Ashland Elks Name Pete Fraley Sportsman of the Year

Ashland Elks Name Pete Fraley

Sportsman of the Year

Pamela Hall

The Ashland Beacon

Each year since 1975, the Ashland Elks Lodge #350 celebrates Sports Day. As part of the celebration, held on June 20 this year, the Lodge honors a Sportsman of the Year. This prestigious award was given to someone that has made a lifetime contribution, both on the field or court and off, toward promoting local athletics. This year’s honoree was Pete Fraley, Athletic Director of Boyd County High School.

Pete will have been with Boyd County for 30 years at the end of August. For 28 of those years, Pete was successful as the coach for the girls’ basketball team. He has also served as Athletic Director for the past 12 years.

“We couldn’t have had the success we had without having really good players,” Pete said, “and we had supportive parents and administration along the way.”

Equally important, and even more so, he also serves as the Safe Schools Coordinator. Pete makes sure the schools stay in compliance by doing drills and having plans in place in the event of an emergency situation. He works with the principals and assists them with any issues that may arise.

“I’m the first call if anything happens at their school,” Pete said. “From there, I coordinate with Bill Boblett, the Superintendent, and Matt Spade, the Assistant Superintendent.”

Pete first began to feel a connection to the Boyd County athletics program when his father took him to football games as a young boy. Boyd County’s 1973 football team was the Kentucky State Runner-Up Champion that year, only beaten by Paducah Tilghman in the state championship game.

“That’s the first team I remember my dad taking me to watch,” he recalls. “We were at all of those games and that’s kind of why I fell in love with Boyd County athletics.”

He probably never imagined at that young age that he would grow up to have a successful career as the girls’ basketball coach and the Athletic Director for Boyd County. He contributes that success to several people.

“I was fortunate growing up that I never had to look past the dinner table with my mom and dad for great role models,” Pete said. “I always had good mentors; Coach Zornes, Coach Pratt, and Coach Sparks, those guys were just amazing to me.

Pete also never imagined that he would be given this honor by the Elks Lodge.

“My name may be on the award,” Pete said, “and I’m grateful and thankful they chose me, but I share it with so many people who have helped me along the way; great family and friends, great assistant coaches and people all around. Without those people, I never would have gotten here.”

Pete plans to retire at the end of August when his 30 years with Boyd County will be complete. He is looking forward to having more time to play golf, fish, and hunt, but mostly he is looking forward to more family time. He and his wife, Sunny, have three daughters, six grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

“I get to take a step back now,” he explained, “and be a husband, be a father, and most importantly, be a grandfather.”

Congratulations, Pete Fraley, on being chosen as Sportsman of the Year by Ashland Elks Lodge #350!