The year was 1971. It was a day just like any other day of their time for the group of young boys, most not quite in their teen years. The sun was up, which meant it was time to go outdoors. There was no thought of staying inside to play video games, send messages to friends on Facebook, or chat and text on the cell phone. None of those things had even been thought of yet.

This was a time when, as soon as the sun got up in the sky, your parents basically kicked you out of the house with the only instructions being to be home before it got dark or call them if you were going to be late. There was no worry among the adults about the safety of the kids, as they all knew that their child would be in the company of others from the neighborhood.

The clan of nine boys, ranging in ages from 9 to 14, had gathered together at one of the many houses in and around the Terrace Hills Subdivision in Jonesboro, LA, that served as the playground of the day for the plethora of young men.

The deciding factor on which yard or driveway the group would gravitate to each day was based on which sport they would be playing. Whether it was football, basketball, or baseball, there were locations in the “hood” that best fit the need.

Since there were so many who had congregated together on this day, the decision was to play football, which meant going to Mr. Clarence Atkins front yard, a long, flat, and wide grassy expanse that best accommodated a large group. Mr. Clarence didn’t have any boys but didn’t mind the neighborhood kids playing in his yard as long as they didn’t tear up the row of hedges that fronted his house.

Another favorite was in the field between the Murphy boys, Shawn and Tom, and Tre Brasher’s houses, but that meant crossing Hwy 4, which, for the group that lived in Terrace Hills, subjected you to punishment as all were told never to cross the highway. Regardless, many a game was played there, as the boys flaunted the danger of being exposed, which usually meant a whipping or having an abundance of extra chores piled on them against the revelry of good fun.

If the group was of smaller content, that meant venues like the front yard of Gary and Russ Golden, Al Newsom, or Ritchie and Rusty Tolar’s house would be put to use. This required a completely different set of skills from the normal running, passing, and tackling associated with football. You also had to be adept at dodging the trees and bushes that often came into play.

When basketball was the choice of competition, there were several one-hoop courts that were available that had goals either mounted on the roof of the carport, like at Darryl Briehn’s house, where you gained experience in dribbling up or down hill, or playing where there were goals mounted to poles in the yard.

The one beside Doug and Monty Ireland’s house was the best, as the pole and adjoining hoop were at the edge of a level and wide concrete driveway. There was also the dirt courts at the Newsom’s or Ben Ledbetter’s house available, but that was always a tricky proposition, as you had to learn to dribble on the uneven ground and avoid the roots that traversed the courts in abundance.

Baseball games, which most of the time were played with a Nerf ball so that the chance of shattering windows was kept to a minimum, had great venues as well, with the backyard of Jimmy and Steven Kunz’s house being the preferred “stadium” as home runs could be hit to the upper deck, which was the second-story roof. The Ireland driveway was also a favorite when only a few played, as left and center field were havens for home runs on the close roof of the single-story abode, but it wasn’t as favorable for left-handed batters because of the many pine trees that would swallow up long shots.

Those were the days! And from the fast and furious frolicking that was so intense that many times it led to fistfights among the participants, talent was enhanced and skill sets were perfected, leading to many of the young boys growing up to star for their high school teams and for a few even compete in college athletics.

What brings all this to mind, you ask? It is because there was one who ended up standing out more than the others, not only earning tremendous athletic honors in high school and in college, but even making it all the way to playing professional football.

On Friday, February 6th, 2026, Terrace Hills subdivision’s most celebrated alum, Anthony Nicholas “Tag” Rome, was inducted into the Cedar Creek High School Sports Hall of Fame. Many of his old childhood buddies came from far and near to join in the celebration.

As always seems to happen when old acquaintances get together, the stories of the past started to flow as the many memories were rekindled. Laughter and back slapping was abound, but there was something Tag said that reminded each of the former “hood rats” how lucky they were to grow up in an area like Terrace Hills in a small town like Jonesboro.

“There was hardly a day that went by that you weren’t at someone’s house playing ball. I am talking about serious competition going on for hours on end,” reflected Tag. “The best part was that we had a whole bunch of guys who turned out to be really good athletes as they grew older, and I am thankful that I was able to play against this level of competition when I was young. It was great fun, but it also helped me learn to compete and develop my skills.”

Rome was also quick to point out how much he appreciated and enjoyed his time at Cedar Creek.

“There is no doubt that I wouldn’t be standing here today without the direction and guidance of the coaches and teachers I had in junior high and high school. I was blessed to learn under people like Jimmy “Chick” Childress (football), Tommy Joe Eagles (basketball), George Stone (baseball), and Maxie Hayes (track), coaching me in high school, and others like music teacher Mrs. Dottie Farrington,” said Tag.

Those “skills” turned into award-winning achievements as Tag earned All-District honors in all four sports and All-State recognition in football and track at Cedar Creek, which led to a tremendous collegiate career as a wide receiver at Northeast La. University (NLU), now known as the University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM).

After walking on and earning a starting spot as a wide receiver, he reaped All Conference, All Louisiana, and All American honors, not once but twice as a player. Rome was also a member of the coaching staff on the school’s 1987 NCAA 1-AA National Championship team.

“It was kind of like my days back in the ‘boro’ growing up, as again I was the smallest one on the team, and had to prove that I could play with the big boys,” laughed Rome.

You can measure a person’s height and weight, even how fast they run and how high they jump, but you can never know about the competitive desire that lies within until you actually see it manifested through their actions.

That ingrained desire led Tag to not only become the only athlete from Jackson Parish to ever be enshrined in the Cedar Creek Hall of Fame, and earn induction in the ULM Athletics Hall of Fame, but also have leadership roles with the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Northwest Louisiana Chapter, among other groups.

Rome has also become a tremendously successful and award-winning businessman as a State Farm Agent in northwest Louisiana, where he has qualified as an Ambassador Travel Qualifier and Chairman’s Circle member for more than 20 years.

“It was great fun growing up in the neighborhood I did,” concluded Rome. “Not only did I make cherished friends, but learned a lot of things about competing, which has proven invaluable as I grew older.”

The boy from the ‘hood’ did good!

 

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