Science Hill High School

Paula Dickerson

Paula Dickerson

Ask any Science Hill basketball coach or player and they'll tell you -- Paula Dickerson is one sweet lady.

Dickerson has been a fan of Science Hill athletics for 50 years, but she became more involved in the late '80s. Since that time she helped Shirley Ann Chinouth design the Hilltoppers porch flag with the top hat and cane, worked concessions stands and cooked for hospitality rooms at tournaments. Brownies are her specialty.

She remembers making them when Science Hill was at the state tournament in 1987. (She hasn't missed one since.)

"I remember Coach (Charlie) Morgan had a box of brownies, Coach (Randy) Ferrell had a box of brownies," she said. "I'm not sure if any of the players got any brownies."

Dickerson moved here from East Stone Gap in '54. When told that Science Hill supporter C.B. Kinch said she scored 80-some points in a high school game, she quickly intervenes.

"He exaggerates," she said. "It was 75 points. I did it against Pound in the (Lonesome Pine District) tournament at Wise. Of course we only played halfcourt, and I was the tallest player at 5-10 1/2. That's not so tall these days."

Numbers sure ain't what they used to be. Dickerson's been a season-ticket holder for football since 1960, and she found a cancelled check for $10 from that year when she was going through things after her husband died.

"Ten dollars bought two season tickets," Dickerson said. "That tells you how long I've been a fan." Dickerson has generated many fans with her selfless stance toward Science Hill.

"I consider people like Charlie Morgan and Coach (George) Pitts among my close friends," she said. "I wish that Shane Williams had got to play for Bruce Pearl at Tennessee. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if Shane was back at Science Hill as the coach some day. When I saw Shane coaching the eighth grade here, I said that's George Pitts made over."

Whether she's making sandwiches for road trips or was helping distribute the late Chinouths' bubble gum to athletes, Dickerson has always done it with a smile.

"Any time you ever ask Paula to do something, she's there," Kinch said.  "She's a tremendous asset for the 'Toppers." Not to mention the dentist offices.

"They say my brownies have gone from Alaska to the Bahamas," Dickerson said.

And this year they'll go to Fort Lauderdale. Dickerson said Lady Toppers coach Darrell Barnwell has invited her on a road trip this season.

"I thought that was too nice of an offer to turn down," she said.