Banquet Honors Elite Athletes Past and Present

Annual Seminole Hall of Fame Award Ceremony

By Lila Osceola-Heard

HOLLYWOOD — What a beautiful evening for words like dedication, determination, hard work, heart, character, love, sports and inspiration. Sports are a game of life, and all the individuals who stepped onstage understood this and were living life to the fullest through sports.

On Feb. 6 the Hollywood Recreation Department hosted its annual Seminole Hall of Fame awards banquet in the auditorium of the Hollywood Tribal Headquarters.

Tribal officials present were Max Osceola Jr., Hollywood Council Representative, David Cypress, Big Cypress Council Representative, Mitchell Cypress, Chairman and Paul Bowers Sr., Big Cypress Board Representative.

The program opened with a film by the Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) film department. Moses “Big Shot” Jumper approached Mike Tsosee, history teacher at HINU, about five years ago in regards to making this documentary film. It was the start of a grueling yet satisfying process for documentarians Mike Tsosee, Dana D’Zurella and Mark Von Schlemmer.

The goal of this documentary was to preserve Seminole heritage and teach the children and grandchildren about it by preserving images and voices through video presentation. What an inspiration for present and future athletes to always be able to see and hear from those people in the early days. It will help them and other Natives understand why the Seminoles are unconquered.

The film was incredible and definitely be a hard act to follow. However, Coach Carlos Adamson did a great job of presenting his basketball awards. His explained his philosophy: hard work, wanting to be the best, working to be a good player — since no one will be by just showing up — by always giving 100 percent, and finally the importance of dedication and education. Education provides the opportunity to do anything in the future, Adamson said. He then presented awards and gave out trophies.

Special recognition went to the 2006 Native American Youth Organization (NAYO) girls’ and boys’ basketball teams, who won the championship for the first time in history.

National gymnast and coach Gina Allardyce wanted to reach the younger children of the Tribe. Before coming to the Recreation Department years ago, she started her own business called Gina’s Gym on Wheels. She now teaches the Tribal preschool’s 1- through 5-year-olds.

Florida law allows 5-year-olds to participate in tournaments. Gymnastics is lots of hard work, and not only for the parents. These little ones train for 19-30 hours a week. Dedication plays a major role in a gymnast’s life.

Baseball Coordinator Leon Wilcox and Coach Terri Tartsah represented the baseball program. Tartsah spoke on behalf of the Seminole T-ball and baseball teams. He recognized each member of the team and presented each player with a trophy. Congratulations to the 2006 rookie winners, finishing the season 22-1.

The keynote speaker for the evening, Cynthia Pergy, came all the way from Bowlegs, Okla. A member of the Seminole Nation, Wind clan, she is a counselor and a professional arm wrestler. At the young age of 38, she had a dream.

“If you can dream, it can be done,” she said.

She said Glen Harjo, her brother and first coach, always told her to get her mind right, to focus and prepare to win, not prepare to lose.

The loss of her mother in July of 1997 made her refocus and she dedicated that year to her. She traveled to Russia, Finland, England, Sweden and Canada.

“Who would ever think my arm could take me to all these places,” she said. “All you got to do is work hard and follow your dreams.” She received a round of applause as she left the stage.

Then came the presentation of the Hall of Fame awards.

Hollywood Council Representative Max Osceola Jr. presented the first honorary plaque in tribute to the late Vivan Osceola Delgado.

“She wasn’t the fastest, she wasn’t the strongest, but she had the biggest heart,” he said as he greeted Vivian’s parents Dan and Leoda Osceola at their seats as a sign of respect.

Max Osceola laughed as he talked about Vivian. He said she was a very big supporter of the Recreation Department’s sports programs. Vivian’s dad, Dan Osceola, spoke of her love for sports, God, culture, and her family.

“We miss her a lot,” he said.

The next inductee was introduced by archery coach Steve Young. He spoke on behalf of the late Casey Dean McCall and family. McCall was a dedicated archery player, setting a state record at the Sunshine State Games. He also loved hunting and football.

“He just lit up any room, he was great, he had a number of friends,” Young said.

Young told stories about hunting and fishing with McCall and how much of a character he really was.

Mom Wanda Bowers accepted the plaque from Young on her son’s behalf. She talked about how he started for his high school football team at Sheridan Hills Christian School.

“Everybody was supportive of him, because they pushed him to keep his grades up, and they pushed him to go to practice, they pushed him to play ball every day,” Bowers said.

Inducting the third honoree, Moses “Big Shot” Jumper opened with praise for his aunt, the late Winifred Tiger. He said she was one of the motivating forces in his own life for athletics. Jumper also cited Tiger as a mentor, sports hero, and “driving force for us as young boys.”

It was a very emotional moment for her son Mike Tiger and family, but all were in attendance to accept this plaque on her behalf. One could feel the love for this woman and the legacy she left behind, along with lots of good memories.

“We miss her as a family,” Tiger said after reminiscing about “the good ol’ days.”

The Tiger family went through two major tragedies this year. They lost not only their mother, but also their brother, Clyde Howard Tiger; the fourth Hall of Fame inductee.

Stephen Bowers said he was honored to speak on behalf of Tiger. He shared memories of Tiger, not only as a sports hero but also as a native veteran.

“He was like an unsung hero,” Bowers said. “He was two years older than us. He played football for Hollywood Rotary; he was always the only Indian on his teams. As a vet, he loved to represent the Seminole Tribe of Florida Color Guard and he was proud.”

Mike Tiger then stepped to the microphone again and spoke on behalf of his brother. He echoed Bowers’ words of admiration.

“He did things that I couldn’t do, but he taught the rest of us how to do them, Tiger said. “I think that’s what he was — a good teacher and a great brother.”

The Tiger name has been synonymous with sports since the Recreation Department’s earliest days. The present-day department appreciates the family and the knowledge they bestow today.

The next inductee’s award was a long time coming, and definitely deserved. Shirley Clay, Big Cypress resident, played basketball and softball. Her son Adam was proud and eager to talk about his fondest memories of his mom taking him from place to place playing basketball and softball.

He said: “Me, myself, I can’t even dribble a basketball. How could I not dribble a basketball because I’ve been around it all my life? I took those same ethics of hard work and discipline to the sport I love, which is rodeo, and my mom is the main reason for that.”

Clay was one of the first Tribal women to play organized ball. She has stayed in great shape and still plays to this day.

As he introduced his mom to the stage, telling her to give a speech, the crowd responded. They laughed and shouted “Speech!” as she walked up to the microphone.

“Thank you, and I just love to play ball,” she said upon accepting the award.

The final award went to Paul Bowers Sr., Board Representative and a Brighton resident who played football, basketball, baseball and rodeo. He is also a Native veteran. He accomplished so much and had so many sports awards as well as medals as a Seminole warrior.

A football coach from the past, Coach Karl Ingle, spoke on behalf of Paul Bowers Sr.

“When you support our young people, you are investing in our future, and you can never go wrong when you invest in our future,” Ingle said.

Ingle then tried to convey just how much Paul meant to him.

“He was a big part of success in 1963 in Moore Haven,” he said. “It was his leadership, loyalty, character and hard work. You could always rely on Paul. He has got a great personality, and his sense of humor just doesn’t quit.”

“He was the only player to run back kickoffs, every single time! He got knocked down but always came back strong,” he added.

In closing, Ingle said: “You made a great choice. He deserves that. He’s already been in the hall of fame right here in my heart for years and years, and I can’t say enough about Paul Bowers Sr.”

Stepping up to the podium, Bowers Sr. showed how humble he still is.

“I didn’t know I did all that,” he said as the audience laughed. He explained that sports were just what the young men did back then.

As the long and very emotional evening came to a close, Moses “Big Shot” Jumper thanked everyone for his or her hard work.