Gooch, Earnest

He was an All-district player for the Rogers High School basketball team during the 1952-53 season and was most valuable player the following year as he led his team to the county title, He was the only player in the 7th district chosen to play in the state's North-South All-star game that season. He averaged 15.5 points per game as a senior. The Pirates were 44-7 over his final two seasons. As a pitcher, he had a 10-2 record in 1953 and an 11-0 mark in 1954. He was chosen to the East-West All-Star team as a senior. He received numerous scholarship offers, including Mississippi State in baseball and Georgia Tech in basketball. He helped organize the first band boosters at Rogers and was also an athletic booster, helping build the school's first field house.