Former Pioneer football player Harold Lusk is one of the inductees in the Warren County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

Lusk is one of 13 new inductees, and is being recognized for his time at WCHS. He was the leading rusher during the 1969 football season finishing with 1,012 yards and 16 touchdowns despite not even liking football that much.

“As far as me liking football, I guess if you ever saw me play I guess you would probably say that I loved it, but, I didn’t love it. It was just like doing a job. I just gave it 100% effort and I feel like that was what I was supposed to do. Give it my best and that’s what I did,” said Lusk.

Football was not at all on Lusk’s radar when coach Pedro Paz came to talk to his parents. Lusk’s brother previously played football and coach Paz wanted him to come and play too.

“At that time football was the furthest thing from my mind. I think I was something like a freshman and coach Paz went in to talk to my mom and my dad and my mom said it was alright if I wanted to play,” he said.

Lusk did not know much about football and had never even seen football games on TV.

“I had a whole lot to learn about football. As a matter of fact, I had never watched a football game on TV. There’s a lot more to football than people think. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even know how to line up! I never paid attention to how they lined up because I never really cared for football,” Lusk said.

 Coach Paz helped form him into the player he became and taught him more about the game.

“After several practice sessions it finally came clear to me what the game was all about and with the help of coach Paz it turned out really good,” he said.

Lusk says coach Paz is the only reason he played football.

“I’m going to be perfectly honest with you. I came out for football just because coach Paz came out here and he talked to my mom and daddy and I could see right off the bat he was a good man. Not only a good man, he was an honest man,” Lusk said. “He was the type of guy who would do what he would say he would do. So I went out for football and didn’t care anything about football and didn’t even like football. I went out for football only on account of him because he wanted me to and he always said, ‘Harold, if you’re going to play football you give it 110% effort every game on every play,’ and I remembered that very well.”

If Warren County had offered boxing, that is what he would have done instead of football.

“I love boxing. If they had boxing here…I would have never even thought about going out for football,” he said. 

Lusk says his teammates were an asset to his success. He does not like to take credit because he could not have done the things he did if he did not have teammates working just as hard as he was. 

“When I talk about football, especially when I played, I can’t talk about it without mentioning some of the guys I played with and did a lot of super blocking for me. People like Dwight O’Neal, Gary Judkins, Steven Stan Nunley, and Steve Breedlove and people of that nature. They all blocked just like a mad person,” Lusk said. 

His Warren County Sports Hall of Fame came as a surprise to him because he always thought of his success as a group effort.

“I see all these people get inducted to the Hall of Fame, I’m proud and I’m happy for them, but as far as myself wanting to be inducted into the Hall of Fame or thinking one day I would be inducted never ever crossed my mind,” Lusk said. “I just wished some of the other guys I played with that I know played their hearts out and played just as hard as me, I just wish they were going in the Hall of Fame with me.”

Even though he is not one to accept credit, he is still honored to be inducted. He ended up doing really well in a sport he initially did not like.

“As far as liking football, no I never liked it. So I just went out there, not only in practice but in every game, I gave it my best. If it means giving 100% or 200% that’s what I would do. As far as being inducted to the Hall of Fame, it’s a great honor. I’m thankful and happy that they voted me in,” said Lusk.

Lusk will be honored at a banquet on Thursday, Aug. 26 and at the football game on Friday, Aug. 27 along with the 12 other Warren County Sports Hall of Fame inductees.