Who is the oldest living former Hallsville High School student? I've tried to figure this out for several months.

I wasn't sure about Mildred Hall Parks, who was born in 1910 and may have been in the class of 1927. Her sister, L. Glynn Davis, has informed me that Mrs. Parks died in 2007 at age 97. She was living in an Athens nursing home. According to what school records I have, the oldest living former Hallsville School is Connie Richardson Melton.

Constance Lee Richardson was born Jan. 2, 1911, to John A. Richardson (1873-1946) and Ivey Lee Findley Richardson (1868-1970). She grew up a couple miles north of what has been known since 1940s as the Pool place. Her father was constable from 1912 to 1939.

Mrs. Melton lives in her own home in Longview. She has one son, Jim Cary. In 1928, she was listed in the freshman class along with Irene Wood Coleman and Rob B. Thomas, probably the oldest living ex-Bobcat. Some of the others listed in that class are Connie's sister Media Bunt, Hamilton Cain, Harry L Jones (who died about 1 1/2 years ago), Anita Bass Gallion and volleyball star Kaci Jackson's great-grandfather, Alvin Jackson.

If you know of anyone older than Connie, let me know.

Connie's grandfather, J.D. Richardson (1842-1917), came to Texas from Tennessee's Maury County in 1869. He owned a farm on Page Creek on the north side of Noonday Road. He served in the Confederate Army from May 1861 to April 1865. His name was Josiah and he was in the third and 48th Tennessee Army. He surrendered at Greensboro, N.C., on April 26, 1865. I think his half-brother and my great-grandfather, William Richardson (1826-1897), surrendered there also. He came to Texas in 1849.

Monday night's Lions Club Meeting turned into a meeting of quarterbacks. The speaker was former Longview and Super Bowl quarterback Jeb Blount. In attendance were ace Bobcat quarterback Brandon Denton and ninth grade quarterback Ronnie "Bubba" Gideon. Also present were their fathers, Neal Denton and Ronnie Gideon, but there was no Peppy Blount. He'd seen enough of Hallsville after the Ladycat volleyball team worked over Pine Tree. He was at the game.

Jeb Blount, who has spoken at the "H" Association Banquet before, gave an interesting talk. He played football for the Lobos in 1969, 1970 and 1971 under Clint Humphries. He was a quarterback for Tulsa University. In the summer of 1976, he was the last quarterback to play in the college All-Star Game against the Pittsburg Steelers. That game was canceled due to the weather. I remember watching that 1976 game on TV. Blount was traded to Tampa in 1977 and ended his career with them. He earned his Super Bowl ring from Oakland.

Hallsville sports

Last Friday's volleyball win over Pine tree was the best I've seen our team play. You wonder why Pine Tree's hitters McJimsey and Mathis didn't get more kills? They hit it hard, but Jackson and Peck would return the ball by getting digs. Graff and Young would get the kills and blocks for us. On Tuesday against Mount Pleasant, it switched to Jackson and Peck for most of the kills. Graff and Young would get the kills and block for us. Daily continues to lead in assists.

Playoffs start the first week of November. In last Thursday night's football game, the eighth grade Bobcats tied Pine Tree 0-0, same as the varsity did in 1948.

The JV team lost to the Pirates.

The ninth grade team had a 28-0 lead just before the half until Pine Tree scored on a long play. They tried an onside kick, our team recovered and PT got upset. Fists flew and benches cleared. It looked like every coach from Hallsville ran onto the field and stopped the scuffle fast. With only six seconds left, the officials called the game — not only for the half, but the entire game. We won 28-6.

At press time, Hallsville athletic officials were getting tickets to send to Longview. They are expecting the largest crowd ever at Bobcat Stadium. If you have a Gold Card or sit in the cheap seats, you may want to come early. Lobo fans could overflow onto our home side.