By Jerry Draney, Class or 1952
I have learned much about Johnnie Corrigan since becoming involved in this project. I learned that he loved Powhattan very very much. So much that he turned down better offers in bigger schools.
There is a quote I particularly like taken from the article in the Kansas City Times. "Corrigan shyly admits that he has had offers over the years for positions at "Bigger but not better" schools. On several occasions I've had a dream that I changed schools ... When I woke up the next morning and found I was still here I was very happy."
I believe that Johnnie Corrigan was always thinking about the future of his students. He never wanted the spotlight on himself. But he frequently would be thinking of helping the students. He would reveal what football position he had in mind for you a year before it happened. I may have been the first player he let shoot free throws one handed, probably because I watched so much college ball during my high school years. I did the best I could to imitate the things they did on the court. I know he gave me freedom in how I played. I know I let him down at times and he remained loyal. He was helpful to me in selecting a college to attend after graduation from high school. He always appreciated visits after high school and during the early part of my Navy career. I remember being notified of his passing while serving in the Navy in the Far East.
We should all be thankful that he stayed at Powhattan and for the things he did for us that we may not be aware of.
I have learned much about Johnnie Corrigan since becoming involved in this project. I learned that he loved Powhattan very very much. So much that he turned down better offers in bigger schools.
There is a quote I particularly like taken from the article in the Kansas City Times. "Corrigan shyly admits that he has had offers over the years for positions at "Bigger but not better" schools. On several occasions I've had a dream that I changed schools ... When I woke up the next morning and found I was still here I was very happy."
I believe that Johnnie Corrigan was always thinking about the future of his students. He never wanted the spotlight on himself. But he frequently would be thinking of helping the students. He would reveal what football position he had in mind for you a year before it happened. I may have been the first player he let shoot free throws one handed, probably because I watched so much college ball during my high school years. I did the best I could to imitate the things they did on the court. I know he gave me freedom in how I played. I know I let him down at times and he remained loyal. He was helpful to me in selecting a college to attend after graduation from high school. He always appreciated visits after high school and during the early part of my Navy career. I remember being notified of his passing while serving in the Navy in the Far East.
We should all be thankful that he stayed at Powhattan and for the things he did for us that we may not be aware of.
At my desk, Fairfax, VA working on the PHS Basketball website.
Jerry Draney
By Jerry Draney, class of 1952
Since I will not be able to attend the Alumni Banquet this year I wanted to tell you something about myself and what I have been up to since graduation from PHS in 1952.
After graduation from Kansas State in 1957 with a degree in Ag. Economics, I returned to the farm and started exploring what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I remember reading an article in Look Magazine about Naval OCS and it sounded interesting and challenging. I did not want to stay on the farm so I signed with the Navy to attend Officer Candidate School in Newport Rhode Island.
I met many interesting people from various colleges around the country. After graduation from the four month OCS and with the rank of Ensign, I attended a two month course in communications at Newport Naval Base to be followed by orders for duty with the Commander Seventh Fleet stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. Maxine and I decided to be married on the Naval Base in Newport, Rhode Island
I was in the Navy for 20 years retiring with the rank of Commander, O5. We had several tours of duty in the far east in Japan, Okinawa and the Philippines.
I then went to work with the U. S. Treasury Department working on and off until approximately 2000. I retired from Treasury several times and kept going back to work on special projects. During that time I earned a degree in Information Systems. Having this experience has enabled me to become involved in interesting volunteer work such as I am now doing with the Powhattan Alumni Association.
My mother was a Bartley and there are many Bartley's in the Powhattan area. My mother graduated from Powhattan High School in ????. The Bartley family migrated to Powhattan from Rose Hill, VA. The Bartley's lived next door to the Speak family. Nicholas Speak built Chapel on his property and donated it to the Methodist Church. A Bartley married the oldest Speak girl and they came to Powhattan looking for good farm land. They were followed by more Bartley and Speaks family from Rose Hill.
I now spend a lot of time on my computers doing stuff for my church and family. When I read in the Hiawatha World and Fairview Enterprise about Steven Farney writing this book I was immediately motivated to doing research about the 1952 team that I played on and the 1942 team that were of interest for the book. And it just started growing from there to include finding the won - lost record for the entire time Johnnie Corrigan was coach at Powhattan.
In pursuing this effort I talking on the phone to many Powhattan High School graduates and I feel like I know most of you very well although we have never met.
This project that we now call the Powhattan Basketball Project has grown so much beyond what I had imagined. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do.
I am hopeful that the following pictures will tell the story of some of the places we have enjoyed throughout the years. See below, Pictures Along The Way. Click on picture for enhanced view.
Hover the mouse over picture to see the caption.
By Jerry Draney, class of 1952
Since I will not be able to attend the Alumni Banquet this year I wanted to tell you something about myself and what I have been up to since graduation from PHS in 1952.
After graduation from Kansas State in 1957 with a degree in Ag. Economics, I returned to the farm and started exploring what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I remember reading an article in Look Magazine about Naval OCS and it sounded interesting and challenging. I did not want to stay on the farm so I signed with the Navy to attend Officer Candidate School in Newport Rhode Island.
I met many interesting people from various colleges around the country. After graduation from the four month OCS and with the rank of Ensign, I attended a two month course in communications at Newport Naval Base to be followed by orders for duty with the Commander Seventh Fleet stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. Maxine and I decided to be married on the Naval Base in Newport, Rhode Island
I was in the Navy for 20 years retiring with the rank of Commander, O5. We had several tours of duty in the far east in Japan, Okinawa and the Philippines.
I then went to work with the U. S. Treasury Department working on and off until approximately 2000. I retired from Treasury several times and kept going back to work on special projects. During that time I earned a degree in Information Systems. Having this experience has enabled me to become involved in interesting volunteer work such as I am now doing with the Powhattan Alumni Association.
My mother was a Bartley and there are many Bartley's in the Powhattan area. My mother graduated from Powhattan High School in ????. The Bartley family migrated to Powhattan from Rose Hill, VA. The Bartley's lived next door to the Speak family. Nicholas Speak built Chapel on his property and donated it to the Methodist Church. A Bartley married the oldest Speak girl and they came to Powhattan looking for good farm land. They were followed by more Bartley and Speaks family from Rose Hill.
I now spend a lot of time on my computers doing stuff for my church and family. When I read in the Hiawatha World and Fairview Enterprise about Steven Farney writing this book I was immediately motivated to doing research about the 1952 team that I played on and the 1942 team that were of interest for the book. And it just started growing from there to include finding the won - lost record for the entire time Johnnie Corrigan was coach at Powhattan.
In pursuing this effort I talking on the phone to many Powhattan High School graduates and I feel like I know most of you very well although we have never met.
This project that we now call the Powhattan Basketball Project has grown so much beyond what I had imagined. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do.
I am hopeful that the following pictures will tell the story of some of the places we have enjoyed throughout the years. See below, Pictures Along The Way. Click on picture for enhanced view.
Hover the mouse over picture to see the caption.
