Special to the Opelika Observer
Beauregard High School principal Richard Brown was recently honored by the Alabama High School Athletics Association, receiving the organization’s Making a Difference Award for District 4.
Brown said he enjoyed his ten-year coaching career, including the eight at Beauregard where he coached three different sports.
“It was something I loved doing then, and, if I had it to do over again, I certainly would,” Brown said.
The long-time principal at Beauregard High School has been described by some on staff as “the glue that holds this school and community together.”
The school’s overall athletic program has enjoyed perhaps its best period ever in recent years with the football team setting a state record for its class with 11 wins in 2012. The girls track team was runner-up in the Class 4A State Outdoor Championships for the second year in a row 2013, and the boys finished third in 2012. The girls were also third in the 1A-4A division of the indoor championships in 2013.
The baseball team reached the 4A state finals in 2012.
Brown has had the football stadium named for him at Beauregard. He has been an officer in District 4 and a long-time member of the Legislative Council.
He currently is a member of the AHSAA Central Board of Control. The former Smiths Station athlete is also on the board of directors of the National Association of Secondary Schools.
Brown said he did not know who nominated him for the award, but he was thankful to them and to his community.
“We’ve been here a long time and people still show their love and support,” Brown said. “That’s the biggest honor of all – to have the love and support of your community behind you.”