LHS Sports Hall of Fame 2014
Ted Paris and Richard Reese
The LHS Alumni Association is proud to announce two additions to the Sports Hall of Fame, the late Ted Paris, who played football at LHS, 1948-52, and LSU, 1952-57, and Richard Reese, who played basketball at LHS and Louisiana College.
Ted, who played both offense and defense in high school, along with being the kick-off specialist, scored 102 points his senior year and was the first athlete in LHS history to earn All-State honors and to play at the college level. Five different colleges offered him scholarships, but he chose LSU, where he was a three-year letterman, playing linebacker, guard, and center, and playing on special teams. His first varsity year, he earned a spot on the All-SEC Sophomore Team. During his three years as a varsity player, he racked up an average of 57 minutes per game, the second highest in LSU history.
After graduating from LSU in 1957, Ted returned to Leesville, where he served as a math teacher and football coach at Leesville High School. In 1963, as head football coach he led the Wampus Cats to their first District championship and earned the honor of District Coach of the Year. In 1972 Ted returned to LSU to pursue additional degrees.
After his coaching career, Ted served as Principal of Leesville High School and of East Leesville Elementary School, Director of Vernon Career Center, member of Vernon Parish School Board, member of Vernon Parish Police Jury, and Commissioner of Vernon Parish Summer Baseball.
Ted married his high-school sweetheart, Sherry Hardwick Paris, and they became the parents of two children, Mike and Nita. Ted died on December 25, 2010.
Richard Reese, a 1961 graduate of Leesville High School, is the first basketball honoree to be inducted into the Alumni Association’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Richard’s outstanding high-school career led to his being named an All-State Player for two years (1960 and 61) and Class AA Player of the Year in 1961, and the only LHS athlete in any sport to receive this honor, along with being the first LHS athlete to be named to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
