Ken Sargeant is a retired high school administrator with 40 years of service in the public school system who has a passion for trains.

Ken’s father William (Bill) Sargeant was a locomotive engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railway and that was his introduction to trains. He was given a Lionel model train under the Christmas tree when he was a youngster and that was the introduction to model trains. He has ridden in many of the cabs of steam engines as well as first generation diesels with his father. Ken states “Dad took me to work with him on several occasions”. Ken is a  Queen Scout  in  Canada (Eagle Scout in USA) and attended the 8th World Jamboree at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada from August 18 - 28, 1955 where 11,139 scouts from 71 countries attended. This was the first world jamboree held outside of Europe. An article in the Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, published on Monday, February 6, 1956 talked about how Ken served as a participant in an Honor Guard for Governor General Vincent Massey of Canada.

Ken attended Fisher Park High School in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. In an article in the Ottawa Journal August 8, 1960. "Ken an outstanding student at Fisher Park, was a one man gang in the Greater Montreal track meet which enabled Fisher High to become the first Ottawa School to capture the points aggregate. He competed in seven events and placed in all of them for valuable points". Later competing in the Highland Games in Maxville, Ontario on August 5, 1961 Ken was awarded the aggregate trophy as the meets outstanding athlete winning the pole vault, long jump, triple jump and placing second in the high jump. Ken played Canadian Football and was a starting halfback for the Red and White. While at Fisher Park High School Ken was a classmate of Paul Anka the Canadian singer and composer. “I see Paul when he performs in South Florida” says Ken. “He is just as nice now as he was when a student at Fisher Park” states Ken. 

Bill Sargeant retired from the CPR in 1958 and the family moved to Hollywood, Florida.   Ken attended and graduated from South Broward High School in Hollywood, Florida in 1959. While at South Broward he was a starting running back on a football team which won the Northern Division of the Gold Coast Conference and the Bulldogs played in the Orange Bowl on Friday, December 5, 1958. Ken played in the same backfield with Ivan "Tucker" Fredrickson the Auburn All-American and New York Giant running back. Tucker was the first player picked in the NFL draft in 1965. Ken participated in track & field and on April 24, 1959 won the Broward County Pole Vault Championship. The Bulldog track team snared the Broward County Crown. He competed in the first ever Florida High School Decathlon. Ken was a member of the Wheel Club, Letterman "B" Club, and on Government Day served as Director of Finance of the City of Hollywood for a day. One of his most commemorative honors was being selected Sweetheart of the Future Teachers of America Club his Senior year.

Off to Pratt Community College, Pratt, Kansas on a football, track & field scholarship. On August 6, 1960 Ken won the Canadian Junior Men's Pole Vault Championship. He had an offer from Ian Hume coach of the Canadian track team at the Pan-American Games, to attend the Canadian Olympic training plan, but had to refuse because of a two year football and track scholarship commitment to Pratt Community College. While a student at Pratt the summer between his freshman and sophomore year an article in the Montreal Gazette on July 24, 1961 Ken received a Bronze Medal in the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada National Decathlon Championships held in St. Lambert, Quebec. At Pratt Community College Ken played two years of football and ran two years of track & field earning NJCAA All-America pole vault honors in 1962. Ken won the pole vault at the Garden City Relays (twice), Hutchinson Relays, Baker Relays, Baldwin City, KS, Dodge City Relays, and several duel & triangular meets. He broke the NJCAA State of Kansas record in the pole vault in 1962 at Wichita State University. Ken competed in the Junior College National Track & Field Championships in Big Springs, Texas in 1962. On Saturday April 13, 2013 Ken was inducted into the Pratt Community College Athletic Hall of Fame. The Pratt Community College publication "WE GOT YOU COVERED" presented all the 75th Diamond Jubilee Celebration activities including the induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Ken graduated from Pratt Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in 1962.

Continuing his education at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas was his next stop. As a Moundbuilder Ken participated in football making All Conference on both offense and defense in the fall of 1962. Ken ran back punts and kickoffs and led the team in scoring and total offense. He played in 38 of a possible 40 quarters. In track & field Ken held the school records in the pole vault (13' 6 1/2"), long jump (23' 2 3/4") and triple jump (46' 8 1/4"). Ken won the pole vault at the Southwestern College Relays, Winfield, KS, Ottawa Relays, Doane College Relays, Crete, NE, Oklahoma Christian College Relays, Oklahoma City, OK and several duel & triangular meets. Ken was a member of Kappa Rho, Letterman "S" Club, Southwestern Student Teacher Association, Yearbook Associate Sports Editor, Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, wrote articles for the Southwesterner and his Senior year served as President of Broadhurst Hall. Ken had a radio show where he was the host and his roommate Reginald Stephens the engineer on Saturday nights called “Night Train”. The show was on KLAS AM 770 on the dial broadcast from the basement of Stewart Field House in Winfield, Kansas. He graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education.

Ken taught and coached at Satanta High School, Satanta, Kansas. An article in the Topeka Daily Capitol-Journal September 22, 1965. A 20 game losing streak was broken and Ken was awarded the Coach of the Week in the State of Kansas for a Satanta 13-6 win over Elkhart. Elkhart had been picked to win the Hi-Plains Conference Crown and Satanta had been tabbed for the cellar.

Ken's next  coaching and teaching positition was at Cheney High School in Cheney, Kansas. While at Cheney his Cardinal track team in 1968 won the Sedgwick County Conference Track and Field Championship, Cheney Invitational, Adover Relays and several duel and triangular meets. Ken's track & field team was runner up at the Remington Invitational and Goddard Relays. His football team in the fall of 1967 was runner up in the Sedgwick County Conference.

Because he had sand in his shoes it was back to Florida. On April 24, 1974 Ken was awarded March Sportsman of the Month. An article was written by Bill Zei of the Sun-Tattler and headlined “Kids Is Where It’s At for Ken Sargeant”. On July 21, 1974 Ken received the “Hats Off Award” from the International Order of Demolay for organizing and running the Southeastern Track and Field Championships at Boca Raton High School, in Boca Raton, Florida.  Next was Prep Profile, Miami Herald, November 1, 1974. Headlined “From Hockey to Vaults, He’s Starred”. Prep Profiles, is a column of interest to the high school sports fan, and a weekly feature of the Herald. The article starts out with Singer, Paul Anka, (who wrote “My Way” for Frank Sinatra), didn’t always have it his way at least not against Ken. During Ken’s grammar school days in Ottawa, he used to slapshot pucks by Anka who payed goalie. In 1976 Ken started a junior college football team at Broward Community College. They used the Nova High School facility for practice. Broward Community College played Dade North Community College and won 16-14 at Sunview Park in Fort Lauderdale. Broward Community College played Dade South at the University of Miami Hecht Athletic Facility in Coral Gables winning 13-0. In September 1977 Ken was “Citizen of the Week”, WGMA 1320 AM "The Country Giant" Radio Station, Hollywood, Florida. Tim Baxter of WGMA made the recommendation. Ken was honored for his community involvement in the Greater Hollywood area. His volunteer work with kids and civic clubs were mentioned. He was recognized over the airwaves for the week. Wednesday, November 2, 1977 Ken was featured in the Fort Lauderdale News, Doer’s Profile”. Ken was sighted for being named "Sportsman of the Mouth", for organizing the first annual "Hollywood Optimist Bowl" football game and teaching night school classes for little league football coaches.  On October 20, 1977 Ken was awarded September Sportsman of the Month. In the Sun-Tattler Kathy Kuster article you can read how involved Ken was with kids whether it was in school, civic clubs, or athletics. This was the first time someone had been given the Sportsman of the Month award a second time. Ken spent a lot of time sending athletes all over the country on athletic scholarships. Several athletes furthered their education at Kansas colleges. An article appeared in the Fort Lauderdale News on Wednesday, Dec 5, 1979 an article written by Mark Johnson, explaining the real “Journey to the center of the earth”. Ken sent several players to Bethany College. Others like, Chris Quijano, (QB), South Broward High School went to Bethel College and Fred Hankerson, (WR), Nova High School attended Southwestern College, both making All KCAC. In the early 1980’s Ken served as President of the Olsen Middle School PTA for two terms. The main function of the PTA was to raise funds to assist the school with items not covered through their budget. The PTA raised over $20,000 to buy audio visual equipment for the school, books for the library, etc. On May 18, 1989 Ken was awarded the Silver Knight Award, which is one of the most recognized and prestigious awards for students and educators. This award was named after John S. Knight, (Miami Herald Editor Emeritus). Teachers who have contributed to their school and community, by using their talents for selflessly serving others, earns them recognition. Nova High School nominated Ken as their “Silver Knight Teacher” in 1989. 

Ken was head track coach and assistant football coach at South Broward High School, Hollywood, Florida. His track team won the City Championship over favored Hollywood Hills, other teams participating were McArthur, Chaminade and Miramar. Ken was offered a teaching and head football coaching position at Nova High School located in Fort Lauderdale. He took a team that had lost all of its games the previous year and during the past ten years did not have a winning season. The first year the Titans went 5-5. The following year they were 7-3 and received an invitation to play in the Apollo Bowl in Melbourne, Florida. He served as Athletic Director and head football coach at Fort Lauderdale College. Fort Lauderdale College was the first college football program in Broward County. The Seagulls were awarded the National Collegiate Football Association Independent Conference Division Championship Trophy for the 1978-1979 football season. Ken was recognized in a book written by Cynthia A. Thuma "Sports Lauderdale, Big Names and Big Games. A  Sports Enthusiast's Guide to Broward County, Florida published in 2007.

Ken received his Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision from Nova Southeastern University in 1986. He received his Ph.D from Columbia Pacific University. Ken went into high school administration. He started the first model train clubs at South Area Alternative School, Seminole Middle School, and South Plantation High School With the help of many during a five year period  he ran twenty train shows at South Plantation High School. 

Ken served as President of the Southern Division of the Train Collectors Association of America (TCA), he is a member of Toy Train Operation Society (TTOS), Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA), and National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), and locally belongs to the Tradewinds & Atlantic Railroad. He supports the different groups because he feels they contribute to the toy train hobby. Ken is the founding and current President of the Florida Citrus Model Train Society which was established in 1999. They have focused on Kids and Trains. Ken quotes, “Kids are the lifeline of our toy train hobby”. Ken has quite an extensive model train display at his home. 

He has been on the board of directors of the Broward County Fair and has run the "Special Needs Kid's Day" for over 30 years. He assisted with the first ever Special Olympics in Broward County at South Broward High School where he was the head track & field coach.  Ken served as President of the Greater Hollywood Jaycees. Under his guidance the Jaycees had a youth oriented portfolio and received the “Henry Giesenbier Trophy”, the highest award a chapter can achieve. The Hollywood Jaycees were recognized as the most outstanding Jaycee Chapter in the State of Florida. They also won the “Parade of Clubs” which is an accumulation of points during the year. Ken was presented the Jaycee International (JCI) Senate Award (#18506) which is the highest award a club can give to a member. He also received the Outstanding Jaycee President Award, and served as Chairman of the State and National “Project of the Year Award”, Youth track and field Summer Program in which 6,000 children participated in 24 track meets at three different locations over an 8 week period during the summer months. He served as President of the Hollywood Optimist Club in 1976-1977 the club sponsored six football teams, twelve baseball teams, four soccer teams, three cheerleading squads, speech and oratorical contests, bicycle safety, etc. Ken taught a class for little league football coaches "Teaching Techniques and Fundamentals of Coaching Football”. The class was taught through Nova Community Night School in the evening during the spring of 1975 and 1976. The Hollywood Optimist Club sponsored the first "Optimist Bowl" or “Runner Up Bowl” in Broward County. The concept was for high school players to gain visibility with college coaches in town recruiting athletes during the state playoffs. The first game was between Miramar High School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School and was played November 27, 1976.  The Optimist Club sponsored the Christmas Classic Track Meet. Four Olympic athletes participated in the meet, (the most famous being Edwin Moses) the 400 meter Olympic Hurdles Champion. Ken received an “Outstanding Optimist President Award” at the Annual Awards Banquet. He also served as Lieutenant Governor, Zone 15, Florida Optimists, 1979-1980.  Ken was President of the Youth Affairs Board, City of Hollywood. When Ken was Assistant Principal at Boyd Anderson High School he served on the board of directors of Parents for a Drug Free Youth and on May 11, 1990 as chairman he organized a Drug Prevention Rally (Just Say No to Drugs) for elementary school children. Seventy seven elementary schools participated in the program at Boyd Anderson High School. 

Ken is certified to teach Operation LifeSaver throughout the United States and Canada. Operation LifeSaver in their Florida Jaurary 2013 "Keeping Track" publication awarded Ken as "Top Presenter" in the State of Florida for 2012. Ken has presented the Operation LifeSaver program to students and adults at various schools, clubs, fairs, museums, libraries, etc.

Ken & Saralyn attended the Southwestern College, located in Winfield, Kansas

Builder Homecoming & The Class of 1964 50th Reunion Anniversary Celebration, October 3 - 5, 2014.

As you see Ken is very involved in athletics, community service, education and model trains.

Pratt community college

Pratt, Kansas

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Pratt community college

athletic Hall of fame induction

april 13, 2013

April 13, 2013 Pratt Comminity College Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

(L-R) Krystal McCorgary, James Lemley, Ken Sargeant, Joe Searles, Jennifer Paynter, Bill Larson

Class of 1964
southwestern college

builder homecoming

50th anniversary reunion

october 3 - 5, 2014

Saturday October 4, 2014  (L-R) Ken & Saralyn Sargeant standing in front of the "Convention & Tourism Trolley" just before being featured in the "Builder Homecoming Parade" on Main Street, Winfield, Kansas. This was the Class of 1964 50th Anniversary Reunion, October 3 - 5, 2014

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SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE 

50 YEAR CLASS reUNION

OCTOBER 3 - 5, 2014

Friday, July 21, 2017  (L-R)  Kris, Kylie, Melissa, Kaiden, Saralyn, Ken, Rick, Karen, Drew, Avery, Zach Sargeant having a "Sargeant Family Dinner" at "Aruba's Restaurant" located in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida

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bimini Boatyard resturant

fort lauderdale, Florida

july 22, 2017

Saturday, July 22, 2017  (L-R)  Kaiden, Melissa, Avery, Karen, Kylie, Saralyn, Ken, Rick, Drew, Zach, Kris Sargeant having a "Sargeant Family Dinner" at "Bimini Boatyard Restaurant" located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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plantation historical museum

Plantation, Florida

August 17, 2017

Thursday, August 17, 2017  (L-R)  Kaiden, Saralyn, Ken, Kylie Sargeant at the Plantation Historical Museum where the Florida Citrus Model Train Society are featuring  "N", "O", "HO", "G" Scale Model Train Layouts.

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018  Ken Sargeant standing by his two modules on the "O" Scale Layout at the Westfield Broward Mall in Plantation, Florida. The "Grand Opening" will be Saturday, June 16, 2018. Other members participating today were:  Bill Tessar, Debbie Tessar, John Faso, Dan McMurtrie, Bob Balog, John Michna, Lenny Victor  (8)

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Sunday, April 21, 2019 (L-R) Andrew, Karen, Avery, Zach, Rick Sargeant together before church on "Easter Sunday".

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June 8, 2019 (L-R) Andrew, Karen, Zach, Rick, Avery Sargeant in Copperstown New York at Dreams Park. Their team the CBC Riverhawks went 5-1 in Pool play and 1-1 in Bracket play with over 20 home runs, including 3 Grand Slams. The two losses were 1-0 in Pool play and 2-1 in Bracket play. Drew batted an amazing 375 for the Tournament. Fantastic! Great Season Boys!! Each player and coach will be immortalized by being inducted into the prestigious American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame where they will be enshrined. Cooperstown Dreams Park team members will be awarded the coveted American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame ring - like the champions before them - and granted membership into this distinguished baseball club.

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Friday, December 27, 2019 (L-R) Rick, Zach, Andrew, Kaiden, Saralyn, Kylie, Ken, Melissa and Kris Sargeant together outside "Rob's Family BBQ" after a "Sargeant Family Dinner" in Davie, Florida.

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AVERY SARGEANT

Our Granddaughter Avery Sargeant announced a verbal commitment to attend Georgia Southern University on a swimming athletic scholarship. Avery is in her senior year of high school in Jacksonville. She is the captain of the girls swimming team. Avery states  "I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Georgia Southern University! I am so thankful for my family, teammates, and coaches that have supported me through the process!  Go Eagles!!! 

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, 2022  Saralyn & Ken Sargeant in Freeport, Rhode Island. My wonderful wife Saralyn is a Super Mother, Excellent Grandmother, Best Friend, Advisor, Chef, Physician, Homemaker. Takes an interest in my model train hobby. She is intelligent and considerate, and living with me is a difficult task. God Bless You. Your loving husband, Ken.

Saturday, June 4, 2022 (L-R) Rick, Zachary, Karen, Andrew, Avery, Kaiden, Kylie, Melissa, Ken, Kristopher, Saralyn Sargeant. We had a Sargeant gathering for dinner tonight.

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Sport Lauderdale, Big Names and Big Games

A Sports Enthusiast's Guide to Broward County, Florida

Written by

Cynthia A. Thuma

Broward County, Florida's location, its climate and the facilities it offers athletes make it a natural training ground for winners in a variety of sports. Broward County is a hotbed for athletic activity. From serious sluggers to hard-charging halfbacks, Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding area have produced superstars in a wide variety of sports—even ice skating and hockey. Featuring over thirty photographs of phenomenal area athletes, this fun, accessible history details the story of nearly every sport to touch the field, court, and ice of Broward County, covering youth and high school teams, NCAA and NJCAA, as well as professional teams. Golf pros, tennis aces, super swimmers and even the stars of soapbox derby all share some time in the sun in Sport Lauderdale.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

             Dr. Ken Sargeant , a former high school football coach and administrator who also served as athletic director and football coach at Fort Lauderdale College, graciously shared memories of his forty years in Broward sports. 

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1

a sence of place

SPORT  LAUDERDALE:  BIG  NAMES AND BIG  GAMES

HOLLYWOOD

Boggs Field:  Named for city comissioner Lester Boggs, the park was the home of the Fort Lauderdale College's men's baseball program for two seasons in the late 70's. The college chose the Hollywood location because it's athletic director, Ken Sargeant had worked for Hollywood's recreation department. 

     "I got Fred Ferrara to coach, " Sargeant said. "He was a Yankees' scout at the time. We played our games at Boggs Field and I got Ed Plaisted (longtime sports editor of the Hollywood Sun-Tattler) to umpire, so I knew the games would get in the paper."

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3

Football

SPORT  LAUDERDALE:  BIG  NAMES AND BIG  GAMES

     But Florida Atlantic wasn't the first college to call Lockhart Stadium home for its football program. That honor goes to the Seagulls of Fort Lauderdale College, who played out of Lockhart Stadium for two seasons in the late 70's.

     Drake College, a proprietary business college esablished in 1940, changed its name to Fort Lauderdale College in 1976. To stimulate enrollment, the school announced it would offer a football program under the guidance of its Canadian-born athletic director and football coach Ken Sargeant. Sargeant, who also was football coach a Nova High School, had approached Bill Markham, chair of Fort Lauderdale College's governing board, and convinced him an athletic program was what the school needed.

Markham and his board accepted the proposal, hiring Sargeant as athletic director and football coach.

     "We recruited sixty kids and set up a ten-game season," Sargeant said, "I set up the program, sold the ads. We even ran a carnival to raise money."

     The Seagulls went 7-2-1 in their first season, losing only to Florida State's junior varsity and Mars Hill College. Among the victories were

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Football

SPORT  LAUDERDALE:  BIG  NAMES AND BIG  GAMES

Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, St. Leo College (twice), Baptist Christian College and two games aganist junior varisty teams. The tie was a 30-30 deadlock against the University of Miami junior varsity. The victory over Fort Benning was particularly satisfying, Sargeant said. 

     "They wouldn't travel, so we had to go up to Georgia," he said". They hadn't lost a game in two years and we went up and upset them, 13-2."

     The Seagulls' first season was glorious, and topped off with two players named to the National Collegiate Football Association's All-Amerian squad.

The Seagulls were named the NCFA's Independent Conference Champion for 1978-79. The program played most of its home games at Lockhart Stadium, but not all. 

     "I remenber we played a few at South Broward because I had gone to South Broward, " Sargeant said.  "We played a lot of games on the road, too." The Seagulls played a second season, then stored away their blue-and gold jerseys forever.

     Immediately before the start of the Fort Lauderdale College football program, and again in the late 1980s , Sargeant was at the forefront in an effort to bring football to Florida's community colleges. In the mid-70s, Broward Community College and Miami Dade Community College's North and South Campuses started tackle football clubs. 

     "We did it all in the spring. That was the concept, he said. "I had the team at BCC. We couldn't call the team Seahorses, so we called them the Sharks. We used Nova's field and equipment, which was good because we were so close. We had two jamborees and then played two games. In those two games, Broward's unofficial squad beat Dade North, 16-14, and Dade South, 13-0.

     In 1989 Sargeant and others took the matter to the community colleges. Backing the pro-football effort were former Miami Dolphins Manny Fernandez and Earl Moral. The pro football forces laid out their plans for the media at a press coference at the Old Heidelberg Restaurant in Hollywood.  

     Leading the anti-football forces was former Governor LeRoy Collins, architect of Florida's junior college system, who convinced the colleges the cost of adding football teams was too great. The proposal was rejected.  

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to be continued