‘Coach Davis’ Is Honored
It was an epic night on many levels last Friday when alumni from 50 to five years ago gathered in the newly named and renovated Lester Davis Gymnasium to honor the man and his legacy.
On a night when the Hurricane basketball squads took on their biggest area rival with the Lady Canes playing some stellar ball into overtime and the boys winning their first game of the season (see related story page 10), it was also a night to honor the late Lester “Coach Davis” Tracy Davis for all he gave to the Hurricane basketball program and the students he taught in the gymnasium where he spent much of his time.
Renovations of the former high school gym and now middle school facility were approved in May 2018 along with ELOST funds for a new athletic complex at the high school. The benefit of those funds was evident Friday as the old gym boasted its new facelift and name with sparkling purple paint, new seating, and air conditioning.
The program honoring Coach Davis followed a hard fought girls game as outgoing superintendent and alumnus Dr. Mike Newton led the presentations. Dr. Newton first invited the family members of the late coach to center court before sharing some of his many accomplishments and presenting his daughter, Audrey Stewart, with a plaque commemorating his service to the Jasper County School System from 1970 to 1992 including his 783 victories as the Hurricanes head basketball coach.
During his tenure, Coach Davis also coached football and track after school while teaching health education to many during school hours. Before joining the public school system, he taught and coached at the Jasper County Training School from 1956-1970 during segregation. Though he won many accolades as a coach including seven Region Coach of the Year titles, his most notable accolade on paper is leading the 1974-1975 Hurricane varsity squad to a state championship title and making it back to the Final Four in 1987-1988.
Many of those 1975 championship team players were on hand Friday and they too were recognized by the school system. Participants pictured include (left to right) Leonard Davis, Preston Campbell, Mia and Kim Clay representing the late James Clay, Ulysses “Pay” Norris, Jerry Pope, Kenneth Standifer, Eugene Lattimore, and Sharon Manning representing the late Nelson Manning. Other members of that magical team that were not present or represented include Johnny Aldridge, Dwight Carter, Evan Clark, Johnny Smith, Timothy Whidby, Michael Ross, and managers J.P. Card and Eugene Smith.
At some point following Coach Davis’ death in 1997 the decision was made by the Board of Education to add his name to the then still high school gym going from Wilburn Gymnasium to Wilburn Davis Gymnasium. With the renovations in 2018, the powers that be deemed it necessary for another name change—one solely reflecting the history of the location.
Following the center court ceremonies honoring Coach Davis and the 1975 Championship Team, Dr. Newton invited all JCHS athletes that had ever played Hurricane basketball to the court and the number present measured the length of the court.
