On a stroll through the Port Arthur News advertising department Tuesday morning, Ed Kestler happened to mention to me how much he enjoyed Sunday’s feature on Gary Hammond. Our Georgia-reared publisher, Roger Underwood, was standing nearby and mentioned that he never ceases to be amazed at the number of highly successful athletes whose roots are in Port Arthur.

Nobody is more amazed or has benefited from that fact more than the guy writing this column. To be sports editor for 37 years in a town with such an incredible roster of athletic talent is nirvana. Being able to trumpet the exploits of most of those individuals has been an incredible bonus in a job most of you don’t consider work.

Only last week, our Tom Halliburton celebrated the accomplishments of one of Port Arthur’s best stories — Lincoln ex Stephen Jackson. What the Golden State Warriors star has accomplished in the past few years, while totally rebuilding his image , is truly inspirational.

So is the way he’s giving back to his hometown.

Jackson, of course, is just one of many success stories who make Port Arthur arguably No. 1 in professional sports bragging rights over any city in America of comparable size, as well as many larger cities. Those who have taken the time to tour the Museum of the Gulf Coast know exactly what I’m talking about.

One of the reasons I run a Best of West column every Friday is to help educate today’s generation on those from Southeast Texas who made sports headlines 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago. Last Friday, it was Goose Gonsoulin. This Friday, it will be Earl Evans.

As far as I’m concerned it’s history anyone and everyone from this area should be familiar with and embrace.

Who, for instance, other than the old timers, knows that a TJ graduate named Marty Fleckman led the 1967 U.S. Open golf tournament after 54 holes. As an amateur, no less. Fleckman was overtaken by nerves and Jack Nicklaus on the final day, but went on to win his first PGA Tour event (Cajun Classic) and nearly won the 1968 PGA in San Antonio.

How many realize that the first player from Port Arthur to sport a Super Bowl ring was a former Lincoln great named Aaron Brown? Brown was not just a bit player, either. He was an All-AFC defensive end on the Kansas City Chiefs team that stunned the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.

How about the night in the early ‘90s in Houston when two Port Arthurans faced off on the Astrodome pitching mound? TJ’s Xavier Hernandez was the pitcher of record for the Astros, while Lincoln’s Chuck McElroy got the decision for the Chicago Cubs. How many times has something like that happened?

Football, naturally, has been the sport where Port Arthur players made the greatest impact. By this count, a total of 26 of the city’s high school standouts have played in the NFL. Some were stars, others were role players, but the bottom line is an inordinate amount of Bumblebees, Yellow Jackets, Eagles and Titans reached the highest level.

Of those 26 in the NFL, Lincoln provided an astounding 15. Brown and sensational running back Little Joe Washington (Redskins) were the best, but neither could match Tim McKyer’s (49ers, Broncos) three Super Bowl rings. Washington did get one ring, as did linebacker Bobby Leopold (49ers).

With consolidation of high schools in Port Arthur, Lincoln’s pipeline to the NFL is about to dry up. Jordan Babineaux (Seahawks) and his brother Jonathan (Falcons) are the last ones who will carry the purple and gold banner in the NFL.

TJ, meanwhile, put eight of its graduates into pro football, with Gonsoulin the biggest achiever as a player. Goose was a perennial all AFL selection and is in Denver’s Ring of Fame. Hammond certainly had his moments with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Yellow Jackets’ last player in the NFL was Kevin Everett, who was both a tragic and inspirational figure. Everett, on the verge of becoming Buffalo’s starting tight end, suffered a paralyzing injury in the 2007 season opener, then went on to make a miraculous recovery that led to a book, numerous TV appearances and an enduring legacy.