Huntingdon Middle School Dedicates 'Bill Ezell-David Hale Gymnasium' to Legendary Coaches

HUNTINGDON (January 10) — A large crowd gathered Saturday afternoon at Huntingdon Middle School for a dedication ceremony naming the gymnasium for legendary coaches Bill Ezell and David Hale.

Bill Ezell, a Huntingdon basketball and baseball standout, began his teaching and coaching career in 1977 at Atwood High School. After two years, he returned to his alma mater, where he taught and coached for 37 years, including high school baseball, softball, girls' basketball and football and middle school football and boys' basketball.

David Hale, a basketball standout at Atwood High School, went on to coach basketball for 43 years, including 37 years in Carroll County between Atwood, West Carroll and Huntingdon.

The event took place between basketball games between Huntingdon and Inman, the first such games with "Bill Ezell-David Hale Gymnasium" emblazoned upon the hardwood court.

Huntingdon Special School District Director of Schools Dr. Jonathan Kee led the ceremony.

The two coaches were honored on the court, joined by their wives, Mary Jane Ezell and Joyce Hale, and some special guests.

Payten Butler, a 2006 Huntingdon graduate, spoke about Hale, her basketball coach at HMS.

Butler called Hale "one of the most influential people in my life" and "like a second father".

She said, "As hard as he was on us, we knew that he loves us. He had a way of making people feel special. He's a great man, a great husband and father. He's a man of Christ… Thank you for everything."

Tracy Brewer, a 1985 Huntingdon graduate, spoke about Ezell, his baseball coach at Huntingdon High School.

Brewer spoke about conversations with the coach after his days as a student. "Any chance I could, I made a point to come by and see Coach and just talk. Our relationship grew from that. We would talk about family and life. It all started with sports. It started with doing things right. It was old school. It was hard-nosed. We talked about doing things right, because that's the way he lived, that's the way he coached, that's the way he taught. 

"He would tell me every time we talked, 'I'm proud of you.' I don't care how old you are, you never get too old to hear that. And when it's someone you look up like I look up to Coach Ezell, it means more than words that I can say here to him and to you all today."

He concluded by congratulating Ezell and saying, "I appreciate you as my coach, mentor, role model, and more that anything the last 30 years, you've been my friend. And I get to say it back to you today. I'm proud of you. I love you."

Dr. Kee also spoke about the pair.

"All of the people that are in the gym this afternoon are a testament to what these two guys mean. Usually when we do these dedications, we focus on [the fact that] these guys had a lot of wins. And they did. There were lots of wins, lots of championships. But that's not what we're going to focus on today. The impact that these two guys had on this community and this school system is immeasurable."

Kee noted that the coaches always talk about their students, the gym that now holds their name, and the people they worked with.

He spoke about summers when they would open the gym for kids, who would flood the facility despite the heat. "It begs the question, why would kids flood this gym when it was much hotter in here than it was out there… But I'm going to tell you why, because I was one of them. They just wanted to be with Coach Hale and Coach Ezell. Because they trusted them. They cared for them and loved them. In this gym right here, these two men changed lives. For that, I want to say thank you."

Kee asked for anyone present who played for the coaches or worked with them to stand, which amounted to scores of people.

Each coach was presented with a large plaque designed to look like the gym floor. The plaques were presented by Lynn Twyman, former principal and superintendent, and Mike Partridge, former assistant principal and coach.

The two coaches also addressed the crowd of former students, colleagues and friends.

Coach Hale said of his time at HMS, "You all made me feel like I was on cloud nine… I loved every one of you. When you see our names on the court, think about the good things about us and apply those things to your life."

Coach Ezell said, "I want to say thank you, but it falls so short of what I feel today: gratitude and humility. God had a plan for us, and y'all were the plan. Most of all, what I want you to know is, home means a place that, no matter what else has happened to you, you can go there and be safe, you can be happy and you can feel loved. This gym was a safe place for those kids to come."

The ceremony concluded with a standing ovation for the two pillars of Huntingdon history.