For Rickey McBride there is no place like home

NOTE: On October 5th, the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame will enshrine six new members. 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 past several weeks the Jackson Parish Journal has featured each of the inductees. Today’s Edition – Rickey McBride

Since 2009 there have been 73 former athletes and coaches that have been enshrined in the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame. This year, six more will be included among the area greats.

Some were selected for their outstanding athletic ability where they posted tremendous statistics. Others earned acclaim for their contribution as coaches or because of their unique leadership capabilities.

Then there are the special few like Rickey McBride, that are included among the greatest in Jackson Parish sports history for all of the above.

As an athlete at Weston High School during the years of 1966 – 70, McBride was an outstanding two-sport star, posting the kind of numbers that by itself was worthy of induction. In both basketball and baseball, McBride was a statistical leader, highlighted by his averaging a “double-double” for two straight years in basketball, scoring 16 points a game and pulling down 13.5 rebounds his junior year and 20 points a game and 13 boards his senior year.

Looking back over his basketball career, McBride was a two-time, first team all-district selection, Team Captain, MVP, Most Improved, 1000 Point Club Member, Scholastic Award winner and selected on numerous All-Tournament teams. Perhaps more importantly, during his four year career on the court Weston won 85 games for a 21.25 games won per year average.

That alone, made McBride worthy of consideration to be a member of the JPSHOF.

After graduating from La. Tech in 1974 and began his teaching career in Jackson Parish that spanned over thirty seven years. For fifteen years of his educational career he coached at Jonesboro-Hodge, Chatham and Weston. He coached basketball, baseball and football at Jonesboro-Hodge, basketball and baseball at Chatham and baseball at Weston, leading his teams to several district championships.

Again, by itself, his tremendous leadership ability proven through an illustrious coaching career provides Hall of Fame credentials.

There is still another reason why Rickey McBride deserves to be acclaimed though. This isn’t measured by statistics or wins and losses and in all actuality is not even one of the criteria when someone is being considered.

Maybe it ought to be.

Certainly the list of who would earn selection by this unique attribute that McBride is greatly endeared for would be a short one. What is being referred to is his love and long lasting legacy of bettering not only the athletes of Jackson Parish but the sports programs of Jackson Parish schools as well.

Why is this so special? When you think about all the outstanding players who got their start in Jackson Parish schools, very few returned after leaving for college to “pass on” their special ability to the aspiring youth who came behind them.

For McBride though, there was no place like home.

He never wanted to be anywhere else.

He not only loved the school where he made a name for himself as an athlete, he loved the school system and most importantly loved the people of Jackson Parish. Still does.

This was made so very evident when he retired after nearly four decades of service that he threw his hat in the ring to become a school board member. Smartly, the voters from his district voted him to the position where he served with the same passion that he had as a player and a coach.

McBride didn’t want the position for the money. He didn’t want the position for the notoriety or public acclaim. Rickey McBride wanted to be a member of the Jackson Parish School Board because of his love for the students of Jackson Parish schools and the school system as a whole.

Even today, now in the afterglow of his prestigious career, McBride can be found at the local gymnasiums and baseball fields supporting the youth of today, lending words of wisdom and inspiration.

“It’s all about the kids”, McBride is known to say.

You could add to that it was especially all about the kids from Jackson Parish.

For Ricky McBride, there is no place like home. That is why giving him a place in the house of local greatness, otherwise known as the Jackson Parish Hall of Fame is a just honor.