Gerald Totty Trophy Returns to Rison

RISON - Because many fans have been asking, Rison head coach Clay Totty stated Monday that the Gerald Totty Memorial Trophy has been returned here - finally - after the Wildcats downed Fordyce in the rivalry game back on October 14. The trophy was in the Pride Fieldhouse office Monday morning when Totty was visited by a reporter. The trophy was established several years ago following the death of Totty's father, Gerald, of Fordyce, who was a fixture on the Rison sidelines during Wildcat games after Clay Totty became head coach here in 1998. According to Totty, after his father's death, the trophy was established in regards to the friendly rivalry between the two teams and schools and communities, with so many overlapping connections involving the two communities, either through all of the players, coaches (past and present), the work places and family relationships. The game this year was the 71st consecutive meeting between the 'Cats and 'Bugs, separated a short distance apart along Hwy. 79, and is regarded as one the top high school football rivalries in Arkansas. The trophy was to be awarded to the winning team each year, and after Rison ended a threegame skid against the Redbugs in October, the trophy was to be returned to the Wildcats. However, the return wasn't until after some issues came about involving the trophy. It was reported that the trophy had received some damage, but was repaired, and has now been given to the Wildcats. 'Naturally, that trophy means a lot to my mother (Edith), and she talked to people to make sure it was repaired and presented to us,' Totty said Monday morning. He added that it's his understanding the trophy will be retired and placed in the museum at Fordyce, possibly in the early part of next year. Totty concluded, 'This trophy was started as a good thing involving a friendly rivalry and because of all the connections between the communities and schools and football programs. There are ju...