February 2026
source: Zachary Davis, Flying Queens Museum
To celebrate In Their Own Words: Stories from Hale County exhibit, we would like to share another story straight from a Flying Queen. Jamie Horacek-Rodriguez played from 1978-82, the following is her account of the events that lead to her joining the Flying Queens:
“I had a successful career at Elgin High School as a forward playing six-on-six, half-court basketball. Our team made it into the area playoffs each year and my junior year we went into the quarter finals of the state playoffs. Unfortunately, I began my senior year with a ruptured ovarian cyst and couldn’t play for several weeks after the surgery. I was able to complete my senior year as an All State West player. I had a former teammate from Elgin who was playing at a junior college, Murry State College in Tishomingo Oklahoma. Thinking I would like to play with my former teammate, I signed a letter of intent with this program. Not long after that signing, I receive a phone call from Shena Cooper. As Coach Weese’s assistant coach, she invited me for a weekend visit to try out for Wayland Baptist College.
Now, to say I was very shy is an understatement. All my high school days I dreamed of being a Flying Queen. My entire family, excited of the prospect of my playing for Wayland, loaded into a van and drove about five hours to Plainview Texas. When we arrived, I refused to get out. My whole family went into the gym without me. The next thing I knew, sweet Shena was there to say “hi” and coaxed me to come into the gym. I was terrified! I met the other players trying out and got to shoot the basketball around a bit. By the end of the weekend, I was offered a partial scholarship to Wayland, and I never looked back!”
If you would like to hear more stories from the history of Hale County and see the artifacts that accompany them come visit us at the Mabee Regional Heritage Center. You can read the rest of Jamie’s story at: https://www.flyingqueensfoundation.com/…/jamie-horacek…/
(This was written by Zachary Davis)