• A look back at a Groesbeck great
  • A look back at a Groesbeck great

A look back at a Groesbeck great

Ms.Charlean D. Hopes, (aka Ms.Darnell Foster)

Ms. Foster attended and ran track her senior year at Groesbeck High School, Ms. Foster earned a scholarship in 1970 at graduation from GHS. She then attended Prairie View University where she accomplished many goals. Ms. Foster ran track for Prairie View where she lettered in track and graduated in 1975 from Prairie View University. Ms. Foster-Hopes earned her Bachelor’s degree and went on to teach at Fort Bend I.S D for the next 32 years. She retired in 2011.

I would like to take everybody back to 1970 that reads this article. In this year a young lady from Groesbeck, Texas, at the age of 18 years, took the High School track team to Abilene Texas for the state track meet.

Before she made her journey to the state track meet: she had some unfinished business to take care of with the district meet that was held in Marlin, Texas. She had placed in three events: the 60-yard dash, 100-yard dash and she also ran the 440-relay.

In order to go to the state track meet in Abilene, you had to qualify. The top three girls in each race would automatically go to the state meet.

The young lady I’m referring too is Darnell Foster and that day she won first place in the 100- yard dash with a time of 11.5 and she won first place in the 50-yard dash with a time of 6.3. She also won first place in the 440-relay with the team of Darnell Foster, Ruby Tatum, Linda Tucker, and Cynthia Morrison with a time of 53.4.

Once she has completed the district meet with all the first place trophies: she just placed herself in the position to run in the regional track meet. The regional meet was held in Waco, Texas on April 14, 1970. Darnell Foster was representing Groesbeck in two events (100-yard dash and the 60-yard dash) and both races were conquered with a victory. The time she ran was 11.4 in the 100-yard dash breaking the old record of 12.0. In the Division B competition.

Ms. Foster became the only Centex double winner in the division by winning the 100- yard dash and the 60-yard dash. After placing first place at the regional track meet, Ms. Foster had earned the right to advance to the State Meet.

Once again this would be business as usual. Darnell Foster ran the 100-yard dash and the 60-yard dash and the 440-relay. She successfully won all three races with a first-place victory. Her successful track career at Groesbeck High School earned a full four-year scholarship to Prairie View A&M. She continued her track career and also earned her Bachelor’s Degree in 1975 and then went on to become a teacher in the Fort Bend Independent School District for 32 years. In 2011, she retired and is now teaching as a substitute teacher.

In looking back and out of all the medals that she won in the district meet and the regional meet and in the state meet; she donated all the medals to be on display in Groesbeck High School after having an outstanding high school career in track and also a stellar career at Prairie View A&M; she was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Contributed information/photos

Sign up for our free newsletter

* indicates required

Groesbeck Journal

P.O. Box 440
Groesbeck, TX 76642
Phone: 254-729-5103
Fax: 254-729-0362