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Lester Golding – not your average Joe
B:, Sports
July 6, 2023
Lester Golding – not your average Joe
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR

Joe “Lester-Rack” Golding was a standout athlete at Eufaula (Class of 1936). He and his best friend Clinton White received a scholarship to play at NEO in Miami, Oklahoma before going to East Texas State. Golding then went to the Army where he finished his playing career. Before each of their lives was over they would be inducted into their respected Halls of Fame.

Lester earned the name “Rack” in two ways. When he was a young boy he worked in a pool hall downtown in Eufaula, racking pool balls for customers who would pay him. The other way was that he was so dominant on the football field he would rack up tackles.

Lester began his career at Denison in 1946 as a football assistant and the head basketball coach. He then moved to Wichita Falls one year later and was promoted to head coach after one year. In his 15 years (1947-1961) his Coyotes reached the state title game six times winning four state championships (1949, 1950, 1958 & 1961). His players, frequently lighter than their opponents, perfected his single-wing offense and compiled a 154-24-2 record. Inducted into THSCA Hall of Fame in 1969, he was Texas High School Coach of the Year in 1949. Coach Golding died on July 5, 1979. The football field still bears his name.

Lester’s brother Joe “Junior” Golding was a football standout at Eufaula (Class of 1940). He scored 71 points against Haileyville. He caught the attention of the coaches from the University of Oklahoma. Golding was special. He became the best wingback in Oklahoma’s modern football history, averaging 5.8 net yards on each rush.

Lester’s son, Joe Lester Jr., followed in his dad’s footsteps as he quickly became a terrific high school football and golf coach at Wichita Falls High School and had success throughout his career. The entire Golding family carried strong characteristics of being well organized, well prepared and extremely competitive and confident. And his grandson, Joe Golding, found success as a basketball coach at Abilene Christian University. He followed up a historic 2018-19 campaign with another outstanding season in 2019-20.

ACU earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the first time at the Division I level, earning a 15-seed and a first round matchup with the University of Kentucky.

He was named head football coach at UTEP in 2021.

Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
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Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 10, 2025
The City of Checotah showed off its bold stripes, bright stars and brave hearts this Fourth of July after working countless hours so residents could celebrate their freedom with lots of family fun and...
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Sexual Assault Awareness Honor Walk
July 10, 2025
Friday, July 11 at 12 p.m. Posey Park, Eufaula Show your support for survivors Take a stand against violence! Muscogee (Creek) Nation Center for Victim Services
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Annual Memorial Service planned at Honey Springs Battlefield
July 10, 2025
CHECOTAH — Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service on Saturday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. to honor the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah. The service ...
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Farewell to Checotah’s friend, Jerri Reaves
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Farewell to Checotah’s friend, Jerri Reaves
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 10, 2025
Last Thursday family and friends said goodbye to former city councilwoman Jerri Reaves who had passed away on June 26 at the age of 82. Jerri graduated from Checotah High School in 1962. In 1980, she ...
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Trump administration freezes over $70 million state’s education funds
By NURIA MARTINEZ-KEEL OKLAHOMA VOICE 
July 10, 2025
States won’t receive funds from six federal programs, including after-school care and English learner support, until further notice. OKLAHOMA CITY — The Trump administration is indefinitely withholdin...
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Jeff Starling launches campaign for attorney general
July 10, 2025
TULSA ––Jeff Starling, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Energy and Environment, has officially announced his candidacy for Attorney General of Oklahoma. Starling is a conservative, attorney, businessman, and d...
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Plumb Theatre News
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Plumb Theatre News
By MATTIE AND PAUL MALOY PLUMB THEATRE 
July 10, 2025
Never too early to start singing and the HALLELUJAH HONEYS are representative of that. Kate Andrews will be singing and playing with two other Honeys, Aubree,13, and Charlee, 10. They are some cuties ...
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Freedom Fest
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Freedom Fest
July 10, 2025
Checotah residents celebrated their freedom with lots of family fun and fireworks on July 4th weekend at Freedom Fest.
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Police training
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Police training
July 10, 2025
Recently local law enforcement trained for two days on different scenarios that might arise during traffic stops, hostage situations, domestic disturbances, and more.
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Two from area on UCO Honor Rolls
July 10, 2025
EDMOND - Two from this area have made he University of Central Oklahoma recently announced the students named to the university’s honor rolls; a distinction given to those who achieve the highest acad...
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Warriors of God, ready yourselves
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Warriors of God, ready yourselves
July 10, 2025
Of my 56 years of being in this world, 50 of those years I have been filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I was only six years old when I attended my first Tiger Mount...
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