Team of the Century – Melton set records, Butch blazed trail

He set a number of records that have since been broken, but those records stood for half a century. He had 36 rushing touchdowns, 258 points scored (216 of them rushing) and 4 kickoffs returned for touchdowns.

Colleges everywhere were clamoring for his services. Georgia was his college of choice, but he broke his leg in a North-South all star scrimmage and never got the chance to play there.

The North all star coach said he was the finest running half back he had ever since, just a natural who knew things about running the football that you could not teach.

Butch Looney

Johnny “Butch” Looney was Marshall County High’s first black athlete and the first black athlete from any school in the county to sign an athletic scholarship. It was with Athens College in 1973 and he earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education there.

Marshall County High got an immediate boost in 1967-68 with the closing of the old Lakeview School. Butch went out for football.

“I never will forget the sight of that young black kid coming up to the fieldhouse as we all watched from the windows,” said Jody Chorba, who was on the team.

Butch had often watched the Wildcats with his grandfather from the top of the embankment at the old high school field and had told him, “Some day I’m going to play on that field.”

He caught a touchdown pass in his first game as a Wildcat and caught 2 passes in the drive for David Amado’s winning field goal in 1967’s legendary win over Huntsville. Later that season, he caught 2 touchdown passes in a 42-19 win over Albertville.

He was named the school’s “outstanding male athlete” at the conclusion of his high school career.

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Named to the Team of the Century earlier were Mike Horton (1971-72), Frankie McClendon (1956-60), J.B. Davis (1950-53), Don Fuell (1959-61) and Raymond Weaver (1962-65).