Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — A little help, please.

Joe Heinz is coming back to home to Proctorville on Sunday, July 27, as he continues his search for stories to fill his book about the Fairland Dragons’ basketball team during the 1961 season when they reached the state tournament under coach Carl York.

Heinz is asking anyone — Fairland players, referees, school officials, opposing players and coaches, etc. — with any kind of story to meet at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Proctorville Wendy’s.

Heinz wants to focus on the 1960-61 season when the Dragons reached the Class A state tournament. Heinz was an outstanding player on that team known as “The Untouchables” who went 25-1. The only loss was in the state semifinals to Ayersville.

It was an amazing season in the tri-state as Portsmouth won the Class AA state title, Ashland claimed the Kentucky state championship and Huntington picked up a state title in West Virginia.

Heinz said the meeting will serve as a reunion but he is hoping to get stories, memories, incidents, recollections and memorabilia from that historic season in school history.

Fairland played in Ohio’s smaller Class A division.

All persons with submissions will be recognized in the book.

If unable to attend the meeting, Heinz said persons can contact him by email at Heinzwriter@comcast.net, telephone (616) 322-0242 (home) or (616) 363-2219 (cell), or mail the information to Heinz at 409 Enclave Court SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546.