Ronnie Cookson to receive Lifetime Achievement honor at Semoball Awards

Ronnie Cookson doesn't have his own Wikipedia page (though he does appear on three others). That's about the only thing he doesn't have.

The definition of achieving on a grand scale, the former Scott County Central basketball coach and Missouri Sports Hall of Fame member will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Third Annual Semoball Awards on July 9 at the Bedell Performance Hall at Southeast Missouri State's River Campus.

Family, friends and supporters of the legendary coach are encouraged to celebrate with Cookson by reserving tickets to the event while they still last by going to semoball.com/awards. Redeem the promo code COOKSON2016 for $5 off general admission tickets.

Cookson's career spans four decades, all at Scott County Central. Despite a population of less than 700 in small-town Morley, where the school is located, Cookson led the boys basketball program to an unprecedented 15 state titles. The Braves won 20 district championships and 22 conference championships on his watch.

Cookson retired in 1995, but returned 12 years later at the behest of former player Otto Porter Sr., who wanted the veteran coach to lead his own son, Otto Porter Jr. Bubba ultimately became the best player to pull on an SCC uniform, going on to star at Georgetown and currently playing for the Washington Wizards in the NBA.

Even after he was done calling the shots, Cookson remained on staff as an assistant for the 2010 and 2011 seasons -- with the Braves winning state championships in both seasons -- before hanging it up for good.

The numbers were gaudy, but Cookson also earned respect by building a small-school program that had a reputation for taking on all comers, and mostly beating them. He finished with more than 700 career victories.

While he built his legend with the boys, Cookson was also responsible for kickstarting the girls basketball program. In 1980 he OKed the introduction of the Bravettes, and acted as an assistant coach for the team from 1980-1995, helping the girls to another seven state titles and 13 final fours.

Cookson was nine times voted the Missouri Basketball Coaches Assocation Coach of the Year and earned Missouri Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year honors five times.

The Semoball Awards will honor 130 student-athletes from 57 high schools throughout Southeast Missouri, as well as feature keynote speaker Mark Schlereth, a former NFL player turned television and radio personality.

Cookson will be honored with a special video presentation.

The event is held thanks to presenting sponsor SoutheastHEALTH, official bank sponsor First Midwest Bank, title sponsors Athlon Sports and the St. Louis Cardinals and radio partner SEMO ESPN Radio, along with rustmedia and the area's five newspapers.

Editor's note: Correction made to reflect accurate career win total