Jacksonville

Published 2:02 pm Thursday, July 11, 2019

The Jacksonville Education Foundation will kick off the 8th annual “Evening With Our Stars” event on August 5

in Jacksonville. This year’s honorees include 11 professional football players, one Major Baseball League

player, and two NFL coaches who all started their careers in Jacksonville.

Coach John Paul Young and Coach Bum Phillips coached the Fightin’ Indians in the Tomato Bowl in the early

1960’s and went on to have illustrious careers on the college level and in the NFL. Coach Young and his wife,

Delores, currently reside back in Jacksonville. After leaving the Indians, Young coached for SMU and Texas

A&M before beginning his 22 year-long Pro Football career. He joined Bum with the Houston Oilers

organization and also coached the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Denver Broncos. The late

Bum Phillips is the legendary NFL coach with the famous cowboy hat and Jacksonville is so proud to boast of

the season he coached in the Tomato Bowl. His son, Wade, now an NFL coach himself, went to school in JISD,

and has mentioned his fond memories of the Tomato Bowl many times during his career. Bum’s wife, Debbie,

his three daughters, and his sister will attend in Bum’s honor, and to honor their close family friend, John Paul

Young.

The players being honored include graduates from both JHS and Fred Douglass High School. In 1955, Burr Davis

graduated from Jacksonville High School, played in college and then professionally for the Canadian Blue

Bombers. That started a string of graduates from Jacksonville having successful careers in the National

Football League. Included in the elite group of players named to a final roster on a team are Pete Lammons,

JHS Class of 61 who played for the New York Jets in Super-bowl III; Billy Newsome, Fred Douglass Class of ’66

who also sports a Super-bowl ring for the Baltimore Colts; Marshall Johnson, JHS Class of 1971, Baltimore Colts;

Jerry Aldridge, JHS Class of 1975, San Francisco 49ers; James Noble, JHS Class of 1982, Washington Redskins;

Ray Ethridge, JHS Class of ’87, San Diego Chargers; Toby Gowin, JHS Class of 1993, Dallas Cowboys; Josh

McCown, JHS Class of 1998, New York Jets; Kevin Aldridge, JHS Class of 1998, Tennessee Titans; Luke McCown,

JHS Class of 2000, New Orleans Saints; and Micah Hoffpauir, JHS Class of 1998 who played Major League

Baseball for the Chicago Cubs.

A casual “tailgate” theme is planned, and jerseys or jewels is the dress for the evening. During this event, the

Foundation’s esteemed “Influential Indian” awards will be announced. These are surprise announcements and

the recipients are those who have had $1,000 donated in their honor to be named. The evening will have two

popular emcees, or “referees”, in the Indian’s sideline announcer Matt Montgomery and Jacksonville Mayor

Randy Gorham. After the honors and announcements conclude at the Norman Activity Center, the newly

renovated Tomato Bowl will be open for tours and pictures and the Corridor of Champions will be dedicated

with the players present. Evening of Pride is set for 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, August 5, 2019.

For more information about the Evening of Pride or the Jacksonville Education Foundation, please visit

jisdfoundation.org or call 903-586-6511 x 9434. Tickets are $50.00 per person and may be purchased online or

at the Chamber of Commerce, Austin Bank, or JISD Central Office.