Almost all high schools, small and large, public and private, have some sort of booster organization that provides manpower as well as financial support.

While that support is generally directed toward the athletic programs, there are booster clubs for many other school activities.

This column is not intended to be a eulogy to Barr Brown. I did know Barr and his mother Martha who served as the Natchez City Clerk for most of my six terms as an alderman. I was involved with the Cathedral Athletic Association (the booster organization for that school&8217;s athletic programs) during Brown&8217;s high school athletic career.

One particularly fond memory was of a game at Greenville between the Cathedral Greenies and the hated Greenville St. Joseph Irish. St. Joseph had a big end, who was mean and fast. Late in the game the guy caught a pass over the middle and took off for the goal line. Though giving up at least a 15-yard head start, Cathedral defender Brown ran the fellow down short of the goal line, preserving Cathedral&8217;s narrow lead. That play completely demoralized the St. Joseph team and allowed the Greenies to hold on to the lead and remain unbeaten.

Though Coach Roy Garcia&8217;s Greenies later fell to Vidalia, they had a super season. That was before the days of playoffs in Mississippi, but that Cathedral team could have been considered the best small-school team in the state. Many of Brown&8217;s teammates remain in the Natchez area, and I run the risk of offending some if I try to list even a few members of that team.

Brown went on to walk on at LSU and earned a scholarship from Coach Charlie McClendon. Sadly, a combination of injuries to Barr Brown and the emergence of a guy named Hokie Gajon led Brown to give up football. To his credit, he remained at LSU and graduated and remained a loyal LSU supporter.

What a shame to lose this man. When Barr returned to Natchez following several years in business elsewhere, he trained his allegiance on Trinity and became almost a one-man booster club.

Speaking of small schools, it is unfortunate that the MHSAA (which oversees public school activities) could not come up with a better regional alignment than to put Cathedral in a region of 11 schools. Although it means that, the MHSAA and MPSA have perhaps opened the door to contests between schools from both organizations, a Cathedral vs. Trinity game is unlikely because Cathedral&8217;s region schedule leaves almost no open dates.

There was a time a number of years ago when many Trinity supporters thought the Trinity team of that era would have beaten not only Cathedral but South Natchez High, as well. About South Natchez, I did not think so at that time and don&8217;t think so now. The bigger schools just have so many more athletes to draw from.

Since I have no reason at all to be &8220;politically correct&8221; I will take this editorial opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

And, That&8217;s official

Al Graning can be reached at

alward@aol.com

.