Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 10-29-19

Local
Angela Campbell-Harri- son, right, with Coach Hill.
On Saturday evening, Au- gust 10, 2019, retired girls’ bas- ketball coach Theophilus N. (T. N.) Hill, Jr., was cele- brated for his commitment to excellence by his former play- ers.
The women gathered at the historic Glover School in Bealsville to pay homage to their former coach at Tampa Bay Tech High School. Al- though the event was slated to be a roast, throughout the evening he heard the phrase, ‘Coach Hill, have we told you lately how much we love you?’ It was more of a program of
Basketball Coach ‘Roasted’ By Former Players
Mayor’s Youth Council To Host Substance Abuse Forum
The Mayor’s Youth Leader- ship Council will sponsor a forum on Wednesday, Novem- ber 6, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Barksdale Adult Activity Center, 1801 North Lincoln Avenue, in Macfarlane Park. The topic of the forum is: “Stop the Stigma: A Dialogue on Sub- stance Abuse, Prevention, and Rehabilitation.”
The event is free and open to the public. It is being offered to teenagers, parents, and other in- dividuals interested in obtaining information and education per- taining to substance abuse.
Speakers will discuss the causes, treatments and personal experiences relating to addiction as well as and how to be aware of this prevalent issue.
Anyone interested in attend- ing the forum is required to reg- ister by November 4, 2019. To register, contact Molly Biebel, City of Tampa Youth Develop- ment Coordinator, at (813) 274- 5909, or via email at molly.biebel@tampagov.net.
The Mayor’s Youth Leader- ship Council is a program of- fered by the City of Tampa. It allows teenagers the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and apply them through various service projects and event work- shops.
Right, former player, Rosina Wilkerson, is shown with Mrs. Chappella Hill, Coach Hill’s wife.
gratitude and appreciation than roasting.
Mr. Hill’s former players, at one time ranked among the top 10 best teams in the State of Florida, came together to honor their coach nearly 30 years later. Family, friends, colleagues and out of town guests joined them.
The players shared with tears of joy and gratitude of how their coach had enabled their athletic careers and framed their academic success for future careers. He had them to pursue rigorous aca- demic classes to prepare for
Standing on the bottom row are: from left, Andriene Holmes, Kendra Hightower, Coach T. N. Hill, Jr., Lisa Woodard, Chandra Cotton, La Sonya White Cole, Antionett Thomas and Ronald Wardlow. Standing on the top row: from left, Trenicia Williams, Angela Campbell-Harrison, Rosina Wilkerson, Shannon Richardson, and Tracey Wilson.
college entrance.
They were not only taught
the game of basketball, but the art of social graces and poise, and self-discipline.
Colleague Jimmy Smith and Assistant Coach Ronald Wardlow were there to attest to Coach Hill’s coaching style of maneuvering the players’ skill set, on the court and in the classroom.
One player said, “Nobody ever believed in me, but you told me to come out for basket- ball...and gave me a window into what I could become as a woman, mother and scholar.”
In their appreciative com- ments, the women also be- stowed accolades on Mrs. Chappella Hill (Coach Hill’s wife), who was their support and in some cases served as a “mother figure.”
In his comments of grati- tude to the women, Coach Hill also paid tribute to his wife as coach and mentor to his young team members. He thanked the women for believ- ing in him, saying, “You will al- ways be my stars.”
Hill says these young ladies were District Champions
in 1987, 1988, 1989; Western Conference Champions in 1989; and undefeated in con- ference play; Region Runner’s Up Champions in 1987, 1988 and 1989. The players were also selected as one of the top 5 best teams in Tampa in 1989. That year, he was named “Coach of the Year” by the Tampa Tribune. They left a mark in the annuals of Hills- borough County Girls’ Basket- ball.
PAGE 10 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019