Grateful of her heritage in Checotah

Cleda (Latta) Todd, a 1959 Checotah High School graduate and four-year Lady Wildcat basketball starter, was recently inducted into the 2024 Checotah Athletic Hall of Fame. At 82 years old, this retired athlete, educator and coach is proud to have her family’s heritage rooted deep into Checotah Public Schools.

During Cleda’s high school days, she and her teammates won the NOOA Championship three years in a row. She was the highscoring Lady Wildcat all four years while in high school, scoring 1,345 points which averaged about 18 points per game. She also held Oklahoma’s record for most points scored during a regional tournament with 42 points. Amazingly her record stood until the late 1980’s when threepointers were added to the game.

In 1959, Cleda received the Coach Herman Emerson Award for the Ladies’ Outstanding Senior player and as Senior Class President she was given the “Key to the City,” representing the 50th graduating class of Checotah High School.

Besides receiving several Honor C Awards in academics and sports, Cleda excelled in many other school activities. They included FHA Officer, Cat Chat Staff, Annual Staff and CHS Cheerleader. She was also a four-year member of the Oklahoma State Honor Society and she received the Danforth “I Dare You” Leadership Award.

Even the professional women’s basketball team, “The All American Redheads,” approached Cleda and she was offered several college basketball scholarships as a senior.

Despite these offers, Cleda decided to attend Northeastern State University in Tahlequah to pursue a career in public education. Her 30-year career included teaching kindergarten through 12th grade, coaching eighth grade basketball, and even summer league softball and basketball.

Perhaps Cleda’s greatest accomplishment was marrying her college sweetheart, Dellis Todd, a very accomplished Vocational Agricultural and FFA instructor, and raising a family together. Due to both of them having a great passion for education, they raised a legacy of leaders in their three children: Holly, Dellise and Brec. They also instilled those values in their seven grandchildren: Alex, Easton, Erin, Lennes, Todd, Evan and Bailey. Out of those seven grandchildren, five were Oklahoma All-State recipients with three qualified in sports, two in band, one in academics and four were Valedictorians of their class.

Being the daughter of the late Alva (Todd) Latta and the late Jean Latta, Cleda is grateful for all her family members who have also committed years of service to the Checotah Public School system. They include: Alva (Todd) Latta – bus driver, Evonne (Todd) Gamblin – special education, Arch Todd – bus driver, Harlen Todd – bus driver, Claxton Todd – mechanic/ bus driver, Billy Miller – maintenance/bus driver, Larry Todd – custodian, Ray Davidson – mechanic/bus driver, Angela (Todd) Reasor substitute/band booster and Ashley (Branscum) Hackler-music/band director.

Cleda stated she is very proud to have received the honor of being added to the Checotah Athletic Hall of Fame and is even more pleased to have a legacy committed to Checotah Public Schools and its future.