Nominees for East Suffolk High's 1960 Athlete of the Year, Ashley Taylor, Parris Carson and Chester Steward

Article 1, Volume 14             May 28, 2024

 The nominations and selection of Athlete of the Year (AOY) recognition occurred in May 1960 by a select group of randomly selected seniors.  The results were never published.  So, based on my memory and newspaper clippings from 65 years ago, I will present the nominees.  

1, The first nominee is Ashley Taylor

Ashley was considered a dominant force on the Boy's basketball team.  He was a big man who protected the rim and made it easier for the shooters. His role was huge in ESH's first and only District Championship in basketball.  But what really put him on the list was his outstanding performance on the track team.  Sometimes it seems as though he was a one-man team.  He represented the school very well in track. Benjamin Davis, Jr. was the team's coach.

2. The second nominee is Parris Carson

Parris was exceptional in basketball. He led ESH to its first regular season District Championship.  He averaged about 20 points per game and was considered one of the best players in the state.  Before Parris and the senior core group, of Richard Wheeler, James Ricks, Leon Copeland, Thomas Luster, and Ernest Williams became winners, home games generally attracted less than 50 students. In their senior year, typically, there was standing room only at home games. Parris's outstanding play earned him a scholarship to Elizabeth City College in North Carolina.  Of course, Coach Mack Benn gets credit for the team's development and play.

3. The third nominee is Chester Steward

Chester was one of the top players on the football team.  He was the center.  He showed outstanding leadership ability.  His play was solid.  He also played for a college after graduation.  The team also featured several other seniors including Leon Copeland, Shirley Ford, Harry Mayfield, Thomas Luster, Lawrence Everett, Mickey Almond, and 2-year all-county offensive tackle Grady Bryant.

Chester was a solid, reliable fielder and batter on the baseball team.  His leadership was evident.  He was a 2 letter athlete. He was considered to be the team's MVP. The team was also bolstered by Thurman "Bump" Patillo, a skillful outfielder, Cubby Wright, a four-year catcher, who had the honor of being considered ESH's GOAT catcher, and pitchers Arthur Simmons and Arthur Whitaker.

The three names above were the nominees.  Next week, June 7th,  I will publish for the first time, the winner of the AOY recognition citation for 1960.  McCoy Ricks was the unanimous winner in 1959.  He received a football scholarship to Kentucky State University. Other players who received votes were:  Lawrence Weaver, a 4-year starter in football and baseball; Parris Carson; and William Harell-Porter who had outstanding years in football and baseball in his freshman and sophomore years, then fell in love his junior year, but then got his passion back for the games, and had a very good year in both sports in his senior year. After graduation, he played for a college team in North Carolina before playing for an Army team in Germany.

ESH also had a girls' basketball team. Their setup was 6 players on the floor.  3 on defense at one end of the court and 3 on offense at the other end. The players could not cross the half-court line,  They generally played during or right after school hours.  They got only a little recognition because their games weren't covered by the school's reporter or made available to the local newspaper.  They had a winning record and they won the District Championship one year.  The outstanding senior players included Sylvia Beamon, Marylene Bolling, and Mary Langston. Their coach was Miss Helen Spencer.