On Monday, the Tom Ellis Memorial Foundation (TEAM) and the Covington Independent Public Schools honored the 1964 William Grant High School 9th Region boys basketball championship team during “William Grant Night.”
Holmes hosted Villa Madonna at the David Evans Fieldhouse, the event marked the 60th anniversary for the former 9th Region champs.
“[TEAM] realized that there were some teams on campus that were not being adequately recognized or honored, so we made a list of those teams and at the top of the list was the 1964 Grant team,” Foundation Board Member Diana Siffel said.
The event was put together for all past team members, alumni, and family of the Grant community to gather and honor this team. Unfortunately, four of the ten players and the coach of the 1964 team are deceased, but family members were in attendance.
Before the game there was a display, including trophies and other awards from the Lincoln Scholar House (where Grant High School was originally located), set up in the middle building for the alumni to see. A reception followed that included dinner with a few people speaking including former player David Hunter, who shared his memories of the championship season and the team’s journey to get there.
During halftime, a new banner was displayed and Alvin Garrison, the Superintendent of Covington Independent Public Schools, had a gift for each of the former players as well.
“More than anything, we want the night to be respectful,” Siffel said. “Since Grant is no longer open, it is very easy to forget that it existed, so one we want to honor the alumni and team, but also what I am most excited about is that the banner will be up on the wall and I know there are going to be a lot of people that [question what] William Grant and they are going to be exposed to a rich history of Covington and the school district.”
William Grant High School was founded in 1866 in Covington to educate African American children and in 1876, the school was established as an African American public high school. African American students from local areas were able to attend Grant and receive a high school education. In 1965, the students from Grant were integrated into Holmes High School as Grant was closed.
In 1957, William Grant High School was the first African American High School in Kentucky to win a district championship, specifically the 34th District championship. Afterwards, Grant went on to win four 9th Region Championships in 1958, ’59, ’61, and ’64. Furthermore, two Grant Warrior alumni, Tom Thacker and George Stone, went on to continue their basketball careers professionally.
“We also want students to recognize the greatness that has come out of our district and maybe you won’t win a National Championship or an NBA Championship, but you can be the best cardiologist out of Covington or the best nurse out of Covington or the best mayor out of Covington,” Siffel said. “So anything that we can do to inspire these students, we are all about that.”