Dale Barnett was more than four decades removed from his last jump shot inside Glenn Ray Gymnasium when he returned to his alma mater to deliver a Veteran’s Day speech.
Looking around the facility on a November day in 2015 brought back an abundance of memories to Barnett, a 1970 Whiteland graduate who played three sports for the Warriors before embarking on a successful military career.
“It was shocking to me how large the school had become,” said Barnett, 69, who was part of a graduating class of 156 students (approximately one-third of Whiteland’s current class sizes). “But to go back out there on that basketball floor and to be able to deliver the message of service to your country, that was a special, special day.”
Barnett and special days just sort of go together.
The third of Glenn and Mary Katherine Barnett’s four children and the only son, Dale excelled in cross country and track and field at Whiteland. He graduated with seven varsity letters and was the starting shooting guard for a basketball squad that won only three games in the 1969-70 regular season.
Overlooked and underrated, coach Larry Bledsoe’s crew then proceeded to advance to the championship game of the Franklin Sectional.
“I think it was pride,” said Barnett of the sudden burst of momentum which included defeats of Center Grove and Franklin. “We had school pride and really upped our game when it came to county competition.”
Barnett competed in an era in which semifinal and championship games were played the same day.
Knocking off the Grizzly Cubs, 69-62, in the early afternoon didn’t leave the Warriors much for the night contest against Greenwood and junior Jerry Nichols, an eventual Indiana All-Star who went on to play at Purdue University.
The Woodmen rolled, 70-43.
That spring, Barnett won the 880-yard run at the Johnson County meet, displaying the talents he later used as a quarter-miler while at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Barnett served 22 years of active duty (1974-96) in the Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Along the way, he served as the battalion executive officer of the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
His decorations are many, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
Barnett later excelled as a teacher and coach in the Atlanta area. He taught high school social studies and coached basketball, baseball and cross country. Barnett was the Creekside High School Teacher of the Year in 2005-06.
Two months prior to his 2015 speech to Whiteland students, employees and local veterans, Barnett, his old high school’s 1994 outstanding alumnus recipient, was elected national commander of the American Legion during the national convention of the country’s largest veteran’s organization.
Now married 47 years to the former Donna Egbert, a 1971 Whiteland graduate, Barnett makes it a point to return to his hometown as often as possible. His 50-year high school reunion was supposed to take place last summer, but was pushed back a year due to COVID-19.
Thus, he and Donna, residents of Atlanta since Barnett retired from the military, return to Johnson County during Labor Day weekend to reminisce with the friends of their childhood. The couple has five children, ranging from ages 16 to 45, along with six grandchildren and endless amounts of pride when it comes to their hometown.
“I would almost say it’s unlimited. I still have so many good friends back there, and our lives revolved around our church, school and community,” said Dale, remembering the central theme of his speech to WCHS students nearly six years ago.
“Even though you’re from a small town, there’s greatness in everyone.”
