Don Hicks
Don Hicks, son of Donald Hicks Sr. and Sherry Allred Hicks, was born on March 23rd, 1956, in Los Angeles, California. Don, his sister Lorri and parents moved to Tull in 1965 when he began attending school at Pine Haven, graduating from Bauxite High School in 1974. He began his athletic career playing football and running track in the seventh grade. Although he was an exceptional football player it was track where he made his mark as a Miner.
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As a ninth grader he set district records in the Pole Vault and the 180-yard low hurdles. As a sophomore (in 1972) he set a new high school and district record in the pole vault (11’6”) and represented Bauxite in the State track meet that year.
During the District Track meet, his senior year he was an “iron man” participating in seven events scoring 25.5 points, earning the distinction of being the high point man. During the District track meet he also set a new school record in the long jump with a distance of 20’10”.
Based on his performance at the district track meet he was invited to participate in the Decathlon in May of 1974. Competing against the best athletes from all over the state, Class B through 4A he did well, placing 14th out of 28 athletes with a total score of 5147 points. Don’s Decathlon stats for the event were as follows:
110 Yd dash… 10.8… 760 Pts
Long Jump… 21’2”… 960 Pts
Shot Put… 31’4”… 8 Pts
High Jump… 5’5”… 720 Pts
440 Yd dash… 56.7… 504 Pts
Triple Jump… 38’7”… 795 Pts
120 Yd HH… 17.8… 580 Pts
Discus… 84’11”… 10 Pts
Pole Vault… 11’0”… 640 Pts
Mile Run… 6:03… 170 Pts
During the 1974 Class “B” Track Meet, Don participated in four events. Pole Vault, Long Jump, 440 and 880 Yard relays and in the Meet of Champions.
He also excelled as a football player, playing tailback all three of his high school years until an ankle injury prevented him from becoming what everyone thought would be an All-State performer.
Several of his classmates shared the following comment about his athletic abilities, “he was a naturally gifted athlete who could do anything from walking on his hands, doing back flips and teaching himself how to pole vault.
He was the best athlete in our class from junior high through senior high school. He could do almost anything he set his mind to except basketball. For some reason he could not walk and dribble a basketball at the same time.”
After high school Don followed his father (“Possum” Hicks) into the construction welding field and eventually became a member of Local Iron Workers 321 working over 40 years as an Iron Worker.
Don was married to Tammy Landreth Hicks, and they had four children: Drew, Noah, Sissy and Tiffany and three grandchildren: Abby, Tucker, and Hunter. Don and his family lived in Tull where he passed away in September 2015.
He was an avid fisherman and hunter and spent many hours with his children doing both on the Saline River.
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