Coach Jess Bucy
Coach Jesse Bucy has had a long and fruitful relationship with Rector High School – beginning as a student and then coaching for 15 years.
Coach Bucy was born in 1930, at Rector. His parents were Guy and Ethel Bucy. He attended Rector High School, graduating in 1948, and went on to Arkansas State University on scholarships for baseball and basketball. During his third year at ASU, he was offered numerous opportunities to play professional baseball. This was a dream come true, and he signed to play for the Detroit Tigers farm team, becoming an All-Star in his first full year. Failing eyesight limited his professional baseball career, and he moved back to Arkansas to coach basketball briefly at Oak Grove, in Paragould, before returning to Rector.
During his years at Rector High School, Coach Bucy guided many young men, influencing not only their athletic and scholastic accomplishments, but, serving as a mentor and example in their lives. In his later years at Rector, he also served as Superintendent of Schools.
Harding University, at Searcy, AR, recruited Coach Bucy to be their Head Coach in 1969, and he coached basketball for 21 years. He then worked as assistant to the Dean in the School of Education until being called back to sports when their baseball coach left. He held that coaching position for four years, before retiring in December 1996.
Coach Bucy was married to the late Sue Long, who died in 2003. They had two daughters, Carol Knight of Cordova, TN, and Beverly Frizzell of Harrison, AR. Both daughters are elementary school principals. He has two grandsons, Robert and Jonathon Knight.
Coach Bucy holds BSE and MSE degrees at Arkansas State University, as well as post-graduate credits in Administration. He has earned many awards and honors. He now resides in Searcy, AR.
Coach Bucy was born in 1930, at Rector. His parents were Guy and Ethel Bucy. He attended Rector High School, graduating in 1948, and went on to Arkansas State University on scholarships for baseball and basketball. During his third year at ASU, he was offered numerous opportunities to play professional baseball. This was a dream come true, and he signed to play for the Detroit Tigers farm team, becoming an All-Star in his first full year. Failing eyesight limited his professional baseball career, and he moved back to Arkansas to coach basketball briefly at Oak Grove, in Paragould, before returning to Rector.
During his years at Rector High School, Coach Bucy guided many young men, influencing not only their athletic and scholastic accomplishments, but, serving as a mentor and example in their lives. In his later years at Rector, he also served as Superintendent of Schools.
Harding University, at Searcy, AR, recruited Coach Bucy to be their Head Coach in 1969, and he coached basketball for 21 years. He then worked as assistant to the Dean in the School of Education until being called back to sports when their baseball coach left. He held that coaching position for four years, before retiring in December 1996.
Coach Bucy was married to the late Sue Long, who died in 2003. They had two daughters, Carol Knight of Cordova, TN, and Beverly Frizzell of Harrison, AR. Both daughters are elementary school principals. He has two grandsons, Robert and Jonathon Knight.
Coach Bucy holds BSE and MSE degrees at Arkansas State University, as well as post-graduate credits in Administration. He has earned many awards and honors. He now resides in Searcy, AR.