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Frazer Retires Jackson's Number, Inducts Two Onto Wall of Fame

The Frazer community came together Feb. 8, to honor three former students. Among them was Brayden Jackson, who was killed in a car accident last year. The two inductees into the wall of fame were Raymond Fisher, a 1986 graduate of Frazer High School, and 2017 graduate Saunder St. Marks.

In front of a packed gymnasium, Frazer's Culture and Nakona Language instructor Roger White Jr. emceed the ceremony and spoke on behalf of the Fisher family about his accomplishments, which included holding multiple school records in track.

According to principal Sonya Smoker-St. Marks, Fisher was nominated after his mother, Beverly Buckley, wrote a letter about her son's career in the mid-eighties.

"He played all four years of basketball, cross country and track. She told me that her son held a title for districts competition for the high jump record for years until it was recently broken," explained Smoker-St. Marks about the letter. She added that Buckley, "Informed me that her son had passed away and it was always his dream to be on the wall of fame and that he was deserving of the honor as he gave everything he had to the sports he played. He was also the salutatorian of the class of 1986."

Smoker-St. Marks said she then presented the letter to Mr. Dean Blount and the Wall of Fame Committee, who made the decision to place him on the wall after verifying Fisher's record.

Saunder St. Marks was also nominated to the wall for his record in basketball and football, as well as for his rank as salutatorian in the 2017 class. Saunder St. Mark's father, basketball and football coach, Jamie St. Marks, gave a speech for his son, highlighting his awards and leadership, both on and off the field.

The truly emotional ceremony, however, began after the induction of the other two. The family of Brayden Jackson were invited to come to center court holding the case containing Jackson's retired jersey.

"It was an emotional night for the entire community and school," explained Sanders-St. Marks continuing on to say, "everyone wore "Brayden shirts" with his picture on the front and the number 25 with angel wings on the back."

Jackson's uncle Zane Sibley spoke on behalf of the family describing his accomplishments including his three-point shot record which included 11 in a single game.

"It was an amazing night for all the families involved," said Sanders-St. Marks, "It was so good to see so many family and friends in the community as well as those from other communities to support the [honored] families."

 

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