LEVY COUNTY JOURNAL SPORTS & RECREATION USDAY, JANUARY 11,2007 Page 9




Kelly Beckham will be toast of the town Friday

 Bronson coach boasts 500 career wins


BY NEAL FISHER
SPORTS WRITER
 On the way home after
what has become the norm
at Bronson High School,
an Eagles' victory under
head basketball coach,
Kelly Beckham, a group of
approximately 10 alumni
and fans gathered to eat and
discuss the game.
 Everyone in the group had
at one point or another the
direct tie that they or their sons
had played for Beckham.
 It was a scene that has
probably been repeated.
thousands of times as the
coach's tenacious tour de
force of leadership has
melded countless young
adults into men through his
way of playing basketball.
 But this time it was
different. The group talked
about celebrating what
would soon be an historically
significant accomplishment in
a laundry list of achievements
in Beckham's career, his
500th win as head coach, as
well as honoring his two long
time assistants, Phil Knight
and Kenny Thomas.
 On Dec. 1, the need for that
celebration was transformed
into a reality set for this
Friday at 6pm as Beckham
notched his milestone victory
by a score of 69-46 over Dixie
County.
 In the spirit of what
Beckham and his two
assistants have meant to
so many families in the
county, they are beloved
men throughout Bronson and
Levy County simply because
the trio has been involved in
over 500 victories.
 However, with over 500
wins, their influence, effect
and inspiration go far beyond
the black and white figure
of victories. Nonetheless, it
is Beckham who has set the
tone throughout the years.
 "The main reason I have
 stayed here is because of what
 he teaches the boys," Knight
 said. "They leave here with
 standards. When I got into
 coaching my ambition was
 to be in an atmosphere where
 the kids are taught how to
 attain their aspirations in the
 right way.
 "Coach Beckham doesn't
 believe in shortcuts in his
 own personal life. So he
 doesn't allow the kids to take
 them. He preaches one earns
 what he gets. When he wants
 a play run a certain way, he
 will not accept any shortcuts
 or taking the easy way."
 In the same understated
 manner with which he was
 simply doing his 'job of
 developing young adults
 by patrolling the sidelines
 at Bronson's gym, those
 who have played a role in
 the Eagles' program will be
 present at the celebration.
 Michael McCaskill is at the
 top of the list of those people
 who will be at the ceremony
 as the host. McCaskill served
 as the school's principal
 during Beckham's early years
 at the school.
 A reception at Bronson
 High School's gym will
 follow the ceremony. He is


doubt he was born to coach
basketball at Bronson High
School and use it as the tool
to develop young men into
adults.
 His faith and conviction
of hard work, taking
responsibility for one's
actions, pursuing something
of value with fervor and doing
it the right way has made him
a fixture on the sidelines as not
only an extremely successful


COACH KELLY BECKHAM and his Bronson Eagles.


so commended that players
from as far as Port St. Lucie
and Atlanta are expected to
attend.
 Among the highlights
expected to commemorate
the achievement is the
presentation of a basketball
inside a globe shaped holder,
which has the signatures of
his former players and t-
shirts for his current athletes
to wear during warm-ups.
 "For starters, I have been
very fortunate and blessed
that this community is
so supportive of me and
the basketball program,"
Beckham said. "Of course, I
am proud of the milestone and
the fact that in order to reach
it one has to be a successful
for a long time, but I have had
my share of very good ball
players too.
 While Beckham is the man
in the forefront, Beckham
would have no thoughts
that the accomplishment
is anything but a team
effort, which starts with his
coaches.
 Knight might officially be
the Eagles' assistant coach,
but he has been Beckham's
right hand man for 22 years
now. His other assistant
coach, Kenny Thomas,, has
been with Beckham for 13
years and oversees the junior
varsity program that produces
those good players.
 "I believe success starts
with hard work," Beckham
said. "I think we laid that
foundation and the success
we have had is based on
that. I believe early on, the
assistants and myself worked
harder and longer than other
teams and it got the things
rolling.
 "We set high expectations
 which were based on that idea
 of hard work and it required
 discipline. The coaches who
 have been with me were a big
 part of everything that has
 happened at Bronson. The
 coaches and myself have been
 a team and the precedence
 we set in the early going
 definitely was an example of
 why those 500 wins is a team
 effort."
 In addition to the 500 wins,
 the Beckham era has included
 state runner-up teams in


1989 and 2002, nine district
titles, over 15 state playoff
appearances, two players
on the 2002 team finished
their careers among the top
five scorers in the state of
Florida, a 72 division I-A
game winning streak in the
regular season and a majority
of the athletes moving onto
the college level.
 In 1991, the Eagles
graduated six of their top
seven players. Nonetheless,
they finished the next season
with a 28-4 record and made
a run to the final eight in the
state tournament. The season
included a 105-90 victory
against Miami Killian in a
holiday tournament.
 Miami Killian was at
the time the largest school
in Florida with over 3,000
students and was the state's
overall top team.
 As a young man Beckham
played his high school ball
at Ceder Key. He was a
point guard on their district
championship team during
his junior year. He then
went on to Central Florida
Community College.
 During his freshman year
at Central Florida after a
discussion with the head
coach, he assumed a coaching
position with the college
team.
 When Beckham graduated
 from college, his high
 school coach, John Delaney,
 had moved onto Bronson.
 Delaney offered him an
 assistant position on his staff
 in the late '70s. He then
 moved into the junior varsity
 team's head coaching position
 at Brooksville.
 He became a head coach
 for the first time at Dunnellon
 following his stint at
 Brookesville and moved onto
 Glades Day School in Belle


MI*


- '.-.-'-...x -


 Now at 2 locations:

 (0& Ar'w t'Soiefui-it Il'iiidowt'M

 We 'hav'e (theloit'st prices on Ltney's Antiique GifttNIAhin

 Furnliture tO dCCtOfL)I 1'[011V ldfl, '~17 Ci'I 110111 C
rancilh o01'(-))(hndbll ICor o i
 /I h' Ian


Glade for one year before
returning to Bronson after
Delaney resigned in lieu of
another offer in 1983.
 Delaney's influence has
been obvious throughout
Beckham's career. During
his playing days, Delaney
was roughly the same size
as Beckham. On the shorter
side, like Beckham, he made
his living as a defensive,
spirited turnover provoking
point guard. He led his team,
Gainesville High, to their
district's title in 1969.
 Beckham's playing career
was defined in the same terms
and his teams have always
started with lock down
defenses that emotionally
spearhead the culture of the
program.
 "I have known Beckham
since I was 10 years old,"
Knight said. "In all the time
I have "ki'own him he is or
was always doing something
related to basketball or
working. That is the key to his
success. He has worked very
hard to achieve everything
he has. He has earned it and
it has led to his success. He
goes over every detail with.
that in mind.
 "It is really special how
he goes about his business,
starting with his days as a
young man. When I first
got into coaching, I didn't
know what to expect. But he
doesn't mislead people. He
is honest and gives you the
feeling he genuinely cares
about people. It makes one
want to give back to him and I
learned how to coach because
of it. His coaching career has
been the same in how he deals
with the players."
 Sometimes people spend
 a lifetime searching for
 their calling. In the case of
 Kelly Beckham there was no


.1 4 4, 4. 6 , -- *
Complete Veterinary Services .
 Ted S. Yoho, DVM Marie Lesie, DVM
 Jackie Linkous, MRCVS Jill Brady. DVM
 Dental Care I Prescription Food J Grooming
 Vaccinations Boarding EarlyAM Drop-Off 0'
 Microchip Identifications J Medicine & Surgery *&
Skin Disease Treatment Puppy & Kitten Plan s&
 Large Animal Haul-In Available <.
 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE AVAILABLE .,

 603N.MalnSt--TrentMon &


Cshiefl ati


coach, but as an affirmative
example to a community
where it is highly valued.
 On Friday, instead of the
coach giving to his players
and the community, the
understated and unassuming
sideline fixture will be forced
to take a seat and enjoy the
well-deserved honors he
has earned with his 500th
victory.


 Eagles to honor


 Coach Beckham

 A celebration is planned on Friday. Jan. 12 at the
 BHS gymnasium to honor boys' basketball coach Kelly
 Beckham, who reached a milestone 5001' Eagle in in
 December 2006, placing him among an elite few in high
 school coaches.
 Also honored will be long-time Assistant Coach Phillip
 Knight who has been with Beckham for most of his
 successful career at Bronson High School.
 All former players and cheerleaders are invited to
 attend and be acknowledged as being a part of one
 of the winningest programs in the state of Florida. A
 reception for former Beckham players will be held at 6
 p.m. at Bronson's new gymnasium. There will be a short
 ceremony before the 7 p.m. tip-off of the boys' varsity
 game against the Mayo Hornets.
 Former BHS principal from 1983-1994, Mike McCaskill
 will be the emcee for this event and looks forward to
 seeing many former students and faculty.
 For more information please call 352-339-1841.


BYL begins spring sign-ups

 With the change in the calendar, the Bronson Recreational
League is also moving into its new season.
 The league's spring season consists of soccer, softball,
baseball and t-ball.
 The league will be forming teams for those sports starting
with signups on Thursday, Jan. 11 between 6- 8 p.m. and
Saturday, Jan. 13 between 10 a.m. and noon. All first time
players must bring a copy of their birth certificate.
 The league will have teams for 14 and under, 12 and under,
10 and under, 8 and under and 6 and under. The league is also
starting a 4 and under team for t-ball this season as well.
 Information will be distributed this week at Bronson
elementary and middle schools as well as Williston elementary
and middle schools.


% 8e New Year-New Foorin

  ,2 Rooms or Bedrooms
 _S V_ hQ7 Q7* 'This oiler iso rr twoI lI12 rooms
 SU fUI, 3Zsu Carpet Installed

 New Berber Carpet Installed
Flooring Installation Supplies


 A
I


 Tides for Cedar Key starting with Jan. 11
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
 /Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
Th 11 Low 12:47 AM 0.5 7:27 AM Rise 12:31 AM 55
 11 High 6:56AM 2.3 5:53 PM Set 12:02 PM
 .11 Low 12:24 PM 1.0
 11 High 6:43 PM 3.2
F 12 Low 1:53 AM 0.4 7:27 AM Rise 1:25 AM 46
 12 High 8:22 AM 2.1 5:54 PM Set 12:32 PM
 12 Low 1:11 PM 1.4
 12 High 7:29 PM 3.2
Sa 13 Low 3:07 AM 0.2 7:27 AM Rise 2:21 AM 36
 13 High 9:59AM 2.1 5:55 PM Set 1:05 PM
 13 Low 2:16 PM 1.6
 13 High 8:25 PM 3.2
Su 14 Low 4:21 AM 0.0 7:27 AM Rise 3:20 AM 27
 14 High 11:29 AM 2.3 5:55 PM Set 1:44 PM
 14 Low 3:36 PM 1.8
 14 High 9:26 PM 3.3
M 15 Low 5:24 AM -0.3 7:27 AM Rise 4:21 AM 19
 15 High 12:33 PM 2.5 5:56 PM Set 2:30 PM
 15 Low 4:49 PM 1.8
 15 High 10:26 PM 3.4
Tu 16 Low 6:16AM -0.6 7:27 AM Rise 5:22AM 12
 16 High 1:19 PM 2.7 5:57 PM Set 3:24 PM
 16 Low 5:50 PM 1.7
 16 High 11:21 PM 3.6
W 17 Low 7:01 AM -0.9 7:27 AM Rise 6:21 AM 6
 17 High 1:58 PM 2.8 5:58 PM Set 4:25 PM
 17 Low 6:41 PM 1.6


ffssj.s'ss