Lawrence attends Cumby stadium renaming ceremony

By David Claybourn

Greenville Herald-Banner, Greenville, Texas

CUMBY, Texas (MCT) -- When Rick Frazier got his first coaching job in 1976 at the age of 21 in Cumby he called on his good friend Chuck Lawrence to be his assistant.

Together the young coaches turned around a winless program, guiding the Trojans in 1979 to their only district football championship in school history.

Both coaches, who went on to become head coaches at the junior college level and beyond, received a distinct honor on Saturday with the renaming and dedication of Frazier-Lawrence Field in Cumby.

Lawrence, now the head coach and athletic director at Mineral Wells, was present for the ceremony along with his wife, Jenny, and other family members.

Sadly, Frazier was not, having passed away in 2007 from a sudden and unexpected illness. His former wife and a dozen family members were there to accept the honor in his absence.

"You talk about a great guy," Lawrence said while wiping away tears. "This was supposed to be for him. Including me is such an honor."

Frazier and Lawrence coached together four years at Cumby, sharing the coaching duties. They coached every sport in high school and in junior high, also directing the Trojans to district championships in volleyball, baseball and junior high football and track and field athletes to appearances in the state meet.

"We have many, many memories of you guys having to prove you're winners," said Frazier's wife, Karen Frazier Hernandez. "But you did it. In football, baseball, basketball, track and in life. You believed Coach Frazier and Coach Lawrence when they said you were winners."

She said her husband's dream was to coach in the National Football League but though he was a head coach in the Arena League he didn't quite reach that goal.

"I think today he's looking down saying this beats that lifelong dream," she said.

Frazier and Lawrence left Cumby in 1980 to first coach as assistants at Jacksonville High School.

Lawrence later become a head coach at Frankston High School while Frazier went on to become an assistant coach at Cisco Junior College. After Frazier moved up to become Cisco Junior College's head coach, he called on Lawrence again to be his assistant and defensive coordinator.

When Frazier moved over to Cisco High School as head coach, Lawrence became Cisco Junior College's head coach. Lawrence won some big games as the head coach for six years at Cisco Junior College and then for nine at Navarro Junior College. Lawrence also served for a couple of years as the athletic director at Lee College in Baytown.

Lawrence learned recently that he'll be inducted into the national junior college hall of fame. Getting a field named after him and his friend may be an even bigger honor than that one, according to Lawrence.

"This is a lifetime achievement award," he said. "I wouldn't have been there if it weren't for here. We owe our careers to Cumby, Texas."

Frazier, who guided Cisco High School to two district championships, also was a head coach in the Arena I and II leagues with the Milwaukee Mustangs and Norfolk Nighthawks. He also coached with the Toronto Phantoms, Grand Rapids Rampage, Quad City Steamwheelers and Bakersfield Blitz.

"He was dedicated," said Rick's brother, James Frazier. "I can remember when he was growing up. He was a track man. He was dedicated. He ran every day."

He also noted his brother's friendship with Lawrence.

"Him and Chuck they were meant to be together," said Frazier. "Seems like they were more like brothers through everything."

Now the two coaching brothers will be always be remembered at Frazier-Lawrence Field.

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Copyright (c) 2009, Greenville Herald-Banner, Greenville, Texas

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