Plant football honors the past

Posted Mar 8, 2010 by Katherine Smith

Updated Mar 8, 2010 at 02:57 PM

Rico Caseres wasn’t through with his introduction of former Plant football player Broughton Williams when the crowd was brought to its feet.

While inducting Williams, a Plant receiver from 1940-41, into the school’s football Hall of Fame, Caseres, who is president of the Letterman’s Link, had rattled off a list of Williams football accomplishments that included All-SEC honors at the University of Florida and a stint with the Chicago Bears. But it was Williams’ military service credentials – five combat stars while with the Army/Combat Engineer Group that landed in Normandy Beach during World War II - that earned the standing ovation.

Williams was one of eight former Plant players inducted into the Hall of Fame Sunday evening during the annual banquet at the Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club. Also inducted were Bill Encinosa, Denny Herndon, Wally Hough, Mike Kaney, Gus Koulouris, Bob Mackenzie and Bruce Wiesley.

Encinosa, a halfback and kicker for Plant from 1954-56, earned All City, All Western Conference and All State honors and also won the Guy Toph Award. He went on to play for Tennessee and served in the Air Force from 1961-65. Herndon, a guard and center for the Panthers from 1943-45, earned All Big Ten and All City honors. He was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and after completing his military service, Herndon played four years for Florida.

Hough, a third-generation Plant Panther, graduated in 1977 and earned letters as a lineman all three years, as well as All County, All District, All Regional, All Western Conference and All State honors. He also received the McNutt Award. Currently, Hough, a standout athlete at Florida, officiates Southeastern Conference games. Kaney was a lineman in 1954 and 55 that was captain of the All City team in 1955 and was also selected All Western Conference and All State. Kaney graduated from Georgia Tech and also served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Mackenzie played quarterback from 1955-57, earning the Guy Toph Award and All City, All State, All Southern, National High School Wigwam Wiseman All-American and Florida Sportswriters Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. Mackenzie earned a football scholarship to Georgia Tech. Wiesley, a tight end and wide receiver for the Panthers from 1961-63, was selected All City, All Western Conference, All State, All South and All American. Wiesley played defensive end at Duke and was a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force.

Koulouris, who graduated in 1939, earned All-State honors as an offensive and defensive tackle for the Panthers. Unable to attend the ceremony, Hall of Fame member Walter Baldwin accepted Koulouris’ award on his behalf.

Several members of Plant’s 5A state championship team were on hand to thank the former players for helping “lay the foundation” for their current success. Head coach Robert Weiner wrapped up the ceremony with a speech that reminded the past and present players in the room how lucky they are to have football in their lives.

“I remember every single moment, from the plays to the players,” Weiner said, “because that’s what this game is all about.”