1997: Big Red takes down MOJO

1997: Big Red takes down MOJO

        For the first time since 1964 the Odessa High Bronchos defeated cross-town rival Permian High in football. A crowd of more than 23,000 at Ratliff Stadium watched the Bronchos earn a 20-17 victory, the first against PHS since 1964. As Permian posted its worst district record in more than 30 years (1-5), Odessa High entered the playoffs for the first time since 1953. The Bronchos eventually lost in the quarterfinals to Duncanville.

In other news, on July 8, Odessa lawmen fatally shot a mental patient at his house on 44th Street after a 12-hour standoff. State Mental Health and Mental Retardation workers came to Randy Redd's house because of concerns that he had not taken his medication. Redd, 38, refused to leave his home, and a judge issued an order to take Redd by force to the Big Spring State Hospital. Before officers could enter the residence, however, Redd burst out swinging a metal pipe, according to police. He was shot twice and pronounced dead at Medical Center Hospital. An Ector County grand jury declined to indict Cpl. Freddie Nayola and Officer Ron Martz for the shooting after five officers testified that they were trying to tackle Redd when he began swinging the pipe at them. Redd's family filed a $2.75 million lawsuit against the City of Odessa and officers Nayola and Martz.

    On Nov. 4 voters overwhelming approved a one-quarter-cent sales tax for economic development. The tax issue, which was strongly supported by business and civic leaders, first required voters to reduce the Ector County Hospital District's one-cent-on-the-dollar sales tax by one-quarter cent.

    On Dec. 9, the Odessa City Council unanimously agreed on the five members who would be appointed to the Economic Development Board. They included Bobby Williams, owner of Williams' Paving, Don Wood, president of Southwest Convenience Stores, Jose Molina, co-owner of Great Basin Petroleum Services, Charles Sorber, president of UTPB; and Robert Chavez, partner with Permian Machinery Movers.

    Curfew: Despite concerns by civil libertarians, the City Council in March unanimously approved a juvenile curfew ordinance that prohibited juveniles under 17 from being on city streets unsupervised after 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends.

Headlines:

    -- The Odessa City Council approved a final contract to bring ice hockey to the Ector County coliseum starting January 1997.

    -- Michael Eugene Sharp of Odessa was executed in Huntsville on Nov. 19 for the May 1983 slaying of Brenda Kay Broadway.

    -- Huntsman Corporation, the nation's largest privately held chemical company, purchased Odessa's Rexene Corp.

    Information is drawn from news accounts, archives and other historical records. 

Click here for 1997 Season Statistics

Click here for 1997 Individual Statistics