He’s from D.C., and I don’t mean Washington

Published 1:00 am Saturday, January 18, 2025

An invitation and an email made me think about someone that was my go to guy for photos time after time back in my days on the streets lugging cameras around looking for stories.

First, a recent invitation from Mark Reynolds to speak to 55 members of the Russellville Rotary Club found me standing in front of the room full of fellow Rotarians at the Governor Breathitt House watching my usual 10 minute slide-show of some of my favorite moments I’ve captured over the years. In the show was a black and white photo story I did more than 20 years ago of a day in the life of the War Memorial Boys & Girls Club.

Second was an email announcing the 13th annual Warren Central High School Athletic Hall of Fame recognition and ceremony scheduled for Jan. 26-27 at WCHS. The 2024 class will be recognized Jan. 27 between the girl/boy basketball doubleheader against Greenwood, and the induction ceremony will take place Jan. 28 in the school’s auditorium. This year’s class includes: Curtis Turley (Boys’ Basketball Coach, 1980-85), Matt Maresca (Boys’ Basketball, 2000-04), Bobby Cook (Boys’ Basketball Coach, 1988-96), Suzanne Britt (Warren County HS – Track and Field, 1963-67), the 1981-82 Warren Central Boys’ Basketball Team and Stan England (Warren County HS – Golf, 1960-64).

The common thread between the two is Stan England, one of, if not the most persistent and good-hearted guys I have ever met. I spent most of my time with him when he was director at the Boys & Girls Club shooting photos and telling stories. He was never shy about asking for coverage of the club and anything he was involved in. Let me tell you, he was and still is involved in a lot.

Most recently he darkened my doorway on several occasions drumming up coverage of the 2024 Junior Championships and putting tournament that took place in July at Paul Walker Golf Course. Not only did he talk me into a preview story and coverage, he wore me down until I agreed to come out and take the group photo. That’s the beauty of Stan, he knows everyone and he knows how to appeal to your sense of duty to community.

He has deep roots in the community and love for golf and helping our children. His full bio and accomplishments are too long to print. Newsprint is expensive these days so I gleaned a few details from previous articles.
Stan England was a standout for the Warren County golf team as the 1950s turned to the 1960s. England captained the team for his sophomore, junior and senior seasons (1961-63) as the team pushed for uncharted territory for the school. His 1962 team, led by fellow Warren Central Athletics Hall of Fame Coach Don Acton, became the first team in program history to qualify for the state tournament as England led the charge for the Dragons.

After graduating from Warren County High School, England has been an active member of the Bowling Green community serving as an advocate for junior golf in Bowling Green, Warren County, the Kentucky Golf Association and the Professional Golf Association. He also served in the United States Army Reserve, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, local diversity boards, youth basketball and other community service organizations. Stan England, past director of the Boys and Girls Club of Bowling Green.

Stan England retired from his job in the Administrative Offices of the Courts and never slowed down. England has been instrumental in helping children from disadvantaged circumstances realize their full potential and excel in society.  “I first got involved with the Boys and Girls Club when I was a young boy and I have been affiliated with the club for over 50 years now”, England said.

“He’s a constant reminder that there’s more going on around you than what’s going on in your little world. All you have to do is look at Stan and you realize this is a big world out there and there’s a lot of people and some of them need some help,” said the late Jim Bohannon.

“I’ve never known Stan to be any other way other than to be active in some type of service organization, working with kids,” said former Todd County Superintendent, David Eakles.

In Stan’s own words he is proud of his roots, the community and making a difference.

“I grew up in the Delafield community. When I speak with groups or talk with someone I tell them I’m from D.C., that’s the Delafield community. And I attended high school here and finished high school in Michigan and came back, and have a few degrees from Western, and just proud to be one who grew up in this community and hopefully I made a difference,” England was quoted as saying.

Thanks, Stan, our community is a better place thanks to you and those like you.

Joe Imel is the Regional Publisher of the Daily News and 9 other Carpenter Media Group newspapers in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. He can be reached at (270) 783-3273 or via email at joe.imel@bgdailynews.com.