Dennis Cook Day
Honoring A&F's 
Outstanding Alumnus
By Rhonda Oaks

As baseball fans of all ages gathered at Angelina College on March 29, one of the college's finest returned to the campus to celebrate a day named in his honor, retire his No. 39 jersey and accept a key to the City of Lufkin.

Dennis Cook, a Roadrunner standout from 1981-83, went on to a 17-year career in pro baseball, during which time he won two Major League World Series, the last being with the Anaheim Angels in 2002. He retired this year but not before returning to Lufkin to throw out the first pitch for the Roadrunners in a double header game that he said brought back many memories.

"I don't think I could have ever done it without Angelina College," Cook
said. "The two-year experience of a smaller campus was a good fit for me. It overwhelms me to come back here today for Dennis Cook Day. It is such a great honor."

Cook attended high school in Dickinson. He recalled two coaches who spurred him into a professional baseball career. "Dale Westmoreland in high school and Bill Berry here at AC were the two most influential coaches I ever had," he said. "Everywhere I go I always mention those two names because they really made me believe I could do it and go all the way playing ball."

Lufkin Mayor Louis Bronaugh presented Cook a key to the city at the
recognition ceremony and said he had followed Cook's career since he left
Angelina College to attend the University of Texas before joining the San
Francisco Giants.

"He really put AC on the map once he signed as a pro player," Bronaugh said.

"He has done this city proud and this college proud. This warrants a
presentation of a key to our city, and we are proud to know him and proud to have him here."

As the crowd gathered for autographs and pictures with Cook, he took time to ask most of the ball players, some in uniform, what positions they played on their individual teams. Several little league players told him they had his
baseball card, while one adult brought a baseball for him to sign and many
others had their pictures made with him.

As an AC sophomore, Cook earned a 6-2 pitching record, and a 1.9 earned run average. He was drafted that year by the San Diego Padres, but instead signed with the University of Texas, making all-conference both years he was there. He was drafted by the Giants after his senior year and went on to play for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cleveland Indians, the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers. He also played for the Florida Marlins in 1997, winning the World Series, and also for the New York Mets prior to joining the Anaheim Angels where he garnered a second World Series win.

During his professional career, from 1986-2002, he earned 54 wins and 46
losses, achieved an earned run average of 3.91 and batting average of .250.

Berry remembers Cook as being someone eager to learn and easy to coach. "He is a good example of a professional athlete and a tremendously hard worker," Berry said. 

Accompanying Cook to the event was Steven LaBay, who played for the
University of Texas and the Philadelphia Phillies. Seven other members from the 1982-83 Roadrunner baseball teams went on to play professional baseball.

Tim Cartwright played for Texas A&M University and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Kenneth Jackson played for the Philadelphia Phillies. Ronnie King played for Baylor University and the Texas Rangers. Tony Metoyer played for Texas A&M University and the Houston Astros. Billy Ferguson, David Lewis and Royce Shepherd played for the Philadelphia Phillies.

LaBay and Cook have known each other since high school. "We lived about 20 miles apart as kids," LaBay said. "Our teams played each other in high school.

"I want to say one thing about Dennis Cook," he continued. "As good a ball
player as he is, Dennis as a person is three times greater a person than he
is a baseball player. He is a great role model, and he truly loves
baseball."

The college retired Cook's No. 39 jersey and presented him a plaque,
honoring his accomplishments. Cook said he will pursue something "baseball related" now that he is retired from professional baseball.

Dennis Cook Day
Bill Berry (right), who coached Dennis Cook as a Roadrunner, tells the Dennis Cook Day crowd about Cook's baseball career, which he followed after Cook left AC. Berry coached Roadrunner baseball for 20 years before becoming a counselor and coordinator of institutional research.	Louis Bronaugh, mayor of Lufkin, presents the key to the city to Dennis Cook when he returned to be honored as an outstanding alumnus on Dennis Cook Day.
Dennis Cook's #39 Roadrunner jersey was retired during Dennis Cook Day on March 29. From left at the ceremony are Dr. Larry Phillips, president of AC, Cook, Jeff Livin, Roadrunner baseball coach, and Guy Davis, AC athletic director.

Photos by Jan Anderson-Paxson