Harlan Kirgan
Often football stadiums are named after winning coaches and jersey numbers are retired, but something rare happened at Acadiana High on Oct. 16.
A seat in the Wreckin’ Rams’ stadium was retired in honor of the school’s super fan, Kenny Beaugh.
Kenny was a Eunice High School graduate and, as the son of Leon Beaugh, grew up with brothers Tony and Terry attending sporting events.
Kenny died on Oct. 11 of COVID-19 complications and it didn’t take long for Acadiana High to honor its top fan.
“Acadiana High honoring Kenny was a very touching moment for our family, Acadiana High is going above beyond to honor Kenny. He was a one-of-a-kind fan and they wanted to do something to show their appreciation for his support,” said Tony Beaugh.
“They did a plaque and they retired his seat never to be used again as long as that stadium is erect,” Kenny said.
“He was just a one-of-a-kind guy that not only went to every game, he practically went to every football practice as well as baseball,” Tony said.
The love of sports was instilled in the Beaugh brothers by their father.
“Since we were old enough to walk, dad would take us to ball games and not just Eunice,” Tony said.
“He took us wherever there was a ball game in the area. It didn’t have to be necessarily our team,” he said.
Leon took his boys to the Top 20 basketball tournament in Alexandria in the late to mid-1970s.
“The tournament ran Monday through Saturday and they had about five games on average per day. We would leave about noon from Eunice on these two-lane highways to Alexandria. It took practically an hour and half to get there.”
The Beaughs would get back to Eunice about midnight and get up the next morning and do the same routine.
“Dad was just such a big sports fan. It was in our DNA to love sports,” Tony said.
“That was our hobby. We didn’t hunt or fish. Our hobby was sports,” he said.
‘There is nothing we enjoyed more than being together at a sporting event,” he added.
The family didn’t just follow high school sports. Their father had season tickets to LSU football games since 1957 until he was in his 80s.
The brothers graduated from Eunice High School. Kenny was 68 when he died. Tony is 64 and Terry is 66.
Their father, Leon, was 96 when he died on Sept. 16.
The obituary noted:
“Leon was salesman for 55 years, 36 of those years was with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, he held top sales award for achievements. In 1984 he received a certificate of Commendation for Meritorious Service to the people of Eunice. Leon was a member of Eunice Baseball Inc, President of Eunice High Full Backer Club. He was an LSU season ticket holder for 60 years, he enjoyed the fundraising activities for sports teams at Eunice High School, St. Edmund High School, and Beau Chene High School. He is founding father of Eunice baseball.”
Kenny’s survivors include his wife, Mary, and two daughters, Rebecca “Becky” Lege and Gina Coscarart.
The sisters didn’t travel to the sporting events, Tony said.
“They spent a lot of time with mom when the boys were away. Mama was never envious. She loved for us to be with daddy. She never resented so much time away from home,” he said.
“We were nothing special as people, but we were very close. We had a tremendously close family. We’re still close,” Tony said.
Tony noted the loss of his father and brother occurred within a month. “It has hit us hard,” but added, “Our faith will get us through.”
Tony told Kevin Foote of The Advocate the group’s final sports trip was to the SEC baseball tournament in Hoover, Alabama.
“Kenny started planning that trip nine or 10 months in advance. He called the SEC office one day expecting to get a secretary, and (former LSU sports information director) Herb Vincent answered the phone. Kenny talked to him for 45 minutes. I don’t know if Kenny had ever met Herb, but he talked to him like he was an old friend.”