The last thing our opponent wanted to see was the ball in Archie’s hands. There was a good chance that either one of two things was about to happen. Archie was going to score or pass it to somebody who would. Archie was a natural. He seldom missed a chance to put points on the board when his opponent made the fatal mistake of giving him just a smidgen of an opportunity. More often than not, he would create his own opportunities to hit pay-dirt. It was truly amazing to watch Archie maneuver his way through the maze of the defending players, and a joy to see the frustration in the faces or the opposing team as he dodged, darted and just plain flatfooted his way to the scoreboard.
Archie played the game for one reason. He loved it. Oh, sure he played to win, but like all great athletes he knew he couldn’t win every game every time. Archie played like a winner every time he suited up. Archie was a team player. He was never glory seeker or a ball-hog. Archie was simply a great athlete who gave it everything he had for the sake of his team. And his fellow Rebels loved and respected him. One of his former teammates told me that when things were tight and all else seemed to fail, the strategy was “give the ball to Archie and get out of the way.”
I recall watching Archie play ball with great admiration and maybe even a little envy. He just seemed to always get it right, not only as an athlete, but he was academically accomplished as well. He eventually graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi. He enjoyed a distinguished career with the US Veterans Administration where he was dedicated to the improving the lives of our heroes who served in the Armed Forces. He is a dear friend and all around “good ole boy”. ARCHIE WHO? No it’s, WHO ARCHIE. A.Q. Archie, from Beulah Hubbard, Mississippi in Newton County and his game was basketball.
I went to school with A.Q. Archie from the first grade through high school. Nowadays I don't get to see my schoolmates like Archie and the rest of the gang as often as I would like. The years have taken us all in different directions. That's the way is supposed to be it suppose. But when I do see them at class reunions, I am reminded of what a great and wonderful experience it was to attend and be a part of the little school on the red clay hill between Dennis Harrison’s cornfield and J,R Chaney’s Grocery.
Birthdays keep rolling around, (thank goodness) and it’s a different world than it was back in the sixties, but some things remain the same. A.Q. Archie is the same A.Q. I have known for fifty plus years. And so are the rest of my classmates of Beulah Hubbard Class of 65. And I bet Archie can still handle a basketball with best of them; just give the ball to Archie and get out of the way!!!
Ralph Gordon is a Past President Mississippi Writers Guild and a recipient of the William Faulkner Literary Award.You may contact Ralph Gordon at rgordon512@hotmail.com.
