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| Herman Boone, Coach Portrayed in ‘Remember the Titans,’ Dies at 84 | Herman Boone, Coach Portrayed in ‘Remember the Titans,’ Dies at 84 |
| (2 months later) | |
| Herman Boone, who led a racially integrated high school football team in Virginia to a state championship in his first season as head coach, inspiring the 2000 movie “Remember the Titans,” in which he was portrayed by Denzel Washington, died on Wednesday at his home in Alexandria, Va. He was 84. | Herman Boone, who led a racially integrated high school football team in Virginia to a state championship in his first season as head coach, inspiring the 2000 movie “Remember the Titans,” in which he was portrayed by Denzel Washington, died on Wednesday at his home in Alexandria, Va. He was 84. |
| The cause was lung cancer, said Anthony Henderson, a son-in-law. | The cause was lung cancer, said Anthony Henderson, a son-in-law. |
| In 1971, Alexandria’s three public high schools were merged into T.C. Williams High School, and Mr. Boone was hired by the school board to be the head coach of the football team, the Titans. | In 1971, Alexandria’s three public high schools were merged into T.C. Williams High School, and Mr. Boone was hired by the school board to be the head coach of the football team, the Titans. |
| “He handled that coaching year with dignity,” said Wayne Sanders, who was a running back on the junior varsity team that year. “He was the right man for that year because of his coaching style.” | “He handled that coaching year with dignity,” said Wayne Sanders, who was a running back on the junior varsity team that year. “He was the right man for that year because of his coaching style.” |
| That leadership style included insisting on discipline and mutual respect, attributes embodied by Mr. Washington in “Remember the Titans.” | That leadership style included insisting on discipline and mutual respect, attributes embodied by Mr. Washington in “Remember the Titans.” |
| “If ‘Remember the Titans’ is corny, it’s unabashedly, even generously so,” A.O. Scott wrote in The New York Times, praising Mr. Washington’s presence as “strong” and “complex enough.” | “If ‘Remember the Titans’ is corny, it’s unabashedly, even generously so,” A.O. Scott wrote in The New York Times, praising Mr. Washington’s presence as “strong” and “complex enough.” |
| Herman Boone was born on Oct. 28, 1935, in Rocky Mount, N.C., about 60 miles east of Raleigh. After graduating from North Carolina Central University, where he received both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in physical education, he began coaching high school football, at first in Blackstone, Va. | Herman Boone was born on Oct. 28, 1935, in Rocky Mount, N.C., about 60 miles east of Raleigh. After graduating from North Carolina Central University, where he received both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in physical education, he began coaching high school football, at first in Blackstone, Va. |
| In 1961 he moved to Williamston, N.C., and became head coach at the all-black E.J. Hayes High School there. But after the Williamston school board told him in 1969 that under a new desegregation plan he would be demoted to assistant coach, he resigned, according to the ’71 Original Titans Foundation. | |
| That year, he became an assistant coach at T.C. Williams. When the Alexandria schools merged in 1971, he was named head coach, chosen over a white coach, Bill Yoast, who had more experience, Mr. Henderson said. But Mr. Boone and Mr. Yoast worked together to lead the team to its first state championship that year. Mr. Yoast died in May at 94. | That year, he became an assistant coach at T.C. Williams. When the Alexandria schools merged in 1971, he was named head coach, chosen over a white coach, Bill Yoast, who had more experience, Mr. Henderson said. But Mr. Boone and Mr. Yoast worked together to lead the team to its first state championship that year. Mr. Yoast died in May at 94. |
| After the schools were combined, Mr. Sanders said, people who would not have otherwise interacted came together for games and school events. “They had to deal with individuals that they weren’t accustomed to playing or associating with on a daily basis,” he said. | After the schools were combined, Mr. Sanders said, people who would not have otherwise interacted came together for games and school events. “They had to deal with individuals that they weren’t accustomed to playing or associating with on a daily basis,” he said. |
| But race was not an issue for the teammates once they got to know one another, said Mr. Sanders, whom Mr. Boone asked to play during the 1971 championship game even though he was on the junior varsity team. “The race issue was more for the adults than the students,” he said. | But race was not an issue for the teammates once they got to know one another, said Mr. Sanders, whom Mr. Boone asked to play during the 1971 championship game even though he was on the junior varsity team. “The race issue was more for the adults than the students,” he said. |
| The T.C. Williams Titans won the state championship in 1971, 1984 and 1987. | The T.C. Williams Titans won the state championship in 1971, 1984 and 1987. |
| Mr. Boone stopped coaching in 1979, according to Aly Khan Johnson, who was an assistant coach for Mr. Boone at the time. He continued to teach physical education at the school and later coached golf. | Mr. Boone stopped coaching in 1979, according to Aly Khan Johnson, who was an assistant coach for Mr. Boone at the time. He continued to teach physical education at the school and later coached golf. |
| Mr. Boone’s wife of 57 years, Carol Boone, died in March at 83. His survivors include two daughters, Sharon Henderson and Monica Merritt, as well as 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Another daughter, Donna Dulany, died in 2014. | Mr. Boone’s wife of 57 years, Carol Boone, died in March at 83. His survivors include two daughters, Sharon Henderson and Monica Merritt, as well as 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Another daughter, Donna Dulany, died in 2014. |
| Mr. Boone’s daughter Ms. Henderson said she did not watch “Remember the Titans” very often. But when it was released in September 2000, she said, “it was very surreal.” | Mr. Boone’s daughter Ms. Henderson said she did not watch “Remember the Titans” very often. But when it was released in September 2000, she said, “it was very surreal.” |
| “It helped us to appreciate the things our father was doing while he was at work,” she said. | “It helped us to appreciate the things our father was doing while he was at work,” she said. |
| Mihir Zaveri contributed reporting. | Mihir Zaveri contributed reporting. |