CONWAY — The gym at Kennett High School now has a name — the Peter Ames Gymnasium was officially unveiled last Friday with a dedication ceremony honoring the man who coached Kennett teams for four decades. One of the largest crowds in the 13-year-old gymnasium’s history helped to make it a night to remember.
Ames and his wife, Joan, were on hand for the ceremony. Their daughter, Brittany Banda, flew up from North Carolina for the event, and Peter’s parents, Helen and Phil Ames of Tamworth, also were able to attend, along with countless former players.
kAm“xE H2D ?:46 ?:89E[” p>6D D2:5] “%96C6 H6C6 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 x 925?’E D66? :? BF:E6 2H9:=6] x H2?E E@ E92?< 6G6CJ@?6 7@C >2<:?8 E9:D D@ DA64:2=]”k^Am
kAmp>6D[ ed[ @7 r@?H2J 2?5 2 `hfa z6??6EE 8C25F2E6[ 4@24965 >F=E:A=6 DA@CED 2?5 :D 42C66C H:? =6256C 7@C E96 t28=6D] w6 2=D@ E2F89E D@4:2= DEF5:6D 2E z6??6EE |:55=6 $49@@= 7C@> `hfg\a_``]k^Am
kAm~7 92G:?8 E96 8J> ?2>65 7@C 9:>[ p>6D E@=5 E96 $F?i “xEVD 9F>3=:?8] xE’D 2 3:8 9@?@C] x’> ;FDE 2 4@249] *@F H2?E E@ 36 56D6CG:?8[ 3FE x 5@?’E E9:?< J@F 6G6C =@@< 2E H92E J@F’C6 5@:?8 2?5 D2J[ V$@>652J E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ ]]]’ %92E :D?’E H9J J@F 5@ :E]Qk^Am
kAmw6 25565i “x’G6 366? 7@CEF?2E6 2E 36:?8 AC6EEJ DF446DD7F= 4@249:?8\H:D6[ 3FE J@F’G6 8@E E@ 92G6 <:5D[ 2?5 H6’G6 925 D@>6 8@@5 <:5D[ D@>6 C62==J 92C5\H@C<:?8 <:5D]Qk^Am
kAm%96 r@?H2J $49@@= q@2C5 G@E65 F?2?:>@FD=J yF?6 ac E@ ?2>6 E96 8J>[ H9:49 92D D:>A=J 366? C676CC65 E@ 2D E96 }6DE D:?46 :E @A6?65 :? a__e[ 27E6C p>6D]k^Am
kAmz6??6EE pE9=6E:4 s:C64E@C }62= (62G6C D6CG65 2D >2DE6C @7 46C6>@?:6D 7@C E96 6G6?:?8[ H9:=6 7@C>6C 4@249 !9:= w2J?6D[ 4FCC6?E z6??6EE |:55=6 $49@@= pE9=6E:4 r@@C5:?2E@C vC656= $92H[ 2?5 $FA6C:?E6?56?E z6G:? #:492C5 DA@<6 23@FE p>6D]k^Am
kAm“|@DE @7 J@F 5@?’E <?@H H9@ x 2>] x 2> 2 7@C>6C DEF56?E 2?5 2? 2E9=6E6 @7 D@>6 D@CE 2?5 x >6E !6E6C df J62CD 28@] x <?@H H6 5@?’E =@@< E92E @=5[ 3FE H6 H6C6 A=2J:?8 32D<6E32==] x H2D 8@:?8 E@ z6??6EE |:55=6 $49@@= 2?5 !6E6C H2D 5@H? :? %2>H@CE9 2?5 2D 2 7:7E9\8C256C H2D A=2J:?8 7@C E96 ;F?:@C 9:89 W2E E96 z]p] qC6EE $49@@=X] w6 42>6 @FE @?E@ E96 7=@@C 2?5 96 925 E96D6 <?66 A25D[ 2?5 x DH62C E@ v@5 E96J 4@G6C65 9:> 7C@> 9:D 2?<=6D E@ 9:D FAA6C E9:89] x’> 8@:?8[ ‘(@H[’ E96D6 E9:?8D H6C6 AC@323=J E9:D =@?8 WDAC625:?8 9:D 2C>D EH@ 766EX] w6 H2D?’E G6CJ E2==[ 3FE H6 <?6H C:89E 2H2J 96:89E H@F=5 92G6 ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 !6E6C’D 4@>A6E:E:G6?6DD]”k^Am
kAmw2J?6D 4@24965 7@@E32== 2?5 D@7E32== H:E9 p>6D 2?5 925 EH@ @7 9:D 49:=5C6? 4@24965 3J 9:>]k^Am
kAm“%96D6 H@C5D 4@>6 E@ >:?5] w6 H2D E6?24:@FD] w6 H2D?’E G6CJ 3:8 3FE 96 H2D E6?24:@FD] w6 H2D A6CD6G6C:?8[ 96 H2D 5@8865[ 96 H2D E@F89] w6 H2D E:C6=6DD[ C6D:=:6?E[ C6=6?E=6DD[ 96 H2D D:?8=6\>:?565[ 96 4@F=5 25;FDE] w6 H2D 2 E62496C] w6 H2D 2 4@249[ w6 925 AC:56 2?5 96 H2?E65 AC:56 :? 6G6CJ@?6 96 H@C<65 H:E9] w6 H2D 5:=:86?E] w6 H2D 2 =62C?6C] w6 H2D 67764E:G6] !C@323=J @?6 @7 E96 E9:?8D x >@DE C6>6>36C 23@FE !6E6C :D E92E 96 H2D 2 7:6C46[ 7:6C46 4@>A6E:E@C]k^Am
kAmw6 25565i “%96 r@?H2J 4@>>F?:EJ 92D 366? G6CJ 7@CEF?2E6 E@ 92G6 !6E6C DA6?5 9:D =:76E:>6 H@C<:?8 H:E9 <:5D 2?5 2=D@ :E 5:5?’E >2EE6C H92E DA@CED[ 96 5:5 2== DA@CED] w6 H2D 2? 2E9=6E6[ 96 H2D 2 E62496C] w6 H@F=5 =62C? :7 96 H2D 5@:?8 D@>6E9:?8 96 5:5?’E <?@H] w6 H2D?’E 8@:?8 E@ H2=< :? E96C6 2?5 ?@E 36 AC6A2C65] x 42?’E E6== J@F 9@H 92AAJ x 2> 2D 2? 2=F>?:[ 2D 2 7C:6?5 2?5 2D 2 7@C>6C 4@249 H:E9 !6E6C E92E 96 92D 366? D6=64E65 E@ C6AC6D6?E E9:D 8J>?2D:F>]”k^Am
kAm$92H 8@E C62==J ?6CG@FD H96? 2D<65 E@ DA62<[ 3FE E96 >@C6 D96 E9@F89E 23@FE :E 2?5 96C “C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 !6E6C p>6D @G6C E96 J62CD x H2D 9@?@C65” 2?5 “x E9@F89E[ ‘8C62E[ 96C6’D >J 492?46 7@C A2J324<]’k^Am
kAmQx’G6 <?@H !6E6C p>6D :? G2C:@FD 42A24:E:6D 7@C @G6C b_ J62CD[” D96 D2:5] “x 7:CDE >6E 9:> :? `hhg 2D 2? 6:89E9\8C256C :? 2 D@4:2= DEF5:6D 4=2DD 2E z6??6EE yF?:@C w:89] $@@? x >@G65 @? E@ 9:89 D49@@=[ H966 x A=2J65 E9C66 J62CD @7 G2CD:EJ D@7E32== 7@C !6E6] p?5 @?6 @7 E9@D6 36:?8 E96 J62C H6 H@? 9:D D@7E32== 492>A:@?D9:A :? `hhc] *62CD =2E6C[ x 3642>6 2 4@249[ 2E z6??6EE yF?:@C w:89 2?5 96 96=A65 8F:56 >6 2=@?8 E96 H2J]”k^Am
kAm(96? E96 ?6H 9:89 D49@@= @A6?65[ $92H 3642>6 E96 2E9=6E:4 4@@C5:?2E@C 2E E96 >:55=6 D49@@= 2?5 p>6D H2D @?6 @7 96C 7@@E32== 4@2496D]k^Am
kAm“~9[ 9@H E96 E23=6D 925 EFC?65[” D96 D2:5[ D>:=:?8] “x 925 364@>6 !6E6VD 3@DD[ 3FE >@DE=J 96 925 364@>6 >J >6?E@C[ >J DFAA@CE6C 2?5 >J 7C:6?5] %@52J[ >2?J @7 @FC 9:89 D49@@= 2?5 >:55=6 D49@@= 4@2496D 2?5 2E9=6E6D 7@==@H E96 D2>6 CF=6D 2?5 6IA64E2E:@?D E92E !6E6 96=A65 4C62E6 2?5 D6E 7@CE9 D@ >2?J J62CD 28@] %96 E2D< }62= (62G6C 82G6 >6 E@?:89E H2D E@ 7:D9 @FE H92E !6E6C p>6D 92D >62?E E@ z6??6EE 2E9=6E:4D @G6C E96 J62CD] $@ x C624965 @FE E@ D@>6 @7 >J 7C:6?5D[ 9:D 7@C>6C A=2J6CD[ E62>>2E6D 2?5 A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 A=2J65 H:E9 2?5 4@24965 H:E9 @C 282:?DE 9:>[ E62496CD 2?5 @E96CD[ 2?5 H6 564:565 E92E 96 92D 7@C8@EE6? >@C6 23@FE DA@CED 2?5 >@DE A6@A=6 H:== 6G6C <?@H] w6 92D 4@24965 D@ >2?J DA@CED 96C6 2E z6??6EE E92E x 5@?VE 92G6 E:>6 E@ =:DE E96> @77]”k^Am
kAm$96 25565i “x 962C5 @G6C 2?5 @G6C E92E 96VD 2? @=5 D49@@= 4@249] w6 :D E@F89 3FE 72:C[ 565:42E65 2?5 4@>>:EE65 2?5 >@E:G2E65] p?5 :7 3J 36:?8 2 >@E:G2E@C[ :E’D 9:> J6==:?8 2E J@F @G6C 2?5 @G6C[ ‘w6J[ 42E49 E96 32==[’ ‘w6J[ E9C@H E96 32==[’ :D >@E:G2E:@? E92? J6D 96 H2D 2 C62==J 8@@5 >@E:G2E@C] p?5 36=:6G6 :E @C ?@E 7@C E96 J@F?86C 86?6C2E:@?D[ 2?5 96 92D <6AE 2=:G6 9:D D?2C<J A6CD@?2=:EJ 2?5 D2C42D> 2== E96D6 J62CD] p?5 96 2=D@ A@FED E96 D2>6 H2J E@52J 27E6C 2 =@DD 2D 96 5:5 :? `hhc] w6 :D E96 8@ E@ 7@C DA@CED 9:DE@CJ[ 2E9=6E:4 A@=:4J 2?5 <?@HD H9J H6 5@ E96 E9:?8D H6 5@] w6 :D @?6 @7 E96 76H A6@A=6 H9@ <?@HD H9J E96 <:?5 @7 4@=@CD 2C6 3=24< 2?5 H9:E6] p?5 x C62=:K65 H9:=6 H2E49:?8 !6E6C p>6D 4@249:?8 2?5 :?E6C24E:?8 H:E9 9:D A=2J6CD 27E6C 2== E96D6 J62CD E92E 96 4@2496D 9:D DA@CE >2?J @7 E96 D2>6 H2JD 2D 96 5:5 b_ A=FD J62CD 28@[ 96 H2D E@F89[ 3FE @?=J 3642FD6 96 H2?E65 9:D A=2J6CD E@ H@C< 92C5 2?5 5@ E96:C 36DE — 96 H2D C:8:5 2?5 C65F?52?E[ 3642FD6 AC24E:46 >2<6D A6C764E]k^Am
kAm“*@F H@?VE 7:?5 2?@E96C A6CD@? 2D 565:42E65 E@ z6??6EE 2E9=6E:4D 2D !6E6C p>6D] w6 92D 565:42E65 2 =2C86 A2CE @7 9:D =:76 E@ z6??6EE D@ :E :D @?=J C:89E D@>6E9:?8 C:89E E92E E96 8J> 36 565:42E65 E@ 9:>] r@?8C2ED !6E6]”k^Am
kAm#:492C5 92D 366? :? E96 5:DEC:4E b_ J62CD]k^Am
kAm“%96C6VD ?@E9:?8 =:<6 4966C:?8 @? 2 G2CD:EJ E62> E92E :D @? 2 A=2J@77 CF? H:E9 E96 9@A6D @7 H:??:?8 2 DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A[” 96 D2:5] “$49@@= DA:C:E :D ?6G6C 9:896C E92? 92G:?8 2 E62> C:5:?8 2 D49@@= 3FD E9C@F89 E96 E@H? H:E9 2? 6D4@CE 7C@> A@=:46 2?5 7:C6 ECF4<D H:E9 E96 DE2E6 EC@A9J :? 92?5] (96? 2 E62> 46=63C2E6D[ E96 4@>>F?:EJ 46=63C2E6D 2?5 !6E6C p>6D’ 4@249:?8 92D 8:G6? FD 2 4@FA=6 @7 E9@D6 >@>6?ED] tG6CJ DF446DD7F= E62> 2D 2 4@249 H9@ =625D E96> E@ E96 DF446DD] r@249 !6E6C p>6D 92D 8:G6? 9:D =:76 E@ E96 DEF56?ED 2?5 2E9=6E6D :? E9:D 4@>>F?:EJ] (96E96C @? E96 7@@E32== @C D@7E32== 7:6=5 @? E96 8J> 7=@@C[ r@249 p>6D 8@E E96 36DE @FE @7 9:D DEF56?ED 2?5 9:D A=2J6CD 2?5 92D EC6>6?5@FD DF446DD 3C:?8:?8 >2?J H:?D 2?5 DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:AD E@ r@?H2J]k^Am
kAmw6 25565i “x7 E96 =6824J @7 2 4@249 :D =67E :? DF49 2 >2??6C E92E :E D9@F=5 36 C64@8?:K65[ E96 4@>>F?:EJ ?665D E@ 766= 2 4@C6 @C 724:=:EJ 27E6C E92E 4@249] %@?:89E[ r@249 p>6D H:== 92G6 E96 z6??6EE w:89 $49@@= vJ>?2D:F> 7@C6G6C ?2>65 27E6C 9:>] w6V== 36 C64@8?:K65 H:E9 E96 =:<6D @7 E96 $6:56?DEF64<6C vJ>?2D:F>[ |4z62? |6>@C:2= u:6=5[ E96 v6@C86 %] s2G:D@? q2D632== u:6=5[ v2CJ |:==6C $E25:F>[ E96 q6C?:6 {:G:?8DE@? ~G2=[ E96 s@?2=5 %C:>3=6 u:6=5 2?5 tG6?E u24:=:EJ 2?5 E96 q@3 qFC?D q2D632== u:6=5] %@?:89E H6 46=63C2E6 E96 ?2>:?8 @7 E96 !6E6C p>6D vJ>?2D:F> 2? 9@A6 7@C >2?J >@C6 J62CD @7 2E9=6E:4 DF446DD @? E9:D 4@FCE] r@?8C2EF=2E:@?D E@ r@249 p>6D[ ;@3 H6== 5@?6]”k^Am
kAmp>6D 92D 2 C6DF>6 =:<6 ?@ @E96C 4@249 2E z6??6EE w:89] w6 4@24965 G2CD:EJ D@7E32== 7@C bb J62CD[ 4@>A:=:?8 2 cde\aaa C64@C5[ H9:=6 H:??:?8 7@FC DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:AD 2?5 7:?:D9:?8 2D CF??6C\FA EH:46]k^Am
kAmw6 4@24965 3@JDV G2CD:EJ 32D<6E32== 7C@> `hg_\hb[ =625:?8 E96 t28=6D E@ E96 DE2E6 7:?2=D :? `hh_ 2?5 H:??:?8 `c` 82>6D @G6C E92E A6C:@5] w6 2=D@ 4@24965 G2CD:EJ 8:C=DV 32D<6E32== 7C@> `hhe\a_``[ H:??:?8 E96 DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A :? a_`_[ 2D H6== 2D `f` 82>6D :? `d D62D@?D]k^Am
kAmw6 H2D 2? 2DD:DE2?E 4@249 @? E9C66 @7 z6??6EE’D DE2E6 7@@E32== 492>A:@?D9:AD :? E96 Vh_Dj 96 H2D 2? 2DD:DE2?E 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ D<: 4@249 :? `hhc 2?5 ’hd[ H:??:?8 EH@ DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:ADj 2?5 4@24965 y' 32D632== 2E zw$ 7C@> `hg_\ge[ 8@:?8 ``c\aa]k^Am
kAmu@C 2== 9:D DF446DD[ p>6D :D BF:4< E@ A2DD 4C65:E E@ 9:D H:76[ H9@ D6=5@> >:DD65 2?J 82>6]k^Am
kAm“$96’D AC@323=J E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 E96 H9@=6 A:4EFC6] xE H2D?’E 6G6C[ ‘(6 42?’E 5@ E9:D 3642FD6 J@F’G6 8@E E@ 4@249]’ ]]] $96 2?5 qC:E H@F=5 4@>6[ 2?5 H6 H@F=5 92G6 72>:=J E:>6]”k^Am
kAmw6 2=D@ H2D 2 7C6D9>6? 32D<6E32== 4@249 2E z6??6EE 2?5 4@24965 >:55=6 D49@@= 7@@E32== 7@C D6G6C2= J62CD]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.