Some who don't know how the Monticello Public Schools sports teams got their Monticello Ponies name tend to scoff at the "Ponies" name with comments like, "Ha, the school isn't big enough to be called the Stallions, Mustangs, or other equine related names," have nary a clue that the Ponies name is one given of respect for one of their former basketball coaches and much respected long-time teacher, John Ponyicsanyi.

What began as a simple request from Mark Olson, the current Monticello Ponies basketball coach, to Jack Ponyicsanyi, son of John, "Do you have any of your dad's old score books f...