Herman Boone

Herman Ike Boone (October 28, 1935 – December 18, 2019) was an American high school football coach who coached the 1971 T. C. Williams High School football team to a 13–0 season, state championship, and national championship runner-up. That season was the basis for the 2000 film Remember the Titans, in which Boone was portrayed by Denzel Washington.

Herman Boone
Boone in January 2008
Born
Herman Ike Boone

(1935-10-28)October 28, 1935
Rocky Mount, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 2019(2019-12-18) (aged 84)
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materNorth Carolina Central University (B.A., M.S.)
OccupationHigh school football coach
Spouse(s)Carol Boone
Children3

Early life and education

Boone attended Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, then the now-closed Booker T. Washington High School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.[1] While attending North Carolina Central University, Boone joined the Tau Psi chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.[2] Boone graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science degree.[3]

Career

In 1958, Herman accepted his first teaching and coaching position at the Luther H. Foster High School in Blackstone, Virginia, where he coached football, basketball and baseball. His teams recorded twenty-six wins, six losses and three district championships.[4]

In 1961, Herman returned to his home state of North Carolina to continue his coaching and teaching career. He accepted the head coaching position at E.J. Hayes High School in Williamston, North Carolina. His football teams amassed a record of 99 wins and 8 losses in a nine-year period. His 1966 football team was recognized by Scholastic Coach's Magazine as "The Number One Football Team in America". In 1969, Herman resigned from his position, having been informed by the Williamston school board that the town of Williamston "was not ready for a black head coach".[4]

Boone was hired as an assistant coach at T. C. Williams High School in 1969.[5] Having integrated schools in 1965, the city of Alexandria, Virginia, consolidated students from three high schools into T. C. Williams in 1971, and Boone was named the head coach of the combined team.[6] Boone took the team on a preseason training trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where the team members got to know each other, and President Richard Nixon sent an aide, Dr. Brown, to see this integrated football team that was beginning to catch national attention.[7] In December 1971, Nixon was quoted as saying of the Titans that "the team saved the city of Alexandria".[8]

Boone was fired from his coaching position in 1979, after allegations of player abuse and related complaints by three assistant coaches.[9][10] He subsequently retired from coaching and appeared as a public speaker at functions regarding his time as coach.[11] In 2016, he was awarded the Living Legends of Alexandria award given to notable citizens of Alexandria, Virginia.[12]

Personal life

In retirement, Boone lived with his wife, Carol, in Alexandria, Virginia. They had three daughters, Sharron, Donna, and Monica, and three grandchildren, Mackenzie, Myles, and Lauren.[12]

Boone was a friend of Willie Jeffries, dating back to when the two were assistant coaches in North Carolina. Boone wrote a letter of recommendation in support of Jeffries' induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. In it, Boone wrote, "Without his leadership and example, there would not have been Remember the Titans or the advancement in race relations in sports that we have witnessed."[13]

Boone died at his home in Alexandria on December 18, 2019, at the age of 84. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer.[5][14]

Portrayal in film

The 2000 film Remember the Titans, in which Denzel Washington portrays Boone, is loosely based on the 1971 T. C. Williams High School football season.[6]

Trophy

The Herman Boone Trophy is awarded to the winning team of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a game between high school All-American seniors.[15]

See also

References
  1. Hilliard Smith, Amanda (June 30, 2014). The Williamston Freedom Movement: A North Carolina Town's Struggle for Civil Rights, 1957-1970. McFarland. p. 104. ISBN 9781476614335.
  2. "Brother Herman Boone (Tau Psi)". Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Second District. 2017. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  3. Fleming, Monika S. (2013). Legendary Locals of Edgecombe and Nash Counties, North Carolina. Arcadia. p. 117. ISBN 9781467100441.
  4. Culver, Richard (April 2, 2015). "'Remember the Titans' Coach Boone Speaks at SU Wednesday, April 8". Salisbury University. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  5. Schudel, Matt (December 18, 2019). "Herman Boone, high school football coach who inspired 'Remember the Titans,' dies at 84". The Washington Post.
  6. Shapiro, Len; Pollin, Andy (December 16, 2008). The Great Book of Washington DC Sports Lists. Running. p. 69.
  7. "Real-life coach Herman Boone inspires Cleveland State crowd". Archived from the original on January 21, 2015.
  8. "Herman Boone". National Museum of Education Honorary Registry. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  9. "Remember The Titans Is A Lie, And This Man Still Wants You To Know It". Deadspin.
  10. Huff, Donald (June 2, 1979). "Boone Axed At Williams". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  11. Public speaker:
    Wagner, Brandon (2002). "Inspirational Coach Herman Boone To Speak at IWU Soul Food Dinner". Illinois Wesleyan University. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
    "56th Biennial Conference" (Fall/Winter). North Carolina Libraries. 2005. p. 86. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  12. Walker James, Donna (November 1, 2016). "Herman Boone". Alexandria News. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  13. "Celebrating College Football's Racial Pioneers: the Coaches". National Football Foundation. February 25, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  14. Luke Lukert; Megan Cloherty (December 18, 2019). "Herman Boone, Alexandria football coach immortalized in 'Remember the Titans,' dies at 84". WTOP News.
  15. Today, Wayne (October 8, 2009). "DePaul's Phillips named to All-American Bowl". USA Today. NorthJersey.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017. the Herman Boone Trophy, awarded to the winning team in the prestigious annual Army All-American Bowl
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