The Daily Sentinel July 3, 2003
By: Brent Miller

One former Scottsboro Wildcat has been remembered recently by a locker sponsorship program promoted by the Scottsboro Quarterback Club.

Halfback Wayne “Choo-Choo” Treece, a Wildcat from 1959-1961, was honored when one of the newly installed lockers at Trammell Stadium was sponsored in his name.

Treece is most remembered for his performance during the 1961 football season in a game against Emma Sansom High School. During that game, Treece scored five touchdowns, tying Howard Parsons with the most touchdowns in a single game.

Those five touchdowns by Wayne Treece were scored on 7-yard, 9-yard, 24-yard, 4-yard and 38-yard runs. Parsons scored his five touchdowns in 1933.

Growing up in the logging business, Treece was bigger and stronger than the average halfback, or any player for that matter. One local resident, Stanley Schmoller, remembered several games when Treece ruled the playing field. “Nothing could stop the Choo-Choo except a red flag.” said Schmoller. “He wasn’t the fastest player, but he was big and strong.” And in a sport where pain is part of the game, Treece went through his fair share. After missing a game near the middle of the season, Treece was instructed by his doctor to not play the following Friday due to a kidney problem. Treece did as the doctor ordered, and watched the game from the stands. But as Scottsboro began to fall further behind, coaches, players and fans wanted the “Choo-Choo” on the field. Treece went down from the stands, pulled on a jersey and hit the field. On the next play of the game, Treece took the kickoff and returned it for a touchdown. Once Scottsboro was back on it feet score wise, Choo-Choo slipped away into the stands to watch the Wildcats win the game.

“In the game against Emma Sansom in ‘61, Wayne proved his strength,” said Schmoller. “He was running for a touchdown and one of the Emma Sansom players jumped on Treece’s back. With the ball wrapped tight inside one arm, he reached back and with the other arm and pulled the player around under the other arm and carried him and the ball across the goal line. It was truly a sight to be seen.”

Choo-Choo Treece signed a scholarship with the University of Alabama, but never played for the Crimson Tide. Instead, he continued the logging business, which had grown Treece into the player he became.