Henry Boone: Maysville's TOUGHEST Bulldog

Henry Boone, Maysville HS QB- 1968 (photo: Ron Bailey)

If Homer Goins says you are tough, you are TOUGH. That is exactly how he described his old QB from Maysville HS, Henry Boone, and I found out real quick, he was 100% on target. 

Henry and I became life long friends and coached football together when I went to Mason County HS. We raised our families together as well.  I would have to think Angie and Stephanie felt like they had alot in common, being married to crazy old guys that coached football and had an edge that most folks tried to avoid.  Henry and I, a couple old HS QBs, thought we were still STUDS because we had these young,  beautiful wives. And, we were right!    :)

Henry and I talked frequently in those early years because his son, Justin, was on my team. Justin was rougher around the edges than his football coach or his Dad. Of course, I would never strike or cuss Justin. But, I had free reign from Henry to grab him, get his attention and be as loud and as confrontational as necessary.  One fall day, my knuckles got bloody on that mesh jersey because Justin tried to get away from me and I would NOT let him leave practice. I will never forget that moment.  But, even after playing football was over for him, Justin and I continued to have a great relationship. When Justin would come to the house to do work, Trosper would follow him around. Justin was a celebrity at our house and I was always thankful for how all of that turned out.  Our love and appreciation for Justin was something Henry and I had in common. We both saw an awful lot of GOOD in that young man. 

On a Friday night, Henry and I could get after each other, but it never hurt our relationship. 1999 at Bath County, we are winning big at halftime, but we are lackadaisical. I bark at Henry and say, "Can you go get the kickers' legs loose!? They're just sitting here!" He takes them out to get them loose. I find them and get mad, "Coach you are going to wear them out!" He goes right back at me, "Do you want me to get em loose or not?!"  I shut my mouth after that. 

2003, it is about 7:22 pm (kickoff @ 7:30 pm) and Henry meets me at the lockerroom door as we are getting ready to play Boyd Co at home. It is the first night of the dvd camcorder and it is not working. He is trying to shove it through the door to get me to fix it.  I am getting mad at him and telling him, "I can't fix it! You are going to have to figure it out!" I shove it back at him and he heads to the pressbox. The next week at Ashland, we are getting stuff ready before the game, and Henry lets me have it, " Are you going to whip my A_ _ tonight over the camcorder?!" 

I have to think that was one reason Henry and I got along so well. Alot of folks, our personalities, we have to be real careful and can't really be who we are. With Henry and I, not only could we be ourselves, I think we respected each other even more because of our intensity and honesty.  And, when we were coaching, that intensity and honesty came from a place of wanting what was best for the guys we coached, and helping them be their very best. 

I know one thing, they should have given Steve Appelman an extra stipend for being the middle man between the Mason County Schools Central Office and Henry / me, especially in a faculty meeting. I think Henry and I shared alot of positive qualities. But, knowing when to shut our mouth was probably not one of them.  I sure do appreciate Steve. That was tough to navigate. But he hung in there and did the best he could. Being my Boss and Henry Boone's boss takes a special person. 

Bradley & John Combs were in the same grade all through school and I was really glad they could be teammates. Those guys won alot of games together and had a lot of success. Bradley is now the HFC of the Royals and invited JCB out to talk to the team during Pr1de time this past season. That gesture meant alot to our entire family. 

2014.  JCB is #71. Bradley #19. Glad they were teammates. photo credit: Cheri Johnson 

Probably the BEST time our families ever shared together was December of 2016.  Maddie Boone & the Lady Royals were playing the Lady Titans at Mercer, about 1/4 mile from our house in Harrodsburg. I was coaching football at Mercer. Stephanie made a great meal and our two families had a blast. The toughest part, Angie was sick and we knew our time with her was running out. But, for that visit, we laughed and had a great time together. I will always be thankful for that night. It was absolutely a special gift from God. 

Now, once we got to the game, Coach Boone was himself and the Mercer folks really didn't know what to think of him or do with him. Getting agitated with the officials, he got kicked out of the game. I felt bad for him. But, Henry being Henry says to me, "Dave, you guys are awful sensitive around here!"  

Just a few days ago, Trosper tested positive for Flu A, Flu B, Covid & Pneumonia. I was shook, bad. When I got him home, I got a spoon and shoved a container of jello down his throat. I didn't ask him if that was ok. I just did it. I got after him pretty good, made him sit up, drink fluids, and do whatever had to be done so he could get well. Stephanie was not impressed with my bedside manner and she let me know that. But, Trosper needed his DAD in that moment, not me being nice. If Henry had been here, he would have been on my side for sure. 

TOUGH LOVE... THAT was Henry Boone. Nice is good. LOVE is BEST. 

Henry w/ his oldest son, Clay. We gave Henry that jacket when he retired from coaching football. It meant alot to him and he wore it, often. Frequently, he made a point to tell me that he really appreciated us doing that for him. 

Christmas Lessons from the Dark Side of the Moon

This Christmas season began at a funeral in Maysville. Steve Ullery, wonderful man and the father of one of my best friends/coaches, Chris Ullery, had died unexpectedly. As I am writing this, one of my favorite coaches/friends, of all time, Henry Boone, is fighting it out in the aftermath of a severe stroke.  Yesterday, Trosper was so sick, that when I went to pick him up in Lexington (unable to drive), it really shook me up. An hour later, found out he had Flu A, Flu B, Covid & Pneumonia. Scary sick. There is so much illness in our family right now, we will not be getting together this week in order to protect our grandchildren who are so young and especially vulnerable.  My kids are pretty disappointed right now that they will not be together at Christmas. It gets tougher to pull off each year, and that certainly adds to the disappointment. 

It was an honor when Chris asked me to speak at his Dad's funeral. In the days leading up to it, I noticed the family using Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon on their social media in remembering Steve. Ironically, one of the few times I got to spend an extended time w/ Trosper was the afternoon we drove to Pikeville this past May for a QB camp. We spent the drive breaking down that album. I had no idea at the time that God was preparing me for Steve Ullery's funeral. 

When I arrived for the funeral at Trinity United Methodist Church, I was surprised to see "The Great Gig in the Sky" would be part of the service.  That song does not usually appear on a funeral program held in a Methodist Church. 

But, on this day, at this time, in this place, with this group of people, it was absolutely appropriate.  On the album, the music expressed a truth that in Trosper's vernacular would come out as , "Man! This aint it!"

Pink Floyd & Trosper agree.... what the world tells us matters the most.... wealth, status, accomplishment, etc. ULTIMATELY don't matter.  And, in the END, if we put our hope in what we THINK may be important, it is all DARK.  Theologically, Pink Floyd was on target in describing the hopelessness of man's pursuits & wisdom. 

So, what DOES matter? 

Does it matter that Chris Ullery is facing his first Christmas without his Dad? Yes. Alot.

Does it matter that Henry Boone is fighting the toughest battle of his life right now? Yes. Alot. 

Does it matter that my kids will not see each other at Christmas? Yes. But, not nearly as much as what the Ullery & Boone families are facing. 

Does it matter that we have to get Trosper well and protect our grandchildren? Yes. And, way more important than missing out on seeing each other. 

For ALL of us on Christmas Day, we need to remember what matters the MOST. 

God loves us so much, that He sent His only Son as a baby to be born in a manger who would ultimately grow into a man and pay for our sins on the cross. Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He will return to earth, but not as a baby. He will be on a white horse with eyes "like a flame of fire."

You see, the end doesn't have to be DARK. Jesus has paid the price for our sin. He has provided the ONLY way to eternal life. (John 14:6)

When HE returns, ALL that will matter is what He did for us, and do we have a relationship with Him or not. 

I enjoy Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Great music that shed's light on the problems of mankind.

Here's some music to CELEBRATE how much God loves us and what HE has done for us. 

Overture : Handel's Messiah

Merry Christmas!