WRAL-TV’s Allen Mask (left) & WRAL-TV’s Clarence Williams (right) congratulate Coach Herman Boone on his keynote address at the 8th Annual Clarence E. Lightner YMCA Achievers Youth Banquet. |
There was a special kind of excitement in the North Raleigh Hilton Ballroom awaiting the start of the Eighth Annual Clarence E. Lightner YMCA Achievers Youth Leadership Banquet. Hundreds of citizens, politician, judges, captain of area businesses from around the Triangle… and more importantly, one hundred forty-four youngsters.
These youths have been indentified as future leaders of tomorrow, and are the participants in the Clarence E. Lightner Youth Leadership Academy. The goal of the program is to teach young people the importance of civic participation and community service.
The Academy is named after the late Clarence Lightner, often described as a kindred spirit with keen wit and charm, who lived his life to the fullest with natural ability, love for humankind and a legacy of gracious and sustained service. Lightner is remembered as a deeply introspective man who cherished his city.
Long active in Raleigh’s social and civic affairs, his wisdom and ability in providing hope and assistance to less fortunate citizens is indeed legendary. He was the first popularly elected Mayor of Raleigh and the first African-American elected mayor of a metropolitan Southern city.
Coach Herman Boone inspires youth with his speech. His story is chronicled in the film “Remember the Titans.” |
Capitol Broadcasting Company, believing in the ideas and vision of community involvement and leadership development, has been a Gold Circle Sponsor from the beginning until this day. Throughout the eight years of the Leadership program, several CBC employees and associates have served on the advisory committee. Our own Martha Waters (wife of the late Ben Waters, Corporate VP at CBC for many years) was chair for two years.
The keynote speaker was legendary coach Herman Boone from Rocky Mount, famous for coaching at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. His coaching achievement were chronicled in the critically acclaimed 2000 film Remember the Titans. He was portrayed by two time Academy award winning actor, Denzel Washington.
Coach Boone gave a motivational speech that makes it easy to understand how he was able to achieve such a winning record in football and in life!
Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Clarence Williams for this capcom story & to Alton McCoy & WRAL-TV’s James Ford for these capcom photos.
