Evening News and Tribune
May 10, 2010
Floyd Central inducts five members into hall of fame
Two coaches part of first class
By JEROD CLAPP
newsroom@newsandtribune.com
FLOYD COUNTY - Floyd Central High School honored three alumni and two coaches at its inaugural Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday in the aschool's new foyer.
The five inductees were introduced with their accomplishments, in and out of Floyd Central, but all said they shared the same pride in their high school.
Joe Cerqueira was Floyd Central's first football coach, and continues to teach driver's education courses at the high school. He credited his success to the students he's worked with through the years.
"A lot of people say I started football here," Cerqueira said. "I didn't start this whole thing by myself, I had a great team who helped me."
Cerqueira said his team didn't know much about football starting out, and even put on their gear backwards or inside-out, but they worked hard for what they accomplished.
"We had to fend for ourselves," Cerqueira said. "Nothing was given to us, we had to go out and get it."
Even after being named conference coach of the year twice, Cerqueira said his proudest moment was a tie in the last game of his team's first season.
"It proved to me that I made the right choice," Cerqueira said. "You'd have thought we won the super bowl. I know we didn't win, but we didn't lose."
Mark Deuser graduated from Floyd Central in 1970, but was one of the first students to walk its halls when it opened in 1967. He served as a trainer alongside another inductee, Joe Hinton, on the school's basketball team.
Today, Deuser is the CEO of Techshot, a company he started about 25 years ago. Techshot has produced equipment for seven space shuttle missions and other products for consumers.
Deuser said Techshot is a fairly unusual one for this area, but said he's proud he's been able to have about 30 Floyd Central graduates as employees or consultants for his company.
Though he sits atop a company, Deuser said he still remembers where he came from, and the help he got from Hinton.
"Joe taught me and gave me a lot of responsibility at a young age," Deuser said. "The other thing Joe gave me was that competitive edge."
Another inductee was a decorated soldier who has flown several types of helicopters and participated in missions to help children in other countries.
Ed Guilford Jr., moved from Louisville with his family, and had attended all Catholic schools until they moved to the Floyd Central district.
Guilford said his family had a hard time deciding which school to send him to, but decided on Floyd Central because of the moral values of the people and the school.
Ron Endris, one of Guilford's teachers at Floyd Central, introduced him at the podium.
"Ed's not got a lot of room left on his chest for medals," Endris said. "I don't know what he's going to do if he keeps on working here."
Guilford said he was honored to be inducted with a celebrity, a CEO and two big coaches.
"When I think about the rest of the people who are being inducted today, I'm really just a regular guy compared to the rest of them," Guilford said.
The second coach honored, Hinton, was introduced by Glen Snow, president of Active Ankle Systems in Jeffersonville.
Snow said the statistics Hinton made for the school were admirable, but there was something else that kept him driven.
"It's not about wins, it's not about personal glory to Joe, and you can see that in the way he dresses and acts," Snow said. "It was about the kids."
Hinton, who said he didn't eat during the ceremony's dinner because he was so nervous, took the stage with some tears in his eyes.
"I thought I got most of this crying done," Hinton said. "I guess that's why I got to coach girls."
Hinton said coaching was a challenge initially because of the different communities and schools brought together when Floyd Central opened.
"When we started this school, you had your Georgetown kids and Floyds Knobs and Galena, and they were big rivals," Hinton said. "And I had to bring them together and make a team."
Hinton said being inducted to the hall of fame was an honor.
"I'm not politically right a lot of times," Hinton said. "But being picked for this by all the students . and everyone really means a lot to me."
Andrea Robinson, the fifth inductee for the Hall of Fame, wasn't present because of an event she was scheduled to appear for in Dallas.
Ray Weatherholt, a former faculty member at Floyd Central, read a letter of appreciation from Robinson.
Robinson is one of 15 Master Sommeliers in the world, and is the author of "Everyday Dining with Wine."
Donna Riley, chair of Floyd Central's Hall of Fame Committee, said it was hard to narrow down five inductees from 18 nominees.
"It was tough because everyone submitted deserved to be on that wall, " Riley said.
SO YOU KNOW
Hall of Fame Inductees
. Joe Cerqueira
Football coach, 1967-1978
Teacher, 1967-2000
Started Floyd Central's football program
. Mark Deuser
Floyd Central alumnus, 1970
President, CEO of Techshot
Techshot has produced equipment flown on seven space shuttle missions
. Ed Guilford Jr.
Floyd Central alumnus, 1982
Lt. Col., Army National Guard
Participated in Operation Smile, which helped children in orphanages in Sarajevo.
. Joe Hinton
Varsity basketball coach for 33 years
Took FC's basketball to state after four years of coaching in 1971
. Andrea Robinson
Floyd Central alumna, 1984
One of 15 female Master Sommeliers in the world
Wrote "Everyday Dining with Wine," a cookbook
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