In "Leading By Example," Billy Turner of the Times-Picayune writes a loving tribute to high school coach Geraldine 'Jelly' Pigott who, this Saturday, will finally be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

The times were different, the game was different and the athletes were different.

But one thing always was the same for Geraldine "Jelly" Pigott, who coached high school basketball in the 1950s and '60s. Winning never changed. It was a product of discipline and hard work.

Pigott certainly did more than her share of winning, too. She won six state girls basketball titles and finished second three times in 18 seasons at Jena High School. Though the total is unknown, most reports have her victory total at more than 900.

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I had older sisters who played for her, and she was the same all the way through," [former player Kay] Smith said. "She taught us so much about life. The drills were not just flashy, they had a reason for all of them. She taught us how to lose, as well, we just didn't do it very often. I'm not bragging, that's just the way it was.

"Back then, all the publicity went to the football team, which didn't even have a winning team. But with her, I do believe she put Jena on the map.