Walter M. Williams High School - The Legacy of Jerome Evans

The Legacy of Jerome Evans

Probably the most recognizable and most influential figures in the history of Williams High School is Jerome Evans, legendary former head football coach and the first African-American administrator, topic of the book Black Coach written by Pat Jordan and published by Dodd & Mead of New York. Evan's pioneering role as one of the first African-American football coaches at a predominantly white high school in the South led to him being featured in a 1971 articles in Sports Illustrated titled "The Man Who Was Cut Out For The Job" and later was featured in Pat Jordan's documentary account Black Coach. His work was also discussed in the book Learning To Win: Sports, Education, and Social Change in Twentieth Century North Carolina by Pamela Grundy. He served as assistant principal at Williams for a total of twenty-two years, 1970 to 1992, longer than any other school official.

The Williams High School Memorial Scholarship, which is presented annually to a student who is considered to have made the most significant progress over the course of his or her high school career, is partially named in his memory. In addition, an athletic award is presented in his memory to a student who has overcome obstacles throughout his or her high school athletic experience.