1963 Leslie Sr. Boys Basketball

(Left to Right) - Herb Fendley, Manager - David Sandlin - Clytee Harness - Paul Stephenson - Larry George -, Joe Maxey - Joe Hargis - William George, Score-keeper - (Kneeling) Pete Passmore - Mike Hargis - Carl Ragland - Richard Smith -, Billy Seeger - John Treece - Merl Lewis -, and Coach, Jerry Passmore.

1963 Leslie Sr. Girls Basketball

(Left to Right) - Ruth Overholt, Manager - Libby Jennings - Sally George - Ester Gibbs - Sandra Smith - Thelma Kimbrell - Pat Lewis - Elaine McSherry - Sharon Blair - Pauletta Sitton - Gloria Stevens - Lynn Simmons - Linda Logan - Jackye McBride and Coach Jerry Passmore.

1963 Leslie Jr. Boys Basketball

(Left to Right) - Herb Fendley, Manager, Randy Smiley, Jerry Massey, David Harness, Jimmy Ross, Ed Rodgers, Ronnie Jolly, William George, Scorekeeper, Ronnie Stephenson, Larry Housley, Sammie Massey, David Logan, G. L. Deason, Jeffery Cotten, Phil Reade, and Coach Jerry Passmore .

1963 Leslie Jr. Boys "B" Basketball

(Left to Right) - Herb Fendley, Manager, Dennis Hammond, Ronnie Housley, Edwin Horton, William George, Scorekeeper, David Burris, Freddie Fendley, Delbert Sharp and Coach Jerry Passmore.

1963 - Featured

Most Athletic

Larry "Pete" Passmore

Most Athletic

Thelma Kimbrell

State Basketball Queen

Libby Jennings

Sharon Blair

In 2007, Sharon Blair wrote a feature article about Leslie School, basketball and other memories of growing up in a village of 500 people who all know each other. The article was titled "Death of a purple Bulldog" and was published in the Arkansas Times where it continues to stir quite a bit of attention.

When the article was published in 2007, Sharon Blair lived in Wellfleet, Mass. where she had a 30 year career as a video archiving consultant in television. Sharon retired as a national program development director for Connecticut Public Television.

Read: "Death of a purple Bulldog" →

Jackye McBride Adams

Jackie McBride Adams wrote an article about her memories and the events surrounding the 1962 and 1963 Girls State Championship teams which was published in the 2005 Leslie Yearbook.

Jackie McBride married Jim Adams and lives in Leslie. She taught high school and mentored hundreds of teenagers within the community and is a great leader and personal favorite of the community. Jackye is now retired from teaching and enjoying the best of life in what is still a "Bulldog Village".

Read: "Girls State Championship Basketball" →

Death of a purple Bulldog

"... Guy Mabry was one of the organizers of a massive caravan that drove to and from Alma, four hours away ? each way ? to see us win our first state championship. Next day at Sunday School, Guy announced ? along with that day's attendance and the amount of the offering ? that more than 200 Leslie residents had gone to the finals the night before. Out of a total population of 500, almost half the town had gone to the game. ..."

State Championship Basketball

"... We spent many hours in the gym. Gene Harness said, 'You play like you practice.' --- So we practiced hard. Then everyday after a hard practice, all the forwards would have to make 10 free throws in a row before we left the gym. Coach Harness said, 'all close games are won or lost at the free throw line, and you will be shooting when you are tired.' He was right...."