Dozens of former players returned to Habersham Central High School on Saturday to honor the man who coached them in their teens. Coach Jimmy Black (center) was a multi-sport coach, teacher and school administrator who mentored countless young people during his distinguished career. (Photo: Crump Photo/Lindsey London)
At Habersham Central High School’s basketball game night on Saturday, a man who had coached for many years in Habersham’s schools, was remembered – and thanked. Coach Jimmy Black – the former teacher, principal, and coach of boys’ and girls’ tennis; football; golf; and primarily basketball – attended a reception in his honor in a meeting room at the school. Afterward, the group of about fifty men, but also a few women, gathered in the school gym – to make pictures and to give Coach Black some items to help him remember the special night.
Most of those who came, to visit and remember, were in their forties, fifties, and sixties. A few in the crowd showed that they could still wear their thirty-plus years-old high school Letterman Jackets.
After shaking hands and talking about memories with Jimmy Black, most of them couldn’t help it: they hugged him. With the hugs, there were usually tears, too – at least clouding the former athletes’ eyes. Many of the tears, though, streamed freely down cheeks. Memories of Coach Black were sweet.
Habersham’s Athletic Director, Geep Cunningham had sent letters to at least one hundred people, and phone calls were made to invite people, too. Cunningham was pleased with the crowd of about fifty, and when he welcomed the crowd, he had tears in his eyes, too.
The former Habersham student who had traveled farthest for the recognition night was Teddy Bennett. He had traveled from his home in Altus, Oklahoma.
Referring to Coach Black, he said, “He was one of the best men I have ever known in my life. He walked the walk,” referring to what, in Christian circles, means that a person lives in the way he encourages others to live.
“He was the greatest role model you could ever have,” he added.
A Habersham County resident – and another former basketball player – Truitt Franklin said of Black that “he was every bit a man of God. He taught us character…”
“And fundamentals!” interjected Bennett.
A former multi-sport player, Robert Nichols of Gainesville, said that when Black coached him in football, basketball, and tennis, “He always had good pointers in the ways you could improve your skills. And he sure was a good team builder.”
In the Habersham Central gym, between the girls’ and boys’ games Saturday night, Geep Cunningham gathered all of Coach Black’s former athletes in the center of the floor. Coach Black stood in the middle as Cunningham presented him – on behalf of all those attending – a white basketball that had been autographed by all who were attending; a memory book, in which each attendee had written special memories from the times spent with Coach Black; and a plaque thanking Black for all he had given to his students, to be hung on the wall of the home he shares with his wife, Linda Jean.
