Here Come The Blackcats: The Kayo Stanton Story
April 20, 2009
Perhaps it is fitting that Century’s Relay for Life will be held Saturday night at Kayo Stanton Stadium. The stadium was named in honor of a man that was a legacy in Century High School sports. A man that was the voice of the Blackcats for 20 years until he was silenced by cancer.
As Century prepares for this weekend’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life, we thought it fitting to look back at the man and the history behind Kayo Stanton Stadium, the stadium that is all too often referred to as the “old Century High School Stadium”.
The following was submitted by Jerry Simmons from the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society for NorthEscambia.com.
“Heeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrreeeee come the Blackcats”
Kayo’s full name was Vivian Earl Stanton, Jr. “Kayo” is a term used in boxing to denote a knockout but his daughter Anne Williamson of Thomasville said his nickname was for a character in the 1930s-50s “Moon Mullins” Sunday comic strip named “Kayo.”
Stanton’s deep voice was easily recognizable – his trademark was “Heeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrreeeee come the Blackcats,” as the Century team came onto the field before the game started. His son, David Stanton said his father borrowed the line from the Florida Gators after attending games in Gainesville when David was a student there. “He came back and tried it, and it went over pretty good,” he said. “He kept it for the next 20 years.”
Kayo didn’t try to be a play-by-play announcer. He once said, “The fans can see what’s going on. I just tell them the yard marker, since we can see from this high vantage point. The men who work as spotters in the press box tell me the players’ numbers and I pass that to the crowd.”
The stadium was named in his honor during the football season of 1990. He was beginning to be paralyzed from the cancer by the end of the football season, but he could still walk some at the time of the dedication. By the end of the season he was confined to a wheelchair and would listen to the games from the wheelchair sitting in his front yard.
According to a contemporary report in the Pensacola News-Journal, he was “embarrassed but honored” when Century High School named its football stadium for him. But that honor was an indication of how well everyone thought of him. Kayo’s son David said, “There was never any controversy or complaint about the decision to name the stadium for him.”
Kayo was “The Voice of the Blackcats” as public address announcer for Century football for 40 years, starting in the early 1950s.
The News-Journal report continued, “He was Blackcat football,” said [former] Century football coach Joe Cardwell. “He was our version of Mel Allen, with that gravelly voice.”
“If you were going to have a ball game, you were going to have Kayo there,” said Edsol Smith, former CHS coach and principal. Smith remembered Stanton as a community booster and historian and a fixture at Century Lions Club meetings, where he was the member with the most years of service at the time of his death.
Stanton was also a third generation businessman in Century. At 19, he went to work for his father, Bubba Stanton, at Stanton’s grocery on Mayo Street. The family closed the grocery store in 1963, and when Bubba died in 1964, Kayo took over the operation and eventually turned it into a furniture store.
“People would just drop by his store all the time and sit and talk,” said former Century mayor Benny Barnes. “We’d talk a lot about things going on in the community and about football.”
Stanton prepared for games as if he were going to broadcast them, studying series records against Century’s opposition for the week and scores against common opponents, to be shared with the fans. “He did a lot of research,” David said. “He was really good at it.”
His attendance record was almost spotless, even after he opened another store in Pensacola in 1979. The new store kept him out of town for much of the week in the six years it was open. But Fridays always found him in the press box.
His tenure was interrupted only once, as family ties put him in a different place in the stadium during the 1968 season. That was the senior season for David, an All-State linebacker for Century. Smith said, “He said he’d get too excited to do a good job.”
But he returned to the booth the following year and stayed for the next 20 years, before cancer forced him to give up announcing. He died June 13, 1991.
“You can say that the whole community’s lost a friend,” Barnes said at the time.
The History
Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis took down a sign honoring a prominent figure in Century’s recent history. Kayo Stanton Field is hardly known to people around town any more, although it was the center of the community’s identity for 50 or 60 years. It was named for one of Century’s favorite sons.
Century’s high school ventured into football in the early 1930s. According to “Blackcats: A history of Century Football 1931-1975″ by Jim Curenton, football was first played behind the Baptist and Methodist churches in 1931. In 1934, Marvin Kelly donated a parcel of land northwest of the present-day Carver-Century K-8 (the site of present-day Showalter Park) and it was used for Century’s athletic teams. Football was played at Kelly Field during the daytime hours since there were no lights.
It’s not clear just when the first games were played at the new high school, built in 1936. Curenton’s book says of the 1941 season, “Kelly Field had not been used as a football field in two or three years.” At any rate, at the end of World War II, for the first time, home games were played under lights on the field behind the new high school. Century played its first night game against W.S. Neal. A solid white ball was used to make it more visible at night. Curenton reported that since grandstands were non-existent and there were no fences as yet, crowds pressed closer and closer to the action, actually narrowing the field of play.
The school property bordered the crest of a hill on the edge of a small swamp around Findley Branch. Coach Bill Turberville took advantage of the slope. He had the boys carry each other up the hill repeatedly to build the legs and endurance of the players. Coaches following Turberville also used the slope for practice drills, and Eddie Simmons believes Coach Jay Smith made the most use of it. He had two boys race down the hill – one boy had to block them both and push them back up the hill. He would alternate two on one going up and then going down, tackling and blocking. The players battled one another, some trying to get up the hill and others trying to keep them from succeeding, with Coach Smith yelling not-too-kind words at the all the while!
By 1944 a grandstand was erected on the north side of the field. It was a wooden affair with about five or so rows of seats, seating maybe some 50 people. However, it was a start. It was a sign of progress and of a “slowly growing interest in high school football,” according to Curenton. Crowds increased and that resulted in larger stands being constructed. Later cars pulled up to the fence on the south side and fans sat in their autos, blowing their horns when there was an exceptional play. About 1948, a grandstand and dressing rooms were built with wooden seats atop them. Running water was added to the dressing rooms in 1952, with Kayo Stanton doing most of the plumbing work.
Grover Hicks, Mr. Peavy and Angus Hall of the county’s maintenance crew used wheelbarrows to build a concrete extension onto the east end of the existing grandstand that was used by opponents’ fans.
A deep gulley at the east end was filled in during Jim Manderson’s coaching tenure at CHS some time during 1952-54. A classroom was built adjacent to the southwest corner end zone and encroached on the end zone. In the 1980s, Paul Jones, owner of the land east of the field, donated property so the field could be extended in that direction.
The cement grandstand and press box on the south side was promoted and built with the help of the Quarterback Club in the 1960s and 70s.
Photos courtesy Alger-Sullivan Historical Society.
Northview Chiefs Get Two Wins (Updated With Stats)
April 20, 2009
The Northview varsity boys beat Washington Saturday, make it two wins in a row for the Chiefs.
Northview 6, Washington 4
Washington took a 1-0 lead in the first inning Saturday, but Northview answered with two in the two. At the end of 11, Northview prevailed 6-4.
Northview scored two in the second, one in the third, one in the figth, and two in the eleventh.
The winning pitcher for Northview was Brad Lowery. He pitched four innings, gave up two hits, no runs, he walked two batters , and struck out eight. Lowery’s record is now 5-1.
Hitters for Northview were Scooter Hamilton, who went 2 for 5 at the plate. Brad Lowery was 3 for 4 with two runs scored. Dabney Langhorne was 3 for 4 with a run scored, and one RBI. Austin Lowery was 1 for 5 with a run scored. Heath Burkett was 2 for 4, with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Aaron Chancery was 2 for 5. Taylor Martin was 1 for 5 with an RBI. Northview improved their record to 12-8 and 4-2 in the district.
Northview 9, Walton 2
Northview beat Walton 9-2 on Friday in a seven inning matchup.
Northview scored one in the first, six in the fourth and two in the six for their 9 runs. Walton scored one in the fourth, and one in the seventh.
The winning pitcher for Northview was Heath Burkett. He pitched five innings, gave up one run on two hits, walked three and struck out five.
Leading hitters for Northview included Scooter Hamilton, going 2 for 3 and scoring two runs. Patrick McPherson was 2 for 3 at the plate, scoring two runs and collecting three RBIs. Brad Lowery was 2 for 4, with three RBIs and a double. Austin Lowery was 1 for 3 with a run scored. Heath Burkett was 1 for 3 with a run scored. Austin Arrington was 1 for 3 also.
Catholic Shuts Out Northview
April 17, 2009
The Catholic High School Crusaders shut out Northview Thursday night in Pensacola.
Catholic defeated Northview 8-0 in seven innings.
Scooter Hamilton, Austin Lowery and Brad Foster had hits for the Chiefs.
Catholic jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Crusaders add one point per inning in the second, third and fourth. The Chiefs held them scoreless in the fifth, but the Crusaders answered with two in the sixth.
Friday night, the Chiefs will host Walton at 6:00 in a varsity game. Saturday, the varsity Chiefs will travel to Washington for a 3:00 game.
Batter Up: Opening Day At Molino Ballpark (With Photo Gallery)
April 5, 2009
Saturday was the official Opening Day at the Molino Ballpark. The park has 18 teams this year, compared to 14 in 2008.
“On behalf of the Molino Recreation Association Board, we would like to thank all the parents, sponsors, volunteers and the community that came out to
make our opening day a success,” said Arty Kleinatland, president of the Molino Recreation Association. “Good weather, good food and good support made
the day the most enjoyable for all.”
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery with over 100 photos from Opening Day activities and games at the Molino Ballpark, click here.
Pictured above: Watch the ball! Action on Opening Day at the Molino Ballpark Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Drew’s Field Dedicated
March 22, 2009
A tragedy that touched a community and turned into a dream became a reality Saturday morning with the dedication of Drew’s Field in Walnut Hill.
Two year old Drew Marlow and his dad Danny Marlow died in a January 2008 accident on Highway 97. Drew’s Field was named is his honor, bringing wee ball to the Northwest Escambia Little League for the first time ever.
“He loved to play ball with his dad,” Jessica Cloud, one of the people instrumental in making the field a reality, said Saturday morning. “He would hit the ball off the palm of Danny’s hand and take off running. Oh how he loved to run!”
The first three attempt at in vitro conception were unsuccessful for Danny and his wife Cyndi. But on the third try, they were successful. The embryo was rated as on a “3″, when typically only those rated as a four or five survive. Drew beat the odds and was born a happy healthy child. For that reason, Danny wanted his little boy to wear jersey number “3″ during his first game.
Saturday morning, Drew’s number 3 jersey was at Bradberry Park, in a glass case on a memorial board surrounded by tiles written by loved ones in his memory. As Drew’s Dream Team prepped to play their first wee ball game on the field, Cyndi Marlow Wendt stood alone behind the field looking quietly at that number 3 jersey in the glass box.
“It is Cyndi’s prayer that that you cherish every moment spent watching your child play on Drew’s Field as it represents her dream of seeing her little boy play ball,” Cloud said at the dedication ceremony.
For a photo gallery form the first-ever wee ball game at Drew’s Field, click here.
To read our story about Drew’s Field from last week, click here.
The Drew’s Field organizers offered their thanks to many local people and organizations for making the field a reality:
- NWE Board of Directors - for agreeing to build Drew’s field
- Ruritan Club – for their donation and support of the project
- Buddy Bartlett – clearing, leveling, and erosion control
- William Wendt, Jason Ging, and Larry Cook – layout of field and laying sod
- Saye Erosion Control and Sod – donating sod
- Richard Beck and Andrews Sod – discount on labor to lay sod
- Solutia – monetary donation
- Poarch Creek Indians – donation of fence
- Century Dept. of Corrections – labor for fence installation
- Bondurant Ace Hardware in Century – discount on materials
- Drew’s PaPaw (Richard Marlow) – spreading topsoil and clay
- Drew’s Pa (Danny Wilson) for help with materials during fencing
- Academy Sports – gift card for equipment
- Bratt Elementary PTA — bleachers
- Ronnie Cloud aka BBQ Man - preparing fund raiser sandwiches and those who purchased
- Everyone who contributed to the yard sale, or donations at the bank
- Volunteers that worked a a yard sale
- NorthEscambia.com for their continued coverage
- Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union for bank account
- Pensacola Pelicans for donating auction items
- All family and friends for their love and support.
- Michelle and Alan Purvis for building shadowbox frame
- Preferred Materials for donating concrete for dugouts
- Archer Western for pouring concrete
- Sandy Brown for hours of volunteer work
- Pam Brown for assistance with labor crews
- and “most of all Jessica Cloud for organizing everything”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NHS Winning Streak Comes To An End With Loss To Catholic
March 21, 2009
An eight game winning streak came to an end for the Northview Chiefs Friday night with a painful district loss to Catholic High School.
The Crusaders downed Northview 13-3 Friday night in Bratt.
The Chiefs are now 8-3 on the season. They were scheduled to play two on the road in Mobile Saturday, but their afternoon game has been canceled.
Northview will travel to St. Paul’s in Mobile Saturday for a single game starting against St. Paul at 11 a.m.
The Chiefs were originally scheduled to play Washington County, Ala., at 1:30, but that afternoon game has been canceled.
Click here for more photos from Friday night’s game. Submitted photos by Heather Leonard.
Pictured above: Senior Patrick McPherson at bat for the Northview Chiefs Friday night in Bratt. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Makes It Eight In A Row By Beating Central Christian
March 18, 2009
Northview picked up their eighth win of the year on Tuesday versus Central Christian in Loxley, 16-4 in six innings.
Northview scored five in the first, one in the second inning, four in the third, two in the fifth and four in the sixth. Central Christian scored their four runs in the third inning.
Northview collected 14 hits and committed no errors, while Central Christian had six hits, and committed three errors.
The leading hitters for Northview included Dabney Langhorne going 3 for 5 at the plate, scoring three runs, and collecting one RBI. Brad Lowery was 3 for 3 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI’s. Patrick McPherson was 2 for 2 with a run scored. Scooter Hamilton was 2 for 4 with a triple, two runs scored, and an RBI. Brad Foster was 2 for 3 at the plate with a triple, three runs scored, and an RBI. Dakota Stuckey had a single, scored a run, and had one RBI. Austin Reid had a single and scored three runs. Austin Lowery had one single.
On the mound for the chiefs, Alex Abbott worked 2 2/3 innings to pick up the win. He allowed three runs on two hits, walked one, and struck out two to work his record to 1-0. Brett Hanks pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing 1 run on three hits. He struck out three batters. Heath Burkett closed out the win working the final two innings. He allowed no runs on two hits, and struck out three batters.
Northview improves to 8-2 on the season. The chiefs host Pensacola Catholic on Friday. The junior varsity will play at 4:00 p.m., with the varsity game to follow at 6:30.
Lucky 7: Chiefs Work To Keep Winning Streak Alive
March 17, 2009
The Northview High School varsity baseball team has been on a huge winning streak, winning their last seven.
“Our hitting and run production was not very good at the start of the season. Generally, hitting is ahead of the pitching early,” said Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley. “Recently though, I feel like we’ve been seeing the ball better and having better swings at the plate. It has helped us to produce more runs. We’ve also been aggressive on the bases and have been able to get some bunts down.”
Four Northview players having batting averages of .333 or better — junior Dakota Stuckey, sophomore Dabney Langhorne and senior Scooter Hamilton.
The Chiefs, now 7-2, are only about two-thirds of the way through the season. Seven straight wins is a good thing, but Wheatley realizes his team has more work to do to keep the wins rolling in.
“I’m pleased at what we’ve done so far, but I also realize we have a lot to work on and improve on. The players realize this, as well. We’re not satisfied with what we’ve done so far, we realize there is much more that we need to improve on,” Wheatley said.
Northview batting averages after nine games:
Dakota Stuckey .348
Dabney Langhorne .333
Scooter Hamilton .333
Austin Reid .310
Austin Arrington .286
Pictured above: Sophomore Austin Arrington at bat for the Chiefs. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NHS Varsity Wins Seventh Straight; JV Wins Too
March 14, 2009
The varsity Chiefs picked up their seventh straight win Friday against Walton, and the junior varsity team added another to their win column.
The Northview High School varsity baseball team beat South Walton 7-3. The varsity team is now 7-2 on the year.
Austin Reid pitched six innings for the Chiefs, allowing just one run.
Scooter Hamilton had two hits, one run and one RBIs. Brad Lowery had one hit and two RBIs. Brad Lowery had three hits and two runs. Dakota Stuckey had one hit; Austin Lowery had one hit and two RBIs. Patrick McPherson had one hit for the Chiefs.
Northview scored one run in the first inning. The second inning saw the Chiefs adding four more to the board. NHS scored a couple more in the third, and the Chiefs added one more in the fourth. South Walton’s scores came in the third and seventh innings.
The junior varsity Chiefs shutout South Walton 10-0.
For a photo gallery from both the varsity and junior varsity game, click here.
Pictured above: Sophomore Austin Arrington at bat for the Chiefs. Submitted photos by Heather Leonard for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Sweeps Double Header (Updated With Stats)
March 13, 2009
The Northview High School Varsity Baseball team swept a double header from Cottage Hill Academy in Bratt Thursday night. The win was the sixth straight for the Chiefs.
Northview won the first game 6-4. Brad Foster (1-0) was the winning pitcher. He pitched six innings, giving up four runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out seven. Heath Burkett pitched the final inning recording one strikout.
The hitters for Northview included Brad Foster collecting one single. Dabney Langhorne walked four times and scored two runs. Austin Reid has a pair of singles, scored two runs, and had two RBI”s. Austin Lowery was 1 for 3 with a single, and scored a run. Austin Arrington had a double and collected an RBI.
In the second game, Northview won 7-5. Northview scored one in the first, three in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the sixth.
Scooter Hamilton collected singles, scored a run, and had an RBI. Brad Foster had one RBI. Dabney Langhorne had one single, scored two runs, and had one RBI. Dakota Stuckey had a single, double, and had one RBI. Austin Reid had one single and an RBI. Brad Lowery collected two hits, including a double. Austin Arrington had a single and scored two runs. Patrick McPherson had a single and scored a run. Aaron Chancery also picked up a run.
Brad Lowery pitched five innings to pick up the win and move his record to 2-0 on the season. He gave up no runs, on two hits, he walked one, and struck out four.
The chiefs improved their record to 6-2 on the season.
The Chiefs will be at home this afternoon, taking on South Walton in a district game. The junior varsity will hit the field at 4:00, and the varsity game will begin at 6:30.
Click here for more photos from Thursday night’s Northview versus Cottage Hill double header.
Pictured above: Action as Northview beat Cottage Hill Academy Thursday in Bratt.. Submitted photo by Heather Leonard for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.