Editor,
Gene Stephens was my first athletic hero. I recall him being a senior in 1950 when I was in the eighth grade. As noted in Dodie's article, Gene played for local area teams before turning pro. I was the batboy for Maysville's semi-pro team.
I can recall it like it was yesterday when, on one particular Sunday afternoon, Maysville was the home team playing Gravette. Gene was playing for Gravette. The field was where it still is today. This made right field back up to the state highway. Gene was a left-handed batter. So that set him up to "pull" the ball. That he did. The ball crossed the right field border going up. It flew over the road and Breeding's fence.
Gene was fast afoot, but he didn't have to be to get a home run out of that blow.
A few years later, when he was playing pro ball for the Boston Red, a group of us traveled to Kansas City to see the game. It was a night game. We made it plenty early so as to go to the hotel and visit with Gene. He was most gracious. I shall always remember him being a "good man."
Bruce Netherton
Little Rock
General News on 10/25/2017