While attending Louisiana State University  Fred Haynes wore the #11jersey.  The punter who lived 1/4 mile away was David Lee.  David lived on the corner of Ash and Goodwill and Fred lived on the corner of Clerk and Pine.

 

My dad (Red Turner) played on the 1938 MHS Championship Team with O. H. Haynes, Jr.  I was in high school with Fred, and only missed half of one game during my four years at MHS.  After high school, I attended LSU and was able to watch Fred play several more years.  In fact, I was "sent" to LSU so my dad would have an excuse to go to Baton Rouge every weekend to see Fred.  The story is told that Daddy and O.H. would eat a giant bottle of Maalox on the drive to BR as they "pre-played" the game, then, they would eat another giant bottle of Maalox on the return to Minden as they "re-played" the game.

 

I must say that watching Fred Haynes play ball was like watching Mikhail Baryshnikov dance.  The grace, precision, and talent was enough to make your hair stand on end.  Although Fred probably still holds passing records at LSU, I think he was "at his best" as a scrambling quarterback.  Just about the time everyone thought he was going to be brought down by the defense, he would make some of his fancy moves, emerge from the pack, and make a huge gain.  I still get goose-bumps when I remember him running down the field.

 

I'm attaching a copy of the poem I wrote the morning Fred died.  Not that I consider myself a great, or even good, poet, but I did think it said what needed to be said about Fred.

 

I remember several members of the 1964 team whose bio (or stories about the team and games) I would love to read.  Some of them include: (Sr. '64)Mike Brewer, Dennis McClure, Stan Belton, Carl Shaw, Sam Wigley, Jimmie Woods, Ronnie Brown, Rodger Anderson, Glen Holtzclaw, Willie Hubbard, Carr McClendon, Steve Maddry, Steve White, and (Sr. '65) Butch Williams, Stan Green, Danny Milam, Jim Simmons, Larry Martin, Gary Harrison.  I've probably left out several players, but I'm OLD and my mind is not as sharp as it used to be.

 

Also, Sherry, did you know that golfer David Toms is the son of MHS '64 graduate Buster Toms?  Their bio's would be interesting.

 

Keep up all your good work.  I love reading your e-mails and all the articles on MindenMemories.

 

Seeing O.H. Haynes name recalled an exciting event when I was a volunteer fire fighter.  We responded to a fire on Hwy. 80 west, just outside the city limits.  When we arrived, we were told to get into a ditch for safety.  There was gun fire and a lot of police and other folks were shooting into a house.  A state policeman was going from tree  to tree, approaching the house; just like a movie.  The house had smoke coming from it.  We were told it was a fire caused by tear gas.  The Sheriff, O. H. Haynes, had been shot.  His son, a deputy sheriff,  took him to the hospital.  The man in the house was killed.  One person reportedly shot a hole in the top of his vehicle.  I was just a kid and it was pretty exciting.  The fire itself was limited to a sofa.

Maurice Whitlow, Class of 1948