LaRue Saulters

LaRue Saulters, a native of Carson, was reared in Jefferson Davis County. In 1944 his high school team, without a coach, placed second in the overall state basketball tournament.

That same year, Saulters enrolled as a student at PRC and enlisted in the United States Air Force. Before he left for active duty he led the PRC Wildcats to the 1945 State Championship.

The PRC team captain and all-state player spent nearly two years in service, spending one year on Okinawa with the Eighth Air Force.

Within two weeks after discharge from service, LaRue was back at PRC and ready to play more basketball. The 1947 state tournament was limited to just eight teams that year and PRC was the last seed.

Saulters and the Wildcats managed to up-end the number three Holmes Bulldogs, number two Moorhead (now Mississippi Delta) Trojans and number one-ranked Ellisville (now Jones) Bobcats to capture the 1947 state title. All three wins were by eight-point margins.

Saulters was named to the all-state team again. At the time of his induction in 1990, Saulters was one of just a few junior college players to ever be named all-state twice and to win two state championships in basketball.

Saulters later played basketball at Delta State University for his old high school coach, coach John Ray Ricks.