Daniel Elizondo, Editor
Posted: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 4:42 pm

Curtis Buckley (far left) and Mark Henry (far right) accepted their certificates from former coaches Charlie Woodard (second from left) and Wayne Riley. - Photo by Brent Guidry

Former Silsbee athletes Curtis “Chick” Buckley and Mark Henry were inducted into the Silsbee Wall of Honor in a ceremony held at halftime on Friday during the Tigers’ game against Livingston.

Buckley, who first played undrafted for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also played professional football until 2001 when he retired due to injuries.

Henry, who is best known as the “heavy weight world champion” in the WWE, made his mark in Silsbee as the strongest man.

The two were honored with an afternoon reception at Silsbee High School on Friday prior to game time.

“This is a great deal to come back to my hometown,” said Buckley. “Silsbee produces greatness with great coaches and a great strength program.”

After graduation from Silsbee, Buckley attended Kilgore Junior College before transferring to Texas A&M Commerce.

He is slated to be inducted into the East Texas State Hall of Fame.

Henry became an all-time powerlifting champion while at Silsbee and also played football and was a member of the track team.

“This means the world to me,” said Henry. “I love being from where I’m from and that is Silsbee.”
Henry currently holds the longest tenured wrestler in the WWE with 16 1/2 years in the organization.

Prior to his wrestling career, he became an olympian and competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic games in weightlifting.

Henry plans on giving back to Silsbee with a $25,000 trust fund.

“I’ve always wanted to do a trust in my mother and grandmother’s name,” added Henry. “I don’t want to do this because of the monetary value, but for what Silsbee means to me.”

Buckley currently lives in Dallas and is a mentor for youth and adolescents. Henry currently lives in Austin and continues his career in the WWE.

Former coaches Charlie Woodard and Wayne Riley presented Buckley and Henry with their Wall of Honor plaques at the football game.