Dave Nitz and Dr. Billy Jack Talton, two men with different but profound impacts on Louisiana Tech, passed away last month.
Nitz, 82, was the legendary Voice the Bulldogs for 50 years. He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
Talton, 85, played football at Minden High and Louisiana Tech. He went on to become a powerlifting pioneer at Tech and led the school’s team to 22 national championships before his retirement in 2001.
He was a 10-time College Powerlifting Coach of the Year and is recognized as the founder of Louisiana High School Powerlifting.
Dr. Talton was inducted into the Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum Hall of Fame and was an inaugural inductee into the USA Powerlifting Louisiana Hall of Fame. In 2023, he was inducted into the USA Powerlifting Men’s Hall of Fame as a contributor after serving in many capacities including as an official for the Paralympic Games and international official for the Special Olympics.
I was lucky to cross paths with both these great men.
When I covered sports at the Shreveport Times in the late 1980s until about 2000, my main focus was high school sports.
But every now and then I would cover a Shreveport Captains game at Fair Gounds Field. Sometimes on off days I would go to games and sit in the press box with The Times’ beat writer.
In addition to his duties at Louisiana Tech, Dave was the Captain’ radio play-by-play announcer.
Anytime I saw him he was always ready with a “hello” or “how you doing?” I would often stop by the radio booth before the game or between innings and say a quick hello to him.
At one point, Dave hosted a TV show that I believe was broadcast on Shreveport cable. He asked me to be a guest.
I was hesitant. I have never been comfortable in front of any kind of camera. I had never been on TV.
But I said yes. Dave knew I was nervous but he made it easy for me and I was able to relax and ended up enjoying it.
I first met Coach Talton, which I always called him, in 1967 when I was 8 years old. He joined the coaching staff at Captain Shreve, led by my dad, the late Lee Hedges.
The 1967 season was Shreve’s first. The Gators won only one game that year. But with the help of Coach Talton Shreve started winning in 1968 and finished second in District 1-AAA behind a Woodlawn team led by Joe Ferguson that went on to win the state championship.
He was an assistant for one more year, helping to build a team that would win its first district championship in 1970.
Two of his former players, Bo Harris and Gordon Boogaerts, served as pallbearers at his funeral.
I can still remember being around him as he became one of my dad’s close friends.
His obituary mentions his “robust laugh,” and “signature intensity.” Even though I was a little kid, I definitely remember those things about him and looked up to him.
After he left Shreve, he had coaching stints at Northwestern State and Cedar Creek before becoming a faculty member at Tech in Health and Physical Education.
He started the powerlifting team in 1974 and Tech competed in its first national championship event in 1976.
I saw Coach Talton only occasionally after he left Shreve, usually at a Louisiana Tech event. The last time I saw him was about two years ago at my dad’s funeral.
Last weekend, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony.
As mentioned above, Dave Nitz is deservedly a member. Perhaps one day Coach Talton will become one.
Dave and Coach Talton will of course be missed, but they left marks few of us will be able to.
Coach Talton influenced hundreds as a teacher and coach.
Dave brought the excitement of Louisiana Tech sports into the homes and vehicles of those who were unable to be at games in person. And no doubt some fans brought their radios to listen to him at games or turned their TVs down and listened to him as they watched games.
His signature phrase of “you gotta love it’ when the Bulldogs performed well on the field, court or diamond is etched in Tech history.