Byng Pirate Athletics

09/16/2026

🏴‍☠️ BYNG ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME — GLENDA WEST 🏴‍☠️

Byng Athletics is proud to announce Glenda West as a member of the 2026 Byng Athletics Hall of Fame class.

A gifted scorer, fierce competitor, and proven champion, West established herself as one of the most accomplished players in Byng basketball history. The 5-foot-8 forward completed her four-year career with an incredible 2,028 points, but her legacy was built on much more than individual numbers.

West helped lead the Lady Pirates to a 28–3 record and the 1975 Class 2A state championship, capturing the ninth girls basketball state title in Byng history. When the stage was at its biggest, she delivered two of the greatest performances of her career.

In Byng’s double-overtime semifinal victory over Hennessey, West poured in 36 points. She followed that performance with 26 points in the state championship game, scoring three baskets during a decisive fourth-quarter run that helped the Lady Pirates defeat Checotah, 46–37.

In the final two games of Byng’s championship run, West scored a remarkable 62 points.

Her scoring ability had been evident throughout her career. As a junior, she scored 87 points during a three-game tournament, averaging 29 points per game, and once delivered a 40-point performance that further established her as one of Oklahoma’s premier players.

West’s outstanding senior season brought numerous individual honors. She was named an All-State basketball player, selected as one of only seven girls statewide to receive a Jim Thorpe Basketball Award, and chosen as the 1975 Ada News All-Area Offensive Player of the Year. She was also recognized as Byng’s Best Girl Athlete.

Her accomplishments extended beyond the basketball court, earning recognition through Outstanding Teenagers of America and Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

Fifty years after that unforgettable season, West and her teammates were honored during the 2025 state basketball tournament in recognition of their historic championship and lasting place in Oklahoma basketball history.

Glenda West didn’t simply score points—she carried forward Byng’s proud tradition of excellence. She represented her school with talent and determination, delivered when her team needed her most, and helped bring another state championship home to Byng.

Her name remains permanently connected to one of the proudest chapters in Lady Pirate basketball history.

Please join us as we officially welcome Glenda West into the Byng Athletics Hall of Fame.

🏆 2026 BYNG ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME BANQUET
📅 Saturday, November 21, 2026
🕕 6:00 p.m.
📍 Pontotoc County Agriplex

Come help us celebrate Glenda West and the entire 2026 Hall of Fame class as we honor the people who helped build Byng’s proud tradition of excellence.

🏴‍☠️ Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate 🏴‍☠️

09/14/2026

09/11/2026

🏴‍☠️ 2026 BYNG ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME 🏴‍☠️
Honoring Naomi LaRuth Parker Meeks

Some athletes become part of a program’s history. Others help define what that history represents.

The Byng Athletic Hall of Fame is proud to announce Naomi LaRuth Parker Meeks, a standout defensive guard from one of the golden eras of Oklahoma six-on-six girls basketball, as a member of its 2026 induction class.

LaRuth’s basketball journey began in the fourth grade at Latta, where she played guard on a Peewee team that competed throughout Pontotoc County. She transferred to Byng in the eighth grade and joined Mrs. Bertha Frank Teague’s grade-school team. Although living outside the district made her ineligible to compete during her freshman year, LaRuth never allowed that setback to weaken her commitment to the game.

A member of the Byng Class of 1957, LaRuth spent five years—from eighth through twelfth grade—learning under the legendary Mrs. Teague. She developed into an outstanding guard during an era when defense required extraordinary discipline, toughness and sacrifice.

In six-on-six basketball, a guard’s responsibility was clear: stop the opposing forwards from scoring. LaRuth embraced that challenge, routinely battling powerful post players, fighting through screens and traveling across Oklahoma to represent Byng against the state’s best competition.

For a defensive guard, being selected All-State was one of the highest honors that could be earned—and following her senior season, LaRuth received that distinction.

During her career, Byng advanced to three state championship games and finished as the state runner-up each time. The Lady Pirates lost the 1955 and 1956 championship games by only two points before returning to the finals once more during LaRuth’s senior season in 1957.

One of her most memorable moments came during that final state-tournament run. With Byng falling behind, Mrs. Teague instructed her players to begin fouling. LaRuth had rarely carried more than two fouls in a game—but as a senior playing for Byng’s season, she competed until she fouled out.

It was the only game of her high school career in which she fouled out—and it perfectly reflected the kind of player she was: disciplined, dependable and willing to give everything she had for her team.

LaRuth’s relationship with Mrs. Teague extended far beyond basketball. After LaRuth married Donnie in August 1957, Mrs. Teague hosted a wedding shower for her, helped with the wedding and assisted LaRuth in securing her first job at Farm Bureau Insurance.

When Mrs. Teague wrote Basketball for Girls in 1962, she invited several members of the 1957 team to participate in the book’s demonstrations. LaRuth later appeared in an OETA television video honoring the life and legacy of her beloved coach.

LaRuth Meeks represented everything Byng basketball was built upon: toughness, loyalty, discipline, selflessness and pride.

Her accomplishments earned her recognition as one of Oklahoma’s finest defensive guards. Her character and dedication earned her a permanent place in the story of Byng Athletics.

Please join us as we proudly welcome Naomi LaRuth Parker Meeks into the Byng Athletic Hall of Fame.

📅 Saturday, November 21, 2026
🕕 6:00 p.m.
📍 Pontotoc County Agri-Plex

Honoring our past. Inspiring our future. Forever a Pirate.

09/08/2026

🏴‍☠️ 2026 BYNG ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE — COACH BURL PLUNKETT 🏴‍☠️

Some coaches win games. Some build championship programs. A rare few leave an influence that reaches across generations and helps change the game itself.

Coach Burl Plunkett was one of those rare few.

Plunkett arrived at Byng High School in 1971 and continued the proud tradition of Lady Pirate basketball with an unforgettable run of excellence. Under his leadership, Byng captured back-to-back Class 2A state championships in 1975 and 1976 before returning to the state championship game and finishing as state runner-up in 1977.

Those Gold Balls were not simply the product of talent. They were built through preparation, discipline, teamwork and the unwavering confidence Coach Plunkett instilled in his players.

Former Lady Pirates remember a soft-spoken coach who never needed to yell or embarrass anyone to command respect. He prepared his teams, told them what needed to be done and made them believe they could accomplish it. His players learned to work together, accept responsibility, persist through adversity and never doubt themselves or one another.

The lessons lasted far beyond the final buzzer.

Born in 1931 in the small southeastern Oklahoma community of Plunkettville, Plunkett was an outstanding player before becoming a legendary coach. He earned All-State honors at Valliant High School in 1951 and established a state scoring record that stood for 28 years. After attending Tyler Junior College, he continued his career at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he became a Helms Foundation All-American in 1954.

Plunkett began his coaching career at Centenary before returning home to coach both the boys’ and girls’ teams at Valliant. He later led Tuloso-Midway High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, to a perfect 37–0 record and the 1970 Texas Class 3A state championship.

After stops at Valliant, Tuloso-Midway, Byng and Idabel, Plunkett joined the University of Oklahoma women’s basketball staff in 1990. He became the Sooners’ head coach in 1993 and immediately helped restore stability and success to the program.

In his first season, Oklahoma finished 18–12 and won the National Women’s Invitational Tournament. The following year, Plunkett led the Sooners to a 22–9 record, a second-place Big Eight finish and only the second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Oklahoma advanced to the second round, and Plunkett completed his three seasons as OU’s head coach with a 52–36 record.

Over a coaching career that spanned five decades, Plunkett recorded more than 1,000 victories, won 35 district championships, guided 16 teams to the state tournament and coached 21 All-State players. He was named Oklahoma Boys’ Coach of the Year in 1985 and Oklahoma Girls’ Coach of the Year in 1986. He was also selected to coach in the 1970 Oklahoma–Texas Girls All-State Game and was inducted into the Valliant High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 1997.

His résumé contains championships, honors and victories at every level of the game. But Coach Plunkett’s greatest legacy lives in the players he taught, the confidence he gave them and the standards they carried into the rest of their lives.

He showed that a coach could be demanding without being demeaning, strong without being loud and deeply respected without ever making the game about himself.

For leading one of the greatest eras in Lady Pirate basketball history, for bringing two more Gold Balls home to Byng and for leaving a lasting influence on generations of athletes, Byng Athletics is proud to welcome Coach Burl Plunkett into the Byng Athletics Hall of Fame.

Please join us as we honor Coach Plunkett at the 2026 Byng Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Pontotoc County Agriplex.

Congratulations to the family, former players, colleagues and loved ones of Coach Burl Plunkett.

🏴‍☠️ Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate.
Maroon and Gold Forever.

09/03/2026

🏴‍☠️ BYNG ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME — CLASS OF 2026 🏴‍☠️

Some athletes win championships. Others leave behind marks that stand for generations. Marion Muncrief did both.

A 1951 graduate of Byng High School, Marion Muncrief established himself as one of the finest athletes of his era — not only at Byng, but across the state of Oklahoma.

In his final two seasons as a Pirate, Muncrief captured four individual state track championships, sweeping the Class B 100-yard dash and 220-yard dash in both 1950 and 1951.

His championship performances were remarkable:

1950
• 100-yard dash — 10.2 seconds
• 220-yard dash — 22.7 seconds

1951
• 100-yard dash — 10.1 seconds
• 220-yard dash — 22.7 seconds

To put those performances into perspective, Oklahoma legend and future Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessels won the Class B 220-yard state championship in 1949 with a time of 22.8 seconds. The following year, Muncrief ran 22.7.

And track wasn't his only sport.

Muncrief was also an outstanding baseball player for the Pirates and was selected to the 1951 Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association All-State Team.

His success at Byng earned him the opportunity to continue his athletic career at Oklahoma A&M College — now Oklahoma State University — on track and baseball scholarships.

Muncrief went on to letter in track at Oklahoma A&M from 1953–1955, competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics and helping the Aggies capture the 1955 Texas Relays sprint-medley relay championship.

And now, after locating the historical record, we can add another remarkable honor to his legacy:

In 1983, Marion Muncrief was inducted into the Oklahoma State University Track Hall of Fame.

The contemporary announcement in The Oklahoman specifically recognized him among the Hall of Fame inductees as:

“Marion Muncrief, sprints, Byng.”

Even decades after he left Byng, his name was still connected to the place where his remarkable athletic journey began.

Muncrief graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1956 with a degree in Electrical Engineering, carrying the same drive for excellence he displayed in athletics into the rest of his life.

For a young man from a small Oklahoma school to become a four-time individual state champion, an All-State baseball player, a collegiate athlete, a Texas Relays champion, and ultimately an Oklahoma State Track Hall of Famer is an extraordinary legacy.

But it is also part of Byng's legacy.

Generations later, the times remain in the record books. The championships remain part of our history. And the name Marion Muncrief remains connected to the Maroon and Gold.

It is our honor to welcome Marion Muncrief into the Byng Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

📅 Saturday, November 21, 2026
🕕 6:00 p.m.
📍 Pontotoc County Agriplex

🏴‍☠️ Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate. 🏴‍☠️

09/01/2026

🏆 HONORING OUR PAST. BUILDING OUR FUTURE. 🏆

The history of Byng Athletics was written by generations of Pirates who competed with pride, represented the Maroon and Gold with character, and helped build the tradition we carry forward today.

On Saturday, November 21, we will come together for the 2026 Byng Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet to celebrate the remarkable individuals and teams whose achievements have left a lasting legacy at Byng.

As we prepare for this special evening, we invite local businesses, alumni, families, and friends of Byng Athletics to partner with us as Hall of Fame sponsors. Your support allows us to honor our past while continuing to inspire and invest in the generations of Pirates who will follow.

Our sponsorship opportunities and additional information are included in the attached letter. Every level of support makes a difference and helps us create an evening worthy of the people and accomplishments we will honor.

Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.

📅 Saturday, November 21, 2026
⏰ 6:00 p.m.
📍 Pontotoc County Agri-Plex
📬 Sponsorship deadline: October 20

Please share this post and help us celebrate the proud history—and bright future—of Byng Athletics.

08/31/2026

🏴‍☠️ BYNG ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME — CLASS OF 2026 🏴‍☠️

RONNIE “RON” RICH

Five state championship games. Two sports. An undefeated senior season. One unforgettable legacy.

Byng Athletics is proud to announce Ronnie “Ron” Rich as a member of the Byng Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026!

A Pirate through and through, Ronnie attended Byng Schools for all 12 years and became one of the most accomplished two-sport athletes of his generation.

During his high school career, Ronnie played in an incredible five state championship games—four in baseball and one in basketball.

On the basketball court, the 6-foot forward helped lead Byng to the 1971 Class 2A State Championship Game. His contributions to Pirate basketball were later recognized with a State of Oklahoma citation signed by Representative Lonnie Abbott.

But on the baseball diamond, the left-handed pitcher and powerful first baseman was nearly untouchable.

Over four seasons with Byng Baseball, Ronnie compiled a remarkable 47–8 pitching record. As a senior in 1972, he went a perfect 12–0 and helped lead the Pirates to the Spring State Championship—becoming only the fourth Byng pitcher at that time to finish undefeated while capturing a spring state title.

Ronnie was part of two state championship teams and two state runner-up teams during his Byng baseball career.

In the 1970 Fall State Championship Game, Ronnie carried a perfect game into the seventh inning. After issuing his only walk to begin the inning, he promptly picked the runner off first base.

That pickoff move became one of his trademarks. Legendary Byng coach Bobby Johns called Ronnie’s move the best he had ever seen from a left-handed pitcher. It was so effective that Byng’s catcher, first baseman and pitcher had to use special signals to avoid getting crossed up.

Ronnie could dominate a game from the mound—and change it with one swing at the plate.

In a 1971 victory over Coalgate, he threw a one-hitter, struck out 12 batters, hit a home run and added a double in a commanding 5–0 Byng victory.

According to Coach Johns, Ronnie was also the last player to hit a home run to right field at Holdenville—a towering 429-foot shot down the line.

In 1972, Byng became the first Pirate team invited to compete in the prestigious Oklahoma Tournament of Champions. Ronnie earned a place on the All-Tournament Team and was later selected to the 1972 Oklahoma All-State Team as a pitcher.

With 22 college scholarship offers awaiting him after graduation, Ronnie followed the advice of legendary Byng baseball player and Major League scout Jerry Walker and began his college career at Grayson County College.

As a freshman for the Vikings, Ronnie went 9–2 on the mound. Playing first base when he wasn’t pitching, he led the team with seven home runs while batting .364. Unfortunately, an injury during his second season brought his outstanding playing career to a premature end.

Beyond the championships, records and individual honors, Ronnie’s greatest legacy is his family. He shared his life with his beloved wife and soulmate, Kim Fox Rich, who has passed away. Together they had two children, Chris and Ronel, and their family has grown to include six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Ronnie Rich represented everything it means to be a Byng Pirate: talented, competitive, composed under pressure and committed to excellence.

His 47 victories, undefeated senior season, five state championship-game appearances and All-State recognition tell the story of a truly exceptional athlete.

But more than five decades later, it is the lasting respect of his coaches, teammates, family and the Byng community that defines his legacy.

Please join us in congratulating Ronnie “Ron” Rich on his induction into the Byng Athletics Hall of Fame!

🏴‍☠️ BYNG ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME BANQUET

📅 Saturday, November 21, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Pontotoc County Agri-Plex

Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate.

08/28/2026

The Byng Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet is quickly approaching, and we are incredibly thankful for everyone who has asked how they can support this special event!

If you would like to donate, simply scan the QR code included with this post. Every contribution helps us celebrate the outstanding athletes, coaches, and supporters who have made a lasting impact on Byng Athletics.

If you need an official donation acknowledgment letter or receipt for your tax records, please email me at [email protected], and I’ll be happy to send one to you.

Thank you for helping us honor the history and tradition of Byng Athletics. Once a Pirate, always a Pirate! 🏴‍☠️

08/26/2026

Support the Byng Athletics Hall of Fame and help preserve our legacy while investing in today’s student-athletes.

Every donation—big or small—helps make a lasting impact.

📲 Scan the QR code or donate here: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/stores/catalog/getproduct?clientKey=ZZ3CFXS6S1EPXYP&productKey=ZZ6C1BRPU2TL4JS&isStorePreview=false

🏴‍☠️ HONOR THE PAST. SUPPORT THE PRESENT. BUILD THE FUTURE. 🏴‍☠️

The Byng Athletics Hall of Fame is about more than one night.

It’s about honoring the athletes, coaches, teams, and supporters who helped build the tradition we are proud to represent today. It’s about remembering where we came from, recognizing those who set the standard, and making sure that legacy continues for the generations of Pirates who come next.

And you can be a part of it.

We are now accepting donations to support the Byng Athletics Hall of Fame and Byng Athletics.

Your contribution helps us create a first-class Hall of Fame experience worthy of the people we are honoring—but its impact goes beyond the event itself.

Your support also helps our current student-athletes and invests in the future of Byng Athletics.

Every generation has a responsibility to leave the program better for the one that follows.

That is how tradition survives.

That is how standards are maintained.

That is how a legacy continues.

📲 Scan the QR code to donate.
Or click the link below

No amount is too small. Every contribution is another investment in the young men and women who proudly wear BYNG across their chest.

Honor the past.
Support today's Pirates.
Invest in tomorrow's.
Continue the legacy.

🏴‍☠️ Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate. 🏴‍☠️



https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/stores/catalog/getproduct?clientKey=ZZ3CFXS6S1EPXYP&productKey=ZZ6C1BRPU2TL4JS&isStorePreview=false

08/26/2026

🏴‍☠️ 2026 BYNG ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME 🏴‍☠️

⚾ ROY HANEY — BASEBALL ⚾

Byng Athletics is proud to announce Roy Haney as a member of the 2026 Byng Athletic Hall of Fame Class!

A 6-foot-3 catcher with a powerful bat, a cannon arm and surprising speed on the bases, Roy was a cornerstone of one of the greatest stretches in Byng Baseball history.

Playing for legendary Coach Bobby Johns, Roy helped lead the Pirates to four state championship-game appearances, winning state championships in 1970 and 1972 and finishing as state runner-up twice in 1971.

Behind the plate, Roy was the anchor of the Pirate defense. His elite throwing arm helped shut down opponents’ running games, while his commanding voice and steady presence provided leadership throughout the field.

At the plate, Coach Johns consistently placed Roy in the No. 3 spot in the lineup because of his ability to drive in runs and change a game with one swing. A newspaper account from September 1970 tells of Roy blasting a grand slam during an 11–1 Byng victory—one of many examples of the power he brought to the Pirates’ lineup.

Roy’s talent began attracting professional attention early in his high school career. During his sophomore year, respected Boston Red Sox scout Howard “Danny” Doyle traveled to Byng to personally introduce himself and express the organization’s interest in Roy’s development.

Following his senior season, Roy turned down college scholarship opportunities to pursue his dream of playing professional baseball. In June 1972, the Detroit Tigers selected Roy in the seventh round with the 164th overall pick of the Major League Baseball Draft. He was the first catcher selected by Detroit in that year’s regular June draft.

Roy signed with the Tigers and was assigned to their rookie-level affiliate in Bristol, Virginia. He wasted no time creating an unforgettable memory, hitting a three-run home run in his first professional at-bat! Roy played in the Detroit organization during the 1972 and 1973 seasons.

After his baseball career, Roy continued his life of service by spending 18 years in the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

However, Roy considers his family his greatest blessing and proudest legacy. He and his wife, Sheri, have shared 45 wonderful years of marriage. Their son, Wes, is a physician assistant living in Alaska with his wife, Tracy. Their daughter, Shawna Williams, owns Ever Boutique here in Ada and is married to Brandon “Bubba” Williams. Roy and Sheri are also the proud grandparents of four grandchildren.

From anchoring championship defenses at Byng to earning an opportunity in professional baseball, serving his state and building a beautiful family, Roy Haney has lived a life and created a legacy worthy of Hall of Fame recognition.

Please join us in congratulating Roy Haney on his induction into the Byng Athletic Hall of Fame!

📅 Saturday, November 21, 2026
⏰ 6:00 p.m.
📍 Pontotoc County Agriplex

🏴‍☠️ Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate! 🏴‍☠️