By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
The Cabot Scholarship Foundation will hold its 20th Roast and Toast Banquet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at the Cabot Junior High North cafeteria. The event honors students who are receiving scholarships from the foundation this year.
This year’s honoree for the Roast and Toast Banquet is Eugene L. “Laddie” Crouch. He will be roasted by James Handley, Ken Hatfield and Mike Malham. John C. Thompson will be the master of ceremonies, and Rev. David “Buzz” Crouch, Gene’s brother and Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church in Searcy, will deliver the invocation.
Eugene Crouch was born in Helena and raised in nearby Lexa. He is a 1961 graduate of Barton High School. Crouch attended the University of Arkansas on a football scholarship. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education.
He held coaching positions in Brinkley and El Dorado schools before beginning a 25-year career with the FBI. Crouch had assignments in Philadelphia; New York, Rapid City, S. D.; Muskogee, Okla.; and Little Rock.
After retirement from the FBI in 1995, Crouch taught and coached in Cabot schools, retiring in 2003. His support of Cabot’s sports programs continues with his regular attendance each season at most sports competitions.
Gene was married to the former Sue Wood until her death in 2013. Their sons, Lad and Andy, attended Cabot schools and both were active in Cabot athletics.
Gene is an active member of Cabot United Methodist Church and the Rolling Hills Golf Association. He was a Cabot Rotarian for many years, and honored as Rotarian of the Year for 2008-09.
Tickets for the event are available for $30 per person or $240 for a table of eight. They may be purchased from Cabot Scholarship Foundation members, which include John C. Thompson, Cal Aldridge, Nina Butler, Fred Campbell, Carole Jones, Stephen Tipton, Mike Verkler and Angela Wallace, or Cabot High School’s main office.
The Cabot Scholarship Foundation was formed in 1992 by the Cabot Centennial Committee to encourage and recognize academics in Cabot schools. The Roast and Toast Banquet is the foundation’s only fundraising event. Due to the tremendous growth at Cabot High School, community support is greatly appreciated.
Donations are accepted throughout the year at the Cabot Scholarship Foundation, 200 W. Main St. in Cabot. Last year, the foundation awarded 92 scholarships worth $93,550.
