Blevins; Coach
Big Brother &
W'
B> DEBY JO FERGUSON
Chronicle Sports ^ 'itc
lev Hosier;
Center D^ector has touched the
lives of many people in the last
three decades.
While growing up in the
Waughtown-Southside Community.
Blevins did various odd-jobs and
yard work for many senior citizens.
After graduation from Parkland
High School in 1976, Blevins con
tinued his work with the elderly and
then turned his attention to tHe chil
dren of the area.
In the winter of 1978. Blevins
started a program to get kids off the
streets and into more constructive
activities. On primarily out-of-pock
et funds and those raised from yard
and bake sales he bought uniforms
and equipment to set up youth foot
ball, baseball, and basketball pro
grams.
In 1979 there were over 100
children participating in these pro
grams. Another main goal he set out
out to accomplish were those of
good sportsmanship, teamwork,
character and morale, which were
all quickly attained.
In the summer of 1979 Blevins
was hired by the Winston-Salem
Recreation Department^His first
assignment was the summer pro
gram at Forest Park Recreation Cen
ter, where he put together a very
successful program with children as
participants and adults as volun
teers.
He ahso enlisted community
businesses to sponsor all three age
groups in the centers baseball teams.
The next move was to Skyland
Recreation Center where Blevins set
out to accomplish the same goals.
This time Blevins became involved
with senior citizens as participants
in recreation programs as well.
In the fall of 1979 Skyland also
fielded flag football teams and bas
ketball teams to provide enjoyment
for even more children, working
with Director Denise Scott.
In 1983 it was time to move
once again. This time Blevins was
transfered to Rupert Bell Recreation
Center, Working with Director Mary
Britt. Even more children and adults
participated in the new center s pro
grams.
It was in 1985 that Blevins was
moved to South Fork Recreation
-Tenter where the numbers continue
to grow. AU age groups were repre
sented with different types of inter
center and intramural programs.
Most recently, in 1992. Blevins
had planted his feet at Hanes
Hosiery Recreation Center where he
became Center Director. He has
improved all the programs that he s
been involved in and at the same
time, has maintained success, not
only by keeping these standards, but
also by wining teams.
Although the emphasis is not
on who wins or loses, the various
teams at each center Blevins has
worked with have compiled impres
sionable records by winning 26
championships in baseball, 12 in
Director Art Blevins
football and 20 in basketball tourna
ments throughout the Triad. Blevins
has been nominated for the Jeffer
son Award for his outstanding con
tributions to these communities.
Many of the former participants in
Blevins recreation programs have
gone on the success in high school
sports and some to excellent college
careers including: Sean Gipson. bas
ketball at LSL ; Brad Pryce. baseball
at Wake Forest; Dee Move, football
at North A&T: David Russell, foot
ball at North Carolina A&T; Ken
Tsuruta. Football at Cawtaba Col
Father Figure
athletics, or life."
1 alwa\s encourage them to
keep their grades upv keep a good
attitude, (always) and treat people
the wa\ the> w ould want to be treat -
ed. Not to let anything or no one
ever get them down and most of all
keep the faith in God!
I praise them dail\ and always
encourage them to be their own per
son. n6t to get around the wrong
crowd and let peer pressure get to
ihem by doing drugs or getting into
trouble.
"1 grew up in Southside and
have seen what can happen when
you get with the wrong crowd.
Some of my child-hood buddies are
now dead or have been in jail by
running with the wrong crowd in
their teen years.
"I thank the Good Lord, my
parents and my youth coaches, the
late Joe Booe who coached me at
the Boy's Club and Tom Gaetje who
worked with me while playing at
Sprague Street Recreation Center
when I was 12 year-old. and for
helping keep me out of serious trou
ble while growing up in Southside.
I care about all my kids like
they were my own and strive to be a
father figure to many who come
from a 1 -parent home." Blevins
said.
Blevins takes many of the kids
V
Hones Hosiery Deacons pictured front row , I to r: Jordan Lash, Charlie
Haynes, Derek Chishoim and Mike Moore. Second row: Director Art Blevins,
Tim Penn , Jeff Owen, Payton Triplett, Joel Potter and Coach Lash.
lege and Carlos Mumford, b^&ket
ball at Winston Salem State.
Presently playing high school
ball now are basketball standouts
who participated in Blevin's youth
programs -mchidtng: Lmwood Skin
ner. Aaron James. Jerry Hanes,
Jamal Hanes. Chris McCoy, and
Johnny Joe in the Reynolds High
School Basketball Program; Jimmy
Hunt at Mount Tabor; Derek
Spencer and Ameer Ashley at West
Forsyth.
Blevins is now working with
the Winston-Salem Recfeation
Department and coaching youth 6
18 years-old for 14 years now.
According to Blevins, he loves
his job and loves all the kids the
same. I teach the kids to be the best
they can be in whatever thy do.
whether it be school, which he
stresses to them is most important.
out to eat. has bought them clothes
and tennis shoes when they needed
it. and gives gifts to kids at Christ
mas when he knew they would not
get anything else.
"1 would like to thank many of
my recreation department co-work
ers and special volunteers who Qver^
the years have helped me in a very
successful career, also my brothers,
Kenny and Joel; my parents, Ken
and Ann Ferris and my wife Ruth
Anne Blevins.
"I would also like to thank my
childhood hero. Charlie Davis, the
former Wake Forest All-American
who I admire and keep in touch
with. "If everyone would just show
kids love, respect, manners and dici
pline, which begins at home, the
world would be a better place for
every one," Blevins concluded.
DRUG
71 STING
"I wish to announce
my retirement from com
petitive running. I had
hoped not to end my
career in this way. 1 have
had a long career in
track. I experienced suc
cess and failure. I said
after the Seoul Olympics
that 1 would come back
and compete clean . I
known that I did " >
? Ben Johnson
Piedmont Conference
The 4-A Metro and Central
Piedmont Conference will experi
ence changes next fall beginning
with football. The reconstruction
will be as follows:
4-A Metro Conference
Greensboro Dudley
Greensboro Grimsley
East Forsyth
Greensboro Page
North Forsyth
Greensboro Smith
Morehead
4-A Central Piedmont Confer
ence
Reynolds
West Forsyth
Mount Tabor Davie County
South Rowan
North Davidson
South Stokes
3-A North Piedmont Conference
Carver
Parkland
Glenn
High Point Andrews
March Madness
starts Here!
Join us for the 1993
First/Second rounds
of March Madness at
the LJVM Coliseum In
Winston-Salem. Make
your plans today! Don't
miss the madness!
I.AWKI JN}: JM3.
tt I1XMX JU JMKUI
ki
Championship
1993 First/Second Rounds
Winston-Salem , North Carolina
Tickets on sale now at the
Coliseum Box Office only.
Tickets - $52" ( 6 games )
For mail orders or ticket
information call
1-9 19-725- JOEL
I UMTRUMi: JM.
vrnaMR SUJMCUt
Wi
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