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Gym should bear names of Sewell, Maxey and Booth
Published Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Dear editor,
In 2002, I presented a petition to the Selma City School Board with more than 200 signatures requesting that the Selma High gymnasium be named the Booth-Sewell-Maxey gymnasium.
I recently learned the gymnasium would be named the Sewell-Maxey gymnasium and the Booth name would be left off. The late coach James Booth opened doors for African-American coaches at Selma High School. Yes, coach Booth was white, but he was right and fair.
It just wouldn’t be fair to leave coach Booth’s name off. Booth did more for black kids in the 70s that’s being done for black kids now. I grew up listening to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. not on the television or radio but on my front porch (322-B G.W.C. Homes), and I learned from one of Dr. King’s sermons three small words: “Right is right.”
Bruce L. Holmes Sr.
Selma
Comments
Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on July 24, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bruce you keep telling it. They may not listen to you, which won't make you wrong or them right!
Posted by pwsmith (anonymous) on July 27, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a former student of Selma High and I think it would be an honor to have the gym named after Coaches Sewell and Maxey. Both were great coaches. I don't remember coach Booth but if he was instrumental in getting the Africian American coaches some recognition or helping in the transition then by all means include him too.
Posted by Todd (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coach Maxey and Sewell I remember vividly and deserve whatever honor that's given. No disrespect to Coach Booth I was in Selma until 6 year after graduating high school, moved away in 1979. If a person has done that much for African Americans give him his share. But why I did not know about Coach Booth is baffling. Right is right Mr Holmes.
Posted by allmylife (anonymous) on August 7, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is doing something for blacks a qualifier for inclusion??
Posted by bb (anonymous) on August 11, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHO IS COACH BOOTH? I ASKED A FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER FOR THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 1971 AND WHO ALSO PLAYED FOOT BALL FOR PARRISH HIGH BEFORE WE (BLACKS)CAME TO SELMA HIGH IN 1970-71 AND HE DOES NOT KNOW HIM SO HE COULD NO HAVE BEEN THAT GREAT A HELP TO SEWELL AND MAXEY SINCE THEY CAME THEY AT THE SAME TIME WE DID; 1970-71. (IT WAS STILL PARRISH HIGH IN 1969-1970)
Posted by bb (anonymous) on August 11, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHO IS COACH BOOTH? I ASKED A FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER FOR THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 1971 AND WHO ALSO PLAYED FOOT BALL FOR PARRISH HIGH BEFORE WE (BLACKS)CAME TO SELMA HIGH IN 1970-71 AND HE DOES NOT KNOW HIM SO HE COULD NO HAVE BEEN THAT GREAT A HELP TO SEWELL AND MAXEY SINCE THEY CAME THERE AT THE SAME TIME WE DID; 1970-71. (IT WAS STILL PARRISH HIGH IN 1969-1970)
Posted by mfk2 (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember Coach Booth very well.. He was an outstanding young man..
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