By Kyle Roberts
On Saturday, March 25, Ruston High School will host its annual outdoor track and field meet: The Hoss Garrett Relays.
However, this one is more than just a line on a school schedule: now set for its thirtieth anniversary, the Hoss Garrett Relays has become synonymous with honoring the deep history of Ruston High School’s athletics, as well as celebrating the Garrett family, who for generations have represented the Red & White on the track, the gridiron, and the classroom.
Dave Anderson, legendary track head coach that led Ruston to multiple state championships in his tenure at the helm of the program, including a complete turnaround of the program in his first full season to win the 1992 state championship, understood that legacy early when he came to the hallowed halls of the “Firmly Founded.”
“I was at Neville before I came to coach Ruston, and being district rivals, I knew of the rich history at Ruston,” Anderson said. “When I was approached to come accept the job at Ruston, I paid special attention to the fact that, like Neville, it was a school steeped in tradition and history.
“It was not until I got here to Ruston in the fall of ’91 that I realized how much influence and the whole history that the Garrett family played in all the success of the high school and its athletic programs.”
So, in honor of that legacy, Anderson led a rebrand effort of what used to be known as the “Ruston Invitational” and turned it into the Hoss Garrett Relays which was first run at what is now Dave Anderson Track at James Field.
For Loyce Miller, daughter of Hoss and longtime educator at Ruston High, the history
Originally scheduled for today, inclement and severe weather possibilities have moved the events to tomorrow, March 25, with field events beginning at 1:00 p.m., a running of the 4×800 relay for both boys and girls at 1:30 p.m., and the remaining track events scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
“I think it’s fantastic that we have such a rich and storied track and field tradition here at Ruston High School,” Trey Smith, current Ruston track and field head coach said. “It’s very important to me to reflect and honor those who have came before me and built the love and admiration for track and field in our community. The Hoss Garrett relays is great tribute to the Garrett family and their contributions to Ruston through the years, and I’m happy to have the ability to see that tradition live on.”
Ruston High principal Dan Gressett echoed earlier sentiments about the importance of the meet and the need to continue honoring the Garrett family.
“We are always excited this time of the year to host the Hoss Garrett Relays,” Gressett said. “For 30 years, it’s been considered one of the best track meets in the state and we once again have a great lineup of teams competing. Ruston High School wants to continue to make the Garrett family proud of how we honor Coach Garrett. Our coaches do a great job of putting on a first class meet. The weather didn’t cooperate for us to have it on Friday like usual, but Saturday will be a fun day. We are all looking forward to it.”
Scheduled to compete Saturday are Airline, Bentonville West, Cedar Creek, D’Arbonne Woodes, Highland Baptist, Neville, Ouachita, Parkway, Quitman, Ruston, Simsboro, St. Frederick’s, Union, West Monroe and West Ouachita.
And all the way in Florence, Ore., now an assistant coach at Siuslaw High School, Coach Anderson holds a special place in his heart for the legacy and school where he, too, coached multiple state championship teams and runners.
“Even through all the changes, sometimes tradition goes away because the new staff may come in and they want to do things their ways,” Anderson said. “Luckily for us, that legacy has continued through coaching changes and with athletes moving on.
“You know, Ruston being Ruston; they’ve held onto that tradition.”
