Page 154 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote and Some Stuff I Didn't (2011) H. Morris Williams

In 1963, Rawleigh went to Camp Blanding and picked up (army surplus)

mats and covers and had them sewed together for the first official
wrestling mats at Lake City Junior High.

Rawleigh established school champions in wrestling through a
tournament and took winners to state completion in Tampa.

Rawleigh also took track students who excelled in his classes to
Lackawanna Park in Jacksonville in the summer for competition.

Under his coordinating, Lake City Junior High had intramural
tournaments in all sports taught in physical education.

After 10 years at Lake City Junior High, Rawleigh drew an assignment
to Richardson 9th Grade Center in the full integration year of 1970.

The adjustment was easy on Rawleigh, who had attended integrated
schools growing up (Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis was also an

Elmira graduate). And he always had the common language of ball
playing to fall back on.

“When things got rough back then, I would just break out that

basketball,” Rawleigh said.

THE FALCONS

Perhaps Rawleigh’s greatest single legacy was the formation of the Lake
City Junior High Falcons football team. He was the first head coach.

At a meeting in Browning’s office, the name and colors were voted on
by Rawleigh and Pat Summerall, among other teachers. Red, white and

blue were deemed the colors, but Browning nixed the blue part leaving

the red and white that remain to this day.

Fritz Fountain and Sam Markham were early assistant coaches before
Rhea Hart was hired as an instructor at the school in 1965 and took over

as assistant. Jake Bradley later came on board.

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