Midnight Madness At Booker High School
BY C.S. HOWARD
It was a night of “madness” – and fun – when Booker High School hosted “Midnight Madness – In London” celebrating the school’s past, future and present. The event was held on Thursday, November 8th at 7:00 p.m., which was actually midnight in London. The night featured Booker’s boys and girls basketball, the Hype Squad, pep band, dance squad and a dunk contest. The highlight of the evening was the honoring of Booker’s past state championship teams from 1967, 1978, 1982, 1985 and 2006. A capacity crowd of former students, athletes and community members attended the event geared towards family as a way of saying thank you to the community for its support of the school’s programs. The crowd also got a sneak peek at the 2018-2019 Booker Tornadoes girls and boys basketball teams.
The 1960 girls state champions were recognized and members present were Dorothy Farlin, Mary Frances Douglas, Bernice Heggs and Geneva Farnum. The 1967 boys state championship team was also recognized and Malcolm Storey and Johnny Belvin were in attendance. The 1978 boys team members present were Bruce McKnight, Sam Shields and Stevie Jones. Derrick Kirce and Darryl Harvin were recognized from the 1982 team and Al Esaw, Gary Wilder, Ed Robinson and Kirce were recognized from the 1985 team. The 2006 state team members present were Markus Black, who was a player on the team, Derrick Kirce, the head coach and Al Esaw, assistant coach. Black is now head boys basket ball coach. Midnight Madness was planned and organized by Coach Fred Gilmore, Booker’s Assistant Athletic Director. His vision for the event was to feature the school’s basketball program by honoring the past state championship teams and celebrating the current teams. His vision became a reality as Booker’s Colosseum (their gym) featured basketball state or national champions as well as showcase of our current teams. “It was a beautiful evening fellowshipping with former players and seeing our new teams in action,” Principal Dr. Rachel Shelley said.
“To witness elder alumni who played in the sixties and hear them sing their chants was mesmerizing,”
she said. “To see the championship team members was phenomenal and to see our current team, who debuted their new uniforms, was breathtaking,”
she said.
Coach Gilmore echoed Dr. Shelley’s sentiments about the evening.
“It was a magical night for Booker High School alumnus and a wonderful night for our students,” he said. “They saw the rich heritage of our basketball program, and it is my hope that they will use memories from Midnight Madness as a platform to excel to State and yes, bring home another basketball state championship.” “We’re grateful for all that came out to support our school, former state champions and basketball teams,”
Dr. Shelley said. “We appreciate your support and hope to see you at one of our basketball games!” Phil Helmuth is Booker’s athletic director. Carlos Jones and Jones Funeral Home co-sponsored the event.
