UCHS NEWS RELEASE
Union County High School is pleased to announce three new members have been selected for induction into the UCHS—United Community Bank Athletic Hall of Fame. The new inductees will be recognized at halftime of the varsity football game against Webster County on September 2, 2016. On Saturday September 3, 2016 at 6:00 PM there will be a banquet in the UCHS cafeteria to formally induct the new members into the UCHS—United Community Bank Athletic Hall of Fame. The three new inductees are: Billy Joe “Red” Evans, David Curtis and Kristen Drage.
Billy Joe “Red” Evans is a 1963 graduate of Sturgis High School where he played both baseball and basketball. He has worked in the banking industry for the last 50 years, all at the same location in Sturgis. He was initially hired at Farmers State Bank, which is now known as Planters Bank. He and his wife Judy of 52 years have four children, Natalie, Mark, Audrey and Dru.
While a student athlete at Sturgis High School, Mr. Evans developed a passion for sports. He is an avid high school, college, and professional basketball fan. Mr. Evans has been the public address announcer for UCHS Football and UCHS boys’ basketball games since 1982 and the girls’ basketball PA for more than 20 years. His time as public address announcer extends through the years that his children attended UCHS. Mr. Evans can still recall the names of almost all athletes, their position, and jersey number from his years as the PA. Former UCHS student-athlete James Frazier stated, “Billy Joe remembers plays I’ve made that I don’t even remember”. Mr. Evans has dedicated more than 35 years to serving the student-athletes of Union County.
David Curtis is a 1967 graduate of Union County High School, where he currently teaches math and coaches volleyball. He and his wife Deann, have two children Jeremy and Jodie.
After a successful high school career on the baseball field, football field and basketball court, Mr. Curtis took his talents to Western Kentucky University. David participated in baseball, track and field and cheerleading while with the Hilltoppers.
After college David returned to Union County where he was a teacher and baseball/basketball coach. With his work ethic and leadership skills he quickly climbed the ladder and moved into an administrative position as an assistant principal and athletic director at Union County High School. In the continual move upward Mr. Curtis eventually became the principal at Morganfield Elementary. He later left education and managed a very successful insurance business for 25 years before retiring in 2010. Only fitting, because of his love for Union County and Union County High School Mr. Curtis returned to education in 2010 where he began teaching and coaching again.
As a high school baseball standout David once struck out nine hitters in a row during the district baseball tournament. In college he tossed a one hitter against Vanderbilt and was a member of the Western Kentucky 1969 Western Division Championship team. Mr. Curtis was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds out of high school, but decided to attend WKU instead. In addition to all his other contributions to Union County High School, David has been a part of the WMSK broadcast team for more than 40 years.
Kristen Drage is a 2007 graduate of Union County High School where she was a standout softball player. Kristen was also a solid basketball, volleyball and soccer player during her high school career. She is currently the head softball coach at Central Baptist College in Conway, Arkansas.
Upon graduating from Union County High School Kristen held every statistical category for hitting and pitching for a career, season and game. Kristen earned five softball letters, was the team MVP in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, and earned All-District and All-Region honors in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. She was a 2005 honorable mention All-State selection and earned first team All-State honors as a junior and senior. Kristen holds KHSAA Top 20 offensive records in: career batting average (.483), career doubles (51), season doubles (20), career triples (20) and season triples (9). Kristen holds KHSAA Top 20 pitching records in: career wins (87), career shutouts (40),consecutive scoreless innings (44), career earned run average (0.67), season earned run average (0.37), career no hitters (15), season no hitters (6), strikeouts in an extra inning game (20), strikeouts per 7 innings (11.1), and career strikeouts (1271). Her 87 wins as a five year starter equal the number of wins for the UCHS fast pitch softball program from 1995 until her eighth grade season.
After high school Kristen signed to play collegiate softball at the University of Missouri Science and Technology. She was a four year starter at MS&T earning All-Conference honors in 2010 and 2011, All-Region honors in 2010 and All-American honors in 2010. She holds MS&T Top 10 records in: career batting average (.340), season batting average (.427), career hits (171), season hits (64), career doubles (37), season doubles (16), career home runs (16), season home runs (10), season RBI (45) and career RBI (113) which is a school record.