Ladell Farley: Proof that Perseverance and Practice leads to Perfection

NOTE: On October 5th, the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame will enshrine six new members as the Class of 2024. Also being recognized will be the selection for the Meritorious Service Award and the male and female athlete of the year from the three Jackson Parish high schools. Over the next several weeks the Jackson Parish Journal will have a special feature on each. Today’s Edition – Ladell Farley

Some athletes are blessed to have their athletic career begin with having the proverbial “silver spoon”, meaning that they had advantages that others didn’t. It may be that they had a talent that set them apart from others or being a part of a team that had a proven track record year after year that brought attention to them.

Ladell Farley had neither.

When the former JHHS two-sport athlete began his varsity football career in 1959, Farley seldom saw the field and the Tigers won only two of the eleven games they played. His junior season was even worse as JHHS stumbled to a 1-9-1 record but through hard work and dedication, Farley began to earn playing time, enough to earn his first letter. He also was a member of the track team competing in the shot put and discus.

He continued to work diligently on his skills, something his coaches noticed which led him to being selected as a Captain on the 1961 football team. Not only did the coaches take note of Farley’s work ethic but so did many of the players.

His leadership by example set the tone for the season.

That year Jonesboro-Hodge ended the year with a 5-5-1 record, only the second time in the previous eight years that JHHS finished with a non-losing record. Included was big wins against state ranked Pineville and an enthralling 19-6 victory over arch rival Ruston that gave the Tigers a second place finish in District 2AA.

As the playoffs consisted of only district champions in those day, the Tigers became the host team in the first annual Paper Bowl that was played in Jonesboro. An estimated 2500 fans packed Caldwell-Peacock Stadium to see JHHS play to a 7-7 tie with Mansfield.

Farley would go on to win first team All-District honors from his end position and earn Honorable Mention named to the Class AA All-State team. This was highly unusual for a player to earn such designation and not be a member of a playoff team. but through Farley’s continual effort to perfect his skills as a blocking end which helped Robert Marrus lead the district in scoring was noticed. His noted practice regime of continuous practice to perfect his blocking skills also led him to having the designation of not having a single penalty called on him during the season, unheard of among linemen. This also led Farley to be selected to play in the prestigious LHSAA All-Star game, again a rare opportunity for a player that didn’t compete in the postseason. Not only did Farley play for the West team but as a starter on the line, threw the key block that paved the way for the back to score the go ahead touchdown in the upset of the highly favored East team.

That spring, he took that desire for perfection to the track. Competing in the strength related but also technique driven events of shot put and discus, he earned All District honors and competed in the state track meet in the discus.

Farley continued to exhibit his perseverance and drive at Henderson State University where he continued to improve and excel becoming a four year starter, co-captain and All-Conference player leading his team to the 1963 Arkansas Intercollegiate Championship.

Quite an accomplishment for someone who wasn’t blessed with what some call “natural born” talent but a well deserved acknowledgement for his desire to be the best he could be.

Perhaps the greatest legacy that he left was his example that regardless of whether a team is successful or not it is the effort of the individual that can change fortunes and and a culture.

It was not by coincidence that JHHS had a winning record for six straight years after Farley graduated. It was through watching how Farley prepared himself that the junior high and young varsity players learned what it took to be successful. Included was such JHHS greats and Jackson Parish Hall of Famers Jim Gregory, Jimmy “Bond” Golden, Johnny Garlington, Alden Reeves, and Jim Jones, all who gave Farley credit for showing them the correct way to prepare and practice that led them to their own outstanding glory and fame.

There are no statistics to measure leadership ability or desire and perseverance. Often times those qualities and traits go unnoticed or at least don’t get the recognition deserved. Then there are people like Farley, whose demonstration and example of these “immeasurables”, was so evident and unique that it earned him a place among the immortals of Jackson Parish and being selected as a member of the Jackson Parish Hall of Fame Class of 2024.