By CHARLIE HUST
Three former Trojan football players will be inducted into the Trojan Football ‘Hall of Fame’ during ceremonies prior to Friday’s home-opener at Trojan Field in Dixon, featuring the Trojans and Muhlenberg County. This is the eighth class of inductees since the Hall of Fame was established in 2006.
James Basham, Roger “Suds” Rhye and Troy Daugherty will take their place about the county’s football elite when they are recognized in the pre-game ceremony.
James Basham played on the first Trojan football teams beginning in 1971 and continuing his tenure as an offensive guard, a defensive linebacker and and outside linebacker on the kick off team until 1973. As a player, he received awards for best offensive lineman and best defensive linebacker. He played for coaches Frank Parker and Richie Hughes.
James is married to Maria and they have two sons: Dustin and Josh. He is also grandfather to Kendall and Holden.
Basham recalls “When a bunch of us sophomores sat on the bleachers at county in 1971, Coach Parker said, ‘If you will see this through, your names will be on a plaque. Come on this football field which is not built yet.’ After 40 years it feels good and I’m honored” to be here tonight (Friday).”
Roger Rhye, better known to his high school teammates as “Suds”, was a fullback for the Trojans from 1978 to 1981. He was coached by Walter Hawkins. Rhye was selected as the Trojans Most Valuable Player in 1981 in both football and baseball, and was named to the all Western Kentucky Conference in 1981.
Rhye, who is retired, has been married to his wife Jennifer for 17 years.
Following high school, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in speech communication from Murray State University and earned a minor in American Humanities.
After being notified that he had been selected to the Trojans Hall of Fame Rhye said, “It’s always nice to be remembered by your friends and alumni as a player who is worthy of recognition as well as someone who should be remembered at WCHS over the years to come.”
The third inductee into the Hall of Fame is Troy Daugherty who played for the Trojans from 1980 to 1984. Daugherty was a fullback and played for coaches Walter Hawkins and Roy Cherry.
He was selected offensive player of the year three times--1982, 1983 and 1984 and was named the team’s most valuable offensive player in 1982, 1983 and 1984. Daugherty also earned most outstanding back accolades from 1981 to 1984, and most valuable player from 1981 t0 1984. Daugherty was captain of the Trojans team in 1984. During his junior and senior years he was named to the All District team.
He is married to Laura Daugherty and is the father of three children.
After graduating from high school, Daugherty gave back to the program by coaching junior high school football in Webster County for three years.
“It is a great honor to be selected to this Hall of Fame,” Daugherty said. “Some of the best years of my life were spent at Webster County.”