06/15/2026
The Deckard-Woodlee-Pelton Courage Award is an annual honor presented as part of the All Texomaland Awards. It recognizes a local student athlete from the Texoma region who has demonstrated exceptional resilience, perseverance, and bravery in the face of significant adversity. This year’s Deckard-Woodlee-Pelton Courage award was presented to our very own Lady Panther softball player, and first baseman/pitcher Natalie Lamb.
Nat was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma at the age of 12. For most of us who have never heard of Medulloblastoma, it is a fast growing cancerous brain tumor that starts in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance and coordination. Most commonly in children, it is the most prevalent malignant brain tumor in the pediatric population, accounting for about 15% to 20% of all childhood central nervous system cancers.
Our sweet Nat went through almost a year of treatment that included chemotherapy and radiation. But throughout it all, she remained strong and wanted nothing more than to get back to her favorite sport of softball. Her mom expressed that Nat has been blessed with a great support system along with great coaches both in travel ball and high school. Nat plans to study nursing at Grayson County College to become a pediatric oncology nurse, because she wants to give back and help children just like her nurses helped her through the most difficult time in her life.
The Deckard-Woodlee-Pelton Award was named after three North Central Texas College (NCTC) softball players who tragically lost their lives in a 2014 bus accident - Brooke Deckard from Blue Ridge, Katelyn Woodlee from Dodd City, and Jaiden Pelton from Sam Rayburn. By naming the courage award after these players, the community and Herald-Democrat honors their legacy by lifting up other young athletes who display the same fighting spirit and determination in the face of life-altering challenges.