It was a sad day when Checotah heard of the passing of one of their own, Tracy Scroggins, whose name lives on at the field house and playground in his hometown. Scroggins passed away at the age of 56 in Hollywood, FL, on Feb. 6, 2026. He was born in Checotah on Sept. 11, 1969 to Sonny Scroggins and Angeline Carter. At five years old, Scroggins believed he would play professional football and even while growing up he was known for his speed and agility. After graduating from Checotah, he went to Coffeyville, KS and then to Tulsa University before being drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1992. Scroggins played for the Lions for ten years but also earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Detroit.