Linda Yearby Road unveiled to honor Spencer County basketball alum

MIDWAY, Ind. (WEHT) — Spencer County- Native Linda Yearby is being recognized for the impact she’s made on women in sports. People can officially travel to Midway to see Linda Yearby Road.

Midway Grade School was home to Linda Yearby in the 1950’s. Yearby’s passion for basketball, but lack of female opportunities, led her to try out for the boys team; She made the team.

Almost 70 years later, her accomplishments and impact birthed the unveiling of Linda Yearby Road.

“It was actually a phone call from Faith Fairhope on September 27th, which happened to be Linda’s birthday as well as mine. It didn’t hurt to see if we could get the other commissioners,” says Spencer County Commissioner Heather Gries.

Her time on the Midway Men’s Basketball Team was 22 years before title nine was signed. Title 9 is a law that bans sex-based discrimination in sports.

Since then, Yearby coached and fought for the rights of an all-black women’s team called the New York Harlem Chicks. She also played professionally all over the world for the Texas Cow Girls and Arkansas Lassies.

Yearby traveled in from Florida for the big day and also attended a reception with friends, community members and teammates.

“It’s brought her back home. That’s what I love. I think that was missing, and she didn’t maybe even realize how much. When she left in 1954 after graduation, she never lived here again. So, to her, you know, it’s just been so exciting to reconnect,” says Faith Fairhope, the owner of the Midway Grade School property.

The basketball player says she’s shocked by what her own determination has inspired over the years. She says she hopes it’s a lesson for every woman.
“Look how much the WNBA has improved. Pick out the game you wanna play and be determined to play the game. See, I played all these games all while having asthma. I was determined that I was gonna play basketball,” says Yearby.

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