Hall of Fame Worthy

This past weekend I was at Grambling State University accepting my late father’s induction into the Sports Legends Hall of Fame as a contributor.   It was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had.   It has been 13 years since I have been on the campus and seen many friends, classmates, and former co-workers of my father.  He was a 1963 graduate of Grambling and a member of an historical 1961 team that won the NAIA National Championship led by eventual NBA World Champion and Basketball Hall of Famer Willis Reed.  He worked at the University in three different capacities lastly as Athletic Director replacing his former basketball coach Fred Hobdy.  

Grambling meant more to him than it just being his alma mater.   While living in Washington, DC he was a very active alumnus and wanted to contribute Grambling anyway he could.  He started the alumni chapter in Washington, DC and organized fundraisers.  Anyone he met that went to Grambling he embraced like he had known them for years.  I always wondered why Grambling meant so much to him, it was more than just being his alma mater.   Hillary Bossier, who was a baseball inductee in the 2013 class, attended Grambling when my father did.  Over breakfast he mentioned he knew my father lost both of his parents before he turned four years old and that he told him that Grambling was family to him.  That brief conversation brought everything full circle for me.  It was bigger than just where he received his college education and why those relationships with many classmates he kept for a lifetime.  Why he took the time to explain the historical context of many of the Grambling graduates and what they accomplished in sports and the impact it had on society.  That regardless of where someone attended college that they could be successful person and contribute to society. 

I am a proud graduate of Hampton University and appreciate my experience there more and more over the years.  I must admit from an athletic standpoint no Historically Black Institution has the history of Grambling.  Just sitting at a meeting over the weekend I was in a room with three men who won Super Bowls with Doug Williams (Redskins), Willie Brown (Raiders), and James “Shack’ Harris (Ravens, Executive).  During the banquet Willis Reed (Knicks) and Larry Wright (Bullets) were NBA Champions.  Coach Eddie Robinson won more games than any other college coach when he retired just to name a few accomplishments.  The Grambling “G” has universal recognition from the marching band and success of many of their football teams and players’ success after Grambling.  A truth that many do not like to hear or realize is that athletic success does more to help a university than academic success does to help athletics.  A lesson I learned from my father growing up.   It is well documented that enrollment and revenues increases when athletics are successful, which helps the academics at institutions such as facilities and programs.  Whether you’re a sports fan or not, when your respective alma mater has athletic success there is a sense of pride and accomplishment.    An example is the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.  When a school makes a successful run alumni proudly boast about their school's success. 

Over the years since my father has passed I have met people from every period in his life.   All of them loved him and in their own way and appreciated something he did for them.  It could be as simple as calling their child on their birthday every year.  Assisting one of the players he coached make a college choice when they were not even considering attending college before playing for him.  Those that were fortunate to meet him will agree that he was truly one of a kind.  Charismatic, funny, brilliant, and loving are just a few adjectives.   Whether it was his hometown of Rayville, LA or Grambling he never forgot where he came from.  He took me to his hometown to meet people that impacted his life so I could have knowledge of his roots.  I remember one day we were in the store when I was about 10-11 years old and he told me whenever something happened to him that I would know my Daddy.  He kept his word!  Regardless of distance or circumstance nothing came between us and I am forever grateful.

It was appropriate that he was inducted as a contributor into the Sports Legends Hall of Fame because it cannot be quantified.  It was about the legacy left behind and impact on people they will always remember.  It has been almost 14 years since he passed and Grambling has taken numerous steps to acknowledge him.  An Endowed Professorship in the Physical Education Department, Memorial Golf Tournaments, and now Hall of Famer.   My desire is that his induction will inspire others to contribute in their own way to whatever his dear to them and leave a legacy behind because he was truly Hall of Fame worthy.