The real Herman "Ike" Boone, the football coach of "Remember the Titans" fame, will speak Wednesday, March 27 at a fund-raiser for the Perry/Yokley Family Development Center. Boone was portrayed by actor Denzel Washington in the Disney movie.
The event is at 6 p.m. at the Merced County Fairgrounds Pavilion. Admission, which includes a dinner catered by Santa Nella’s Pea Soup Andersen Restaurant, is $25 per person.
The Perry/Yokley Family Development Center (PYFDC) is a small, community-based, non-profit family service center sponsored by the Mount Pisgah A.M.E. Zion Church, near the Center at 8th and Canal Streets.
The Center’s motto is "If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me," according to Vancy Bulluck, chairman of the Center’s board of directors. To encourage Merced County youth to adopt this motto to prepare for the future, the theme for Coach Boone’s appearance is "Taking Control of My Future."
"Remember the Titans," released in 2000 and based in part on Boone’s inspirational coaching experience in Alexandria, Va., became a hit film and turned Boone into a celebrity.
"Since the movie came out he has become very famous and very much in demand as a speaker," said Bulluck. "I heard him speak this summer and he is quite inspiring." It turns out that Bulluck and Boone are both natives of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and both attended Booker T. Washington High School. "He is a high school classmate of mine, but I really didn’t know him very well because he was two years younger. I had not seen him since high school days, he went one way and I went the other."
But the two got to know each other at a high school alumni gathering last summer, Bulluck said. Boone agreed to work a trip to Merced into his busy speaking schedule.
Boone was born in 1935 and was one of 12 children. After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, he earned his bachelor of arts and masters degrees at North Carolina College in Durham. A natural athlete, he decided to become a teacher and coach so he could motivate youngsters.
After 13 years of coaching championship football teams in segregated Black schools, he was offered the challenge of coaching in an integrated school system. In 1971, the City of Alexandria decided to totally integrate its school system and appointed Boone as its first consolidated head football coach of students from three high schools. He was able to solidify a diverse coaching staff and an unfocused group of players into a powerful football team. The Titans completed a perfect season and won the Virginia AAA state championship.
To get the most benefit from Coach Boone’s visit to Merced, the PYFDC is hosting a symposium consisting of four weekly sessions for youth groups titled "Targeting Life Skills Development." Up to 300 participating youth will receive a certificate of completion and free tickets to the evening event. All participating groups will be recognized by Boone with an autographed picture at the dinner.
The Perry/Yokley Family Development Center is soliciting donations and sponsorships to provide the free tickets to young people. More than 230 youths from nine other organizations are registered to participate.
"Proceeds from the fund-raiser will be used to develop the growth and effectiveness of the PYFDC," Bulluck said. The Center’s primary focus is "educationally-enhanced" after-school child care for children from 4 years, nine months through 12 years. "We work with kids to make sure their homework is completed and in the areas where they show weaknessses academically."
To reserve a table for eight persons, or for more information, contact the center at 723-3898. Tickets also are available for sale at The Christian Connection, 661 Fairfield Dr., Merced Mall, the Merced Mall Customer Service Desk and Spriggs Stationery, 928 W. Main St.
For information about Merced County Fairgrounds facilities, call the fair office at 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773.
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