Hall of Fame
(T-Z)

You have heard people described as a “natural born leader”.  This is a phrase often used to describe someone who seems to naturally possess leadership qualities, such as confidence, charisma, vision, and the ability to inspire others.  In 1984 and ‘85, Sonny Terrill was someone who fit the bill.  “I guess you could say I was born into it”, said Terrill.  “Both of my parents were very competitive”, and they passed that on to me.”  The multi-talented Terrill, who starred at JHHS in football and baseball during the 1984 and ’85 seasons, also listened and learned from his coaches during his athletic career giving credence to all but especially mentioning two who he claims made an indelible impact on his life.  “I was blessed to have great coaches while in school.” said Terrill.  “Two who really made a difference in my life were Bill Decou in junior high school and Ted Reeves, a 2022 inductee, while in high school, and I will be forever grateful to them for the time they took to help develop me.”  Like my dad, I was a little guy growing up and was always playing older and bigger people, which made me realize that if I was going to be a good athlete, I needed to get stronger and learn as much as I could,” said Terrill.  “Then all of a sudden I had a growth spurt and by the end of my sophomore year, I was 6’3” tall and weighed 210 lbs. and became aware that at my size I had the opportunity to really do some special things, which made me work even harder.”  Capitalizing on his newfound size, and continuing to develop his skills, Terrill became an All-District tight end and punter in football, but it was baseball that showcased his best talents.  In his junior season in 1984, Terrill posted a .591 batting average, still one of the best in JHHS history, leading him to earn first-team All-District honors while also becoming a slick fielding third baseman with a cannon arm that led to him being selected as a Golden Glove recipient.  In a move designed to make the team stronger, Terrill moved to catcher for the 1985 season, where he compiled a .550 batting average that, along with his command of the pitching staff and nearly zero allowed stolen bases, contributed to him earning First Team All-District and All-State honors.  Sonny Terrill accepted a scholarship to play baseball at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, where his talents blossomed even more. 

MARVIN THOMAS still holds the J-HHS record for most career kick punt returns for touchdowns (9).  He graduated as all time career leading receiver in yardage, touchdowns, and catches. Marvin also graduated as all time single season leading receiver in yardage, touchdowns and catches. 

• 1980 Shreveport Journal All Area Football 

• First team two time 3-AA All-District 1st team (1980-81, 81-82)

• Member of 1980 3-AA district winning 4x100 relay team

• All Conference receiver at GSU

TODD SILAS THOMAS graduated from J-HHS in 1984. He lettered in track, baseball and football.  He earned All- District, All North Louisiana and All State Honors while at Jonesboro. He was also selected at the Hitter of the Year by the News Star World when he batted .600 for the season with only three strike outs the entire season. He threw one no-hitter in 1984 and led the team in singles, doubles and homeruns. Todd won a football scholarship to Louisiana Tech University and was a member of the 1985 1AA National Runner up National Championship Team. Todd went on to start at LT for the 1987 & 1988 Bulldogs. His name is enshrined on the Spirit of 1988 Bulldog that stands just inside the fieldhouse in remembrance of the first NCAA Division 1 campaign at Louisiana Tech.  Todd later played on numerous state and national championship softball teams all over the US.

DR. W. S. "BILL" TOLAR was a four-sport athlete at Jonesboro-Hodge High School becoming a three-year letterman in football.  He was All-State first team on the 1945 State Championship team.  Dr. Tolar played offense and defense while scoring five touchdowns in one game.  He still holds a school record 105 yard pass interception for touchdown.  Dr. Tolar  played football his freshman year at Baylor University in Waco, Texas but elected to concentrate on academics with a double major in Bible and History and a double minor in English and Greek.  He made Dean’s List all four years earning Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees.  Dr. Tolar continued to serve on the Baylor faculty for 10 years and was honored by the Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce as Outstanding Jackson Parish Native in 1986. He has written two books, contributed to fourteen others, served 53 churches as interim pastor, has been escort and lecturer on seventy-one trips to Israel and visited and lectured in sixty-eight countries on six-continents.

LARRY TOMS played his high school basketball at Saline High School in Bienville parish.  Larry coached at Sikes High School for three years compiling records of 25-15 and 27-11 his final two years there.  He coached at Jonesboro-Hodge High School for five years with a 123-36 record winning four district titles, two state championships (1964 and 1965) and won the State Coach of the Year in 1964.  He also coached at Bossier High School.

REV. STUART TOMS was All-State in basketball at Quitman High School, All-Gulf States Conference first team while at Northeast Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana Monroe), NAIA All-American third team.  He coached Quitman High School to Class B basketball championships in 1970 and 1971 and was named La. Coach of the Year in 1970.  Rev. Toms was inducted into the ULM Hall of Fame in 1986, LHSAA Administrator-Coach Hall of Fame in 1995 and received recognition for Outstanding Service and Accomplishments to the Game of Basketball in Louisiana at the Top 24 Tournament in 1999.

EDGAR WALKER was officially inducted as a charter member of the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame on July25, 2009.  He was a 1920 graduate of Weston High School and attended Louisiana Tech University.  He transferred to Stanford University where he was a three-year football letterman at end(1924-1926).  He caught a touchdown pass in the January 1, 1927 Rose Bowl that enabled the Cardinal (10-0-1) to get a 7-7 tie with Alabama.  Walker was head football coach at the University of Mississippi for eight years compiling a 38-8 record.  He coached the Rebels’ first All-American, Bruiser Kinard,and took Ole Miss to its first bowl game in 1936 losing to Catholic University in the Orange Bowl 20-19.  He was a Major in the U.S. Army.

EDWIN WALKER did not play football at Walker High School in southern Jackson Parish but he did play for the legendary Coach “Pop” Warner at Stanford.  Edwin transferred with Coach Warner to Temple and was on the 1935 Temple team that lost to Tulane 20-14 in the first Sugar Bowl Game.  Edwin made All-American that year, played semi-pro football with Frankford and coached football at Haverford College leading them to their only undefeated season.

JAMES F. "JIMMY" WALKER was a three-year letterman in basketball for Coach Sam Ledbetter at Jonesboro-Hodge High School and was named All-District and All-State his senior year.  He was a three-time All-Gulf States selection at University of Louisiana Monroe and is in ULM’s top twenty in scoring with 1,217 career points.  Jimmy led the Warhawk team in  scoring, field goal percentage and rebounding in the 1962-1964 seasons scoring 34 points in a game against La. Tech and getting 21 rebounds against Southeastern.  He is a 2008 inductee to the ULM Warhawks Hall of Fame.

ROBERT WILLIAMS was All-District in football at Jonesboro-Hodge High School three years, All-State in 1981 on defense, All-State in 1982 on offense, named Best Defensive Player in district 3-AA, JHHS MVP on offense and defense, All-Northeast Louisiana, All-District and Outstanding Player in district 3-AA in baseball in 1982.  Robert was a four-year letterman at Grambling State in baseball and two in football including being part of Coach Eddie Robinson’s 300th win.  Robert pitched no-hitters at the high school and college level.

TOMMY WILSON, JR was a three-sport athlete while at J-HHS.  In basketball he was a 2 year letterman for the Tigers and in his senior year he was selected All District, MVP District Player and All State.  In football he was also a 2 year letterman earning All District honors as an end his senior season.  In track and field he was the District Champion in high jump and qualified for the State Track Meet in high jump, triple jump, high hurdles and low hurdles.  He held the composite State record (all classifications) in high jump for several years at 6 feet, 5 inches (tied with others).  He received scholarship offers in football, basketball and track & field.  He chose to continue his athletic career at Northwestern State University where he was a four year letterman in track & field.  His senior year he was the Gulf State Conference high jump champion.