Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wells' GHS Catch Lives On (cont)

a rocky start with the team.

in his first year, the Reddies were playing a game in Durant, Okla. Wells fielded a punt shortly before the end of the first half, worked to dodge tacklers, sidestepping them until one hit him from the side.

"Coach Sherman pulled me out and put me on the bench," Wells said in an article Jan. 7, 1970. "He said,`Why in hell won't you learn to run forward with that ball?' That may be the most words he ever said to me at one time.

"If I'd had a ride home that half, I would have taken it." It was fortunate for Wells and Henderson no ride was available.

Wells' players were not just students who would fade out of his life once they left college. They were an extension of his family. Leah said he was always there for the boys, who could talkto him about anything.

In a tribute to Wells, his players were generous in their praise. Jim Mack Sawyer, who succeeded Wells as head coach after a heart attack forced him to leave the sidelines in 1961, said: "He gave me a lot of the philosophy I have toward athletics. He's put something in a lot of young men. He was always fantastic at taking boys just out of high school and molding them into men."

Clyde Berry, who came after Sawyer as the Reddie mentor, said: "The man has many attributes, but I guess the greatest is his compassion for every individual he has ever known.

"He has wanted all his former players to do well in life. He was always willing to help you no matter what the situation. I don't know of any of Coach Wells' former athletes who haven't called on him for help at some point in their lives.

"He sought me out and got me my first coaching job. Later on, when I considered leaving coaching, he got me a job here at Henderson."

Berry was followed as Reddie coach by Ralph "Sporty" Carpenter, who also played for Wells.

Carpenter said of his former coach: "Words can't describe how I feel about Coach Wells. He's given me guidance and support whenever I've needed it.

"In my dealings with others, I've tried to use as much of his philosophy as possible to get the job done. That philosophy is to never turn you back on anybody no matter how good or how bad. Coach Wells has always looked for something good in everybody. He knows exactly what he stands for and has never deviated from those beliefs."

Another of Wells' former players who went on to become a head coach at college was Harold Tilley, who coached at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He said: "In my opinion, Coach Wells is one of the greatest people to ever live. When I played at Henderson, he was my second father.

"He has a genuine interest in helping young people and his players always realized he cared for them as individuals.

"Duke Wells is `Mr. Henderson,' he is `Mr. Arkadelphia,' and he is `Mr. Arkansas,' as far as AIC athletics are concerned."

Ken Turner, who coached at the University of Arkansas put it in simple terms: "There just aren't enough good things you can say about Duke Wells."

During a "roasting" of Wells in 1978, Turner told a story of how he and Carpenter were caught getting a drink of water during practice.

Wells asked what the two were doing, and Carpenter answered: "We were playing with an old dog over here and he slobbered on our hands. We had to wash it off."

Wells' wife said her husband told the pair to run a couple of laps around the track to dry the slobber off.

In 1972, HSU opened a new physical education facility, and named it in honor of Duke Wells. The Duke Wells Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building was formally dedicated Oct. 14.

Then-Attorney General Ray Thornton gave the speech dedicating the building in honor of the man who gave his life to Henderson. More than 1,500 people were on hand for the ceremonies. A large color portrait of Wells was presented to the former coach to be hung in the facility, where it still hangs.

Leah said she couldn't cook when she and Duke married, but he insisted on bringing people over for meals on the spur of the moment. She said he knew she wasn't a good cook, but told her if the cooking was good enough for him, it was good enough for their guests. In addition, Wells wouldn't work on Sunday. Leah told of the time when one of his assistants, Robert "Sleepy" Thomasson, came over on a Sunday afternoon to discuss football. She said Duke politely informed him the matter could be handled Monday as he didn't work Sundays.

Duke and Leah had two children, John Duke Wells Jr. and Ann. "We tried to steer our kids from teaching and coaching," she said, "but it didn't work."

Duke Jr. is the head coach at Mountain Home, while Ann is a teacher. Needless to say, the Wells children all attended Henderson. Duke's son, Duke III, also went to Henderson and is on the scouting squad for the Buffalo Bills.

Interestingly enough, the Wells men all wore No. 30 at Henderson. In spite of the fact Wells' jersey was retired in the late '60s. It was brought out of retirement so his son and grandson could wear his number.

An article dated Aug. 23, 1964, stated Duke Jr. originally had not planned on playing football at Henderson, even though he literally grew up on campus. He had accepted a scholarship to Arkansas State College after graduating from Arkadelphia High in 1960.

"He had his mind made up to go somewhere else," Wells Sr. said in the piece. "He thought playing for me would be kind of an awkward situation for both of us."

However, Buddy, as Wells Jr. was called, went to Henderson, where he was considered a "meal ticket." His father said Buddy was the tougher runner on third down of the two of them. "He puts his head down and goes over 'em or through 'em. I kinda liked to go around 'em when I could."

Buddy, as a junior halfback, racked up 686 yards with his running style in '63.

The story of how Wells attended Henderson at all is an interesting one. After graduatingfrom Gurdon High, he was scouted by the University of Arkansas.

Razorback Coach Fred Thomsen toured the state looking for talent and visited Wells, as his name was on the check list.

The story goes: "If you have $75 you can come on up and give it a try," Thomsen told Wells.

"He might just has well have said $75,000," Wells responded. "That's how tough money was in those days."

The three-sport high school player was finally recruited for Henderson by his high school coach and superintendent, Gus Brown, for whom the current football field is named.

"He drove out to Whelen Springs (where Wells lived) the day fall practice started. I was outside our store playing catch with some of the boys," Wells said.

"He said, `Duke, come on and get in the ca