Donnie Littlejohn and Drew Medley recognized MLK Day in Gaffney

   Donnie Littlejohn's mother Elnora died a few years ago. She was a year older than me and in the Band in the fall of 68 when Gaffney embarked on full integration of the public schools. Drew Medley's grandfather, Terry Medley, was on my little league baseball team, the Lions, summer of 65. My Dad was the coach. He also became a good friend of Donnie's father, Donnie Ray and friend Ulysses Dawkins.

    My Mom and Dad were present for Donnie Ray and Elnora's Wedding. Ulysees was best man.

    This weekend both Donnie, a Furman grad and Top Assistant head coach for Gaffney High Football,  18 times state champion,  and Drew, a rising jr who is Gaffney's version of Hunter Renfrow, were recognized at Bethel Baptist church county wide  celebration of ML King day.

   Donnie was all SOCON at Furman and blocked for Billy Napier, now head coach at U Florida.

    I have to tell this story one more time. In mid seventies my Dad would walk out of the house about four pm a mile to McCluney park for softball league play, some church and some local business underwritten.

   One time the pastor of FBC Gaffney Jack Causey was at a game. He was asked by a deacon in the stands, Jack who are these players for FBC. Causey said I don't recognize any of them either, they must be in the Outreach Department.

     My Dad  loved to see Donnie Ray and Ulysees play, two of them  at the time outstanding athletes of any color in the county, Donnie Ray outstand HS Receiver and Ulysees the last Black QB at Granard before integration. He played college football at Maryland Eastern Shore.

     So my Dad Sweet Billy is in the stands just outside third base fence. Donnie Ray is on third and Ulysees has made it to second on a blooper.

    Daddy hollers out to Donnie Ray. Donnie Ray you know who you playing for don't you. DRay says yeah preacher we playing for Gaffney Tire. Daddy says you know the owner whose name he called is head of the Ku Klux Klan for the Upstate.

    Donnie Ray hollers out to Ulysees on second,  Preacher say we playing for the Klan. To Which Ulysees hollers back: "Tell the Rev that's all right, we Winning aint we!"

   Also see Brad Bull great Memory today at baptistnews.com