Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 2-24-17

Feature
Legendary Coach To Be Recognized And 1973 All-Star Team To Be Honored
COACH BILLY REED ... Honoree
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Saturday, February 25th, the Belmont Heights Alumni Association will host the “Coach Billy Reed Lead- ership Fundraiser Dinner.” The event will take place at the Cyrus Greene Commu- nity Center, beginning at 6 p.m.
This year, the dinner will honor Coach Billy Reed and reunite members of the 1973 All-Star Baseball Team. Members of that team were: Darryl Mitchell, Harold Murphy, Michael Welch, Anthony Gervin, C. Blythe Andrews, III, Al- bert Jenkins, Brice Mad- dox, Darwin McNish, Lemuel James, George
ARTIS GAMBRELL, JR. President of Belmont Heights Little League
Crum, Steward Gaines, Bobbie Graham, Quinton Kincey, the late Cleo Stin- yard, and the late Marlon James.
The team was the first to win the national crown and placed third in the world in the Little League arena.
Their coaches, who will also be recognized were Coach Robert Allen and the late Coach Ezekiel Thomas.
The purpose of the dinner is to raise needed funds to help with providing funds for low-income registration fee assistance, background checks, and baseball equip- ment.
The Belmont Heights Lit- tle League was created to provide a place for young
ALLEN ROUSE President of Belmont Heights Alumni Association
African American boys to play baseball in 1968. As the organization continues its purpose, it holds different events throughout the year.
There will be two events held Saturday. At 10 a.m., at Middleton High School, the Coaches and Parents Clinic will take place.
Coach Reed has coached Major League Base- ball players Dwight Gooden, Gary Sheffield, Derek Bell, Floyd Youman, Carl Everett, Kiki Jones, Vance Lovelace, and many others.
The second event is the dinner that will take place later that evening.
A retired educator, Coach Reed is a graduate of Middleton High School,
BELMONT HEIGHTS ALL-STAR TEAM 1973 ... Honorees
where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He continued his education at Florida A & M University, where he became an out- standing athlete there as well. Coach Reed is also a FAMU Sports Hall of Fame inductee. He is also one of the founders of the Belmont Heights Little League.
Belmont Heights Alumni Association President Allen Rouse said, “The choice to honor Billy Reed and the 1973 All-Star Team is overdue.”
Reggie White, Events Manager for the Belmont Heights Alumni Association said, “It’s an honor to sup- port the people who give so much to make our East Tampa community.”
Artis Gambrell, Jr.,
President of the Belmont Heights Little League said, “Our league has always sup- ported single mothers and families who may not always have the finances to join a youth program.”
The organization extends an invitation to all parents and coaches to get involved as coaches or boosters. Any coaches planning to partici- pate must complete a back- ground check as mandated by the State of Florida.
To obtain more informa- tion about the Clinic, contact Mrs. Katrina House at (813) 650-1182.
For more information about the dinner, contact Reggie White at (813) 471- 7423.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017