:

Boudreaux was a three-year letterman in track and football, earning All-District honors in both sports. In football, Boudreaux was an All-State selection and in track, he ranked No. 2 in the state in the 120-yard hurdles and the 180-yard low hurdles.

Boudreaux went on and became a three-year letterman for the LSU football team.

The former Gator now lives in Gonzales and is a manager of logistics for MC Horizon Incident 252 “Boom Project.”

Featured is the South Terrebonne Athletic Hall of Fame. The Gators recently inducted 10 new members at a ceremony during halftime of this past Friday’s game. CASEY GISCLAIR