Even as an elementary student, it was obvious that Ronnie Manchester was going to be an outstanding athlete. Ronnie began his career by playing in the first ever junior high school football game between Trout-Good Pine and Jena back in 1951.
Even as an elementary student, it was obvious that Ronnie Manchester was going to be an outstanding athlete.
Ronnie began his career by playing in the first ever junior high school football game between Trout-Good Pine and Jena back in 1951. He excelled in this game but his team lost to a powerful TGP team by a score of 7-6.
Ronnie attended Jena High School from 1952 to 1956. As a mere freshman, he lettered in both football and basketball. From 1948 to this day, no other JHS boy athlete has ever achieved this feat. Before he graduated from JHS, he earned more awards than any other boy JHS athlete.
As a sophomore, Ronnie was a starter on both the football and basketball teams. He was an All-District honorable mention in both sports.
As a junior, Ronnie was a unanimous selection to the first team All-District. He was also selected to the All-State football team. In basketball, he was also a first team selection and also voted to the All-State team. Ronnie’s brother, Raymond, is the only other JHS athlete to achieve this feat but Ronnie had another year in school.
As a senior, Ronnie was selected as a first team football All-District player and voted as the Most Valuable Player.
He also once again was named to the All-State team for a second time. He was also selected to play in the prestigious All-Star game. In basketball, he was a first team selection and voted to the All-State team for a second time. No other JHS boy athlete has ever been named to the All-State teams two times in both sports. Ronnie’s brother, Raymond, was an All-State player once in both sports but not twice.
When Ronnie graduated from JHS, he was expected to sign a football scholarship with Ole Miss, who at the time was ranked #3 in the nation. Ronnie decided to go play football at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, with his brother, Raymond. Raymond was the featured RB and started as a freshman LB.
After that year at Trinity, Ronnie transferred to Stephen F. Austin in Nacohoches, Texas, where he started at LB for three years. He was voted All-Conference in his junior and senior years at SFA. SFA played Northeast Louisiana during his senior year and he was credited with 18 solo tackles.
Injuries to Ronnie’s knees kept him from playing in the NFL. So, he graduated and coached a few years before going into the oil field business where he was quite successful.
There are numerous Manchester stories. I know most of them but time and space won’t allow me to tell them. But to give you a little insight to what a powerful man Ronnie was, let me tell you about the time he went to the track meet in Haynesville. Byrd High School had a track team that was great. Haynesville wanted our coach to bring Ronnie and put in events to take points away from Byrd.
One of those events was the shot put. Ronnie had never thrown a shot put in his life and never had a lesson on how to throw it. He climbed into the ring, picks up the shot and threw it like a baseball – 56 feet. However, a Byrd coach saw him make the throw which was illegal. He challenged the throw and Ronnie was disqualified. Good true story. The Rupple story is my favorite.
There is no doubt Ronnie was a man playing with boys in high school. Ronnie says he cherished his days at JHS and it is most fitting that Coach Jay Roark wants to honor him before the home football game against Marksville on Friday, October 29th.
It will be my honor along with another teammate, Bobby Day, to present the plaque to Ronnie before the kick off on this night.
Again, thank you Coach Roark for allowing this recognition of a former Jena Giant legend.
