JOHNSTON - Billy Hall's legs don't carry him around quite as swiftly as they once did. But he flew (quite literally) across the country to see his former Johnston High School teammates again on Friday for the first time in a number of years at the 48th and 50th reunions, respectively, of a pair of state championship football teams. Hall was a member of the 1959 state championship Bears football team that defeated highly regarded St. Matthews in a 7-0 defensive struggle. The Bears scored in the second quarter, capping an 11-play, 82-yard scoring drive with Sonny Yonce scampering around left end for a 23-yard touchdown - the eventual game-winning score. The Bears also won the state championship in 1957. Hall - who lives in new Mexico - remembers those days with a fondness time will never touch. “Those were the best times,” he said. “We were significant underdogs in both of those ballgames. Both of those other teams were supposed to be the best in the state, but it turned out they didn't quite have enough.” The teams were coached by head coach Vernon Dusenbury and assisted by Lamar Malphrus. Members of the Dusenbury family were in attendance at Friday's reunion, as well as Coach Malphrus, former Johnston High School Principal Marvin English and cheerleaders from both teams. “If I was able to get here I was going to come,” Hall said of the long trip. “I wouldn't have missed this for anything in the world. I have a lot of roots in this town.”