Number 50 is officially unavailable for future Franklin High School girls basketball players after the district retired a replica of the jersey once worn by former athletic standout Jody Billingsley.
Billingsley was a 1990 graduate of FHS and competed in volleyball, track and basketball, the latter of which she also played at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown. At Franklin she amassed an 1,111 career points. In her senior year, average nearly 15 points a game and over 9 rebounds.
She was one of three women killed during a shooting in a Pittsburgh fitness club in 2009.
"Her dedication and determination were evident in all that she did," the announcer said during the short ceremony Thursday night.
Last year, the district memorialized the new gymnasium scoreboard in her honor. She was also inducted into the Franklin Hall of Fame in 2016.
Billingsley was a 1990 graduate of FHS and competed in volleyball, track and basketball, the latter of which she also played at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown. At Franklin she amassed an 1,111 career points. In her senior year, average nearly 15 points a game and over 9 rebounds.
She was one of three women killed during a shooting in a Pittsburgh fitness club in 2009.
"Her dedication and determination were evident in all that she did," the announcer said during the short ceremony Thursday night.
Last year, the district memorialized the new gymnasium scoreboard in her honor. She was also inducted into the Franklin Hall of Fame in 2016.
"It was something we wanted to do for the family," said Becky Barnes, Franklin's athletic director.
Billingsley's father, Leon was among the family members on hand for the jersey retirement. He was also joined by Jodi Gault, former coach of the women's basketball team at Johnstown.
The retirement had been in the works for a while and finally came together for Thursday night during the Dick Russell Memorial Basketball Tournament. "We wanted to have the community here," Barnes said of the timing. The tournament included teams from Oil City, Rocky Grove, Franklin and Fairview.
Billingsley was the last player to wear number 50 on the FHS girls team, according to Barnes. Now a framed replicate of the jersey she wore will hang in the lobby outside the gym.
Billingsley's father, Leon was among the family members on hand for the jersey retirement. He was also joined by Jodi Gault, former coach of the women's basketball team at Johnstown.
The retirement had been in the works for a while and finally came together for Thursday night during the Dick Russell Memorial Basketball Tournament. "We wanted to have the community here," Barnes said of the timing. The tournament included teams from Oil City, Rocky Grove, Franklin and Fairview.
Billingsley was the last player to wear number 50 on the FHS girls team, according to Barnes. Now a framed replicate of the jersey she wore will hang in the lobby outside the gym.
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