“Ole Roy Gets a FACELIFT”

Last Thursday night several hundred folks gathered in Malone for the ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening of the renovations made to the Roy B. Beall Sr. Gymnasium. (See related article “ Malone Gym Undergoes Renovation” on page 3 of sports)

It’s no great secret that I am not from Malone but that I am from Marianna. Those two schools have been arch rivals on the basketball court since the two schools began playing in the 1920s. If the walls of the Roy B. Beall Sr. Gym could talk they could tell us some exciting tales about great games in Malone between the two schools.

Malone’s gym has been legendary in regards to being a tough place to play. Most Malone fans don’t care for the nickname given to the gym by other schools. But “The Cracker Box” is notorious for being a place to play that opposing teams dread. That has been even truer in the later years when the 3 point line came into effect. The opposing teams knew that if Malone got hot from the outside you could hang it up. And get hot they often did. No doubt that the Roy B. Beall Sr. Gym played a part in Malone’s tradition and winning 13 boys state championships (second most in the state) as well as the girls run to a state title and being state runner-up five times.

Malone’s current gym was built in 1949 and named after Mr. Beall in 1976. Many of the other county schools also had gyms built in the late 40’s and early 50’s. Over the years however those other schools in the county began to replace their gyms. First there was Graceville when they built a new school in the late 70’s. Next was Sneads who built a new gym after a fire at the school forced some major renovations. The next new gym came at Grand Ridge. About five years ago Marianna got a new ‘Dog House when the new school was built out on the Caverns Highway.

That left only Cottondale and Malone with the older gyms. Cottondale’s gym underwent renovations a couple of years ago similar to that of Malone’s recent renovations. In addition to cosmetic renovations, both gyms have now been brought into the 21st century with the installation of heating and cooling systems.

I know that some folks had hoped Cottondale and Malone would get new gyms. But I for one am glad to see the renovations rather than new buildings. The old gyms have so many memories and so much more character. I just hate to see the old gyms, like the old ‘Dog House, put out to pasture. And from all appearances last Thursday night the fans, former players and coaches all enjoyed seeing the facelift for the “house that Roy built.” Simply Put, I think Ole Roy would have been proud.

From the front porch: Coach said that he’s noticed a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.