and went on to Prairieview A & M University , where she competed in both basketball and track and field events . On the track team , she ran the 440 and mile relays and threw a baseball as her field event .
Byrd played forward on the basketball team and though they didn ’ t have three-pointers at that time , she demonstrated her famous fall away jump for the crowd that led her to excel in shooting from outside . Her approach to defense , as she put it , was “ I dare you to dribble the ball ; I ’ ll take it away .” Emmet Augustus “ Duke ” Carlisle III graduated from Athens High School in 1960 . He was an excellent student academically and excelled in multiple sports . He was named outstanding athlete in football and track his junior and senior years , as well as for basketball his senior year .
Carlisle was an all-district team member in basketball , and in track won district in low hurdles two years — setting a district record his senior year and competing at the state finals . As the football quarterback , Carlisle led Athens to a district title his sophomore year , and his senior year , during a 10-win season , they clinched the bi-district title and advanced to the state quarterfinals .
Upon his graduation , Carlisle enrolled at the University of Texas , where he joined an undefeated freshman team . He was the starting safety and backup quarterback his sophomore season .
By 1963 , Carlisle was starting quarterback and led the Longhorns to an 11-0 record and their first national championship under legendary Coach Darrell Royal . After graduating from UT , Carlisle briefly played for the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys .
He has been inducted into The University of Texas Athletic Hall of Fame and the Cotton Bowl Hall of
Pictured ( top row , from left ) are 1956 state champion golf team members Frank Duphorne , Gene Robinson , Billy Lively ( and , not pictured , John Lively ); 1974 state champion golf team members Steve Grant , Kip Estep , Billy Pierot , Mike Pierot and Phillip Pierot ; and ( bottom row , from left ) Johnnie Henderson Byrd , honored for outstanding accomplishment in basketball and representing Fisher High School ; Prissy Corley , AHS teacher and coach from 1975-1985 , who started an outstanding girls basketball program at AISD ; Duke Carlisle , member of the University of Texas at Austin and Cotton Bowl Halls of Fame for football ; and Tommy Bowman , member of the Baylor University and Southwest Conference Halls of Fame for basketball .
Greater Athens Magazine | January 2023 | 7