H H H H H H H H H H H H God Bless Our Troops! God Bless America! Thank you to every man and woman who is serving our country in the Armed Forces. Thank you for keeping America safe! Great job! H H H H H H H H H H H H 6 The Downtowner - Norfolk, Virginia Mid-August, 2016
Event Honors Coaches Johnny Brown And Richard Drake Former Granby Athletes Organize Golf Tournament By Gary Ruegsegger Olympic Gold Medal in the 4 X 400m Relay A wise choice—it honors both Brown and Downtowner Contributing Editor at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. the club. Later, the NSC presented Johnny a Coach Drake was the hurdles coach Lifetime Achievement Award. Even years after his passing, Johnny “Jackrabbit” at Christopher Newport University from Johnny’s boys, including former Norfolk Brown just won’t go away. I guess 1995-2008 where he coached 20 NCAA mayor Joe Leafe, were there to see their old that was his intention. When someone is Division III All-Americans in the hurdles. coach honored. Coach Drake also was at totally unforgettable, you just can’t forget Since 2008, he’s been the volunteer hurdles Johnny’s side that night. them. coach at Virginia Wesleyan College. “Johnny has done so much for so many Recently Virginia Tech graduate Tommy When Drake missed a few practices for so long as a coach and an educator,” said Betz gave me a call. Tommy played for medical reasons, Johnny Brown came to long time NSC member Gene Byerly, “it’s football with the future Green Bay Packers the school’s aid. He brought two of the golf gratifying to see him recognized like this.” (From left to right) Truman Baxter, Richard wide receiver Carroll Dale at Tech, but more tournament planning members, Joe Mc- Like Johnny, Gene taught local kids to love “Snake” Drake, Charlie Elswick, Johnny importantly Tommy was one of the Jackrabbit’s Donough and Charlie Elswick, with him to sports and people. “Jackrabbit” Brown and Al Lietner at the “boys” at Granby High School in the help out. The Johnny Brown & Richard Drake Norfolk Sports Club. fifties. Tommy invited me to a luncheon meeting Annual Golf Classic is a major produc- Decades later, Johnny still called him with Johnny’s “boys” from Granby. They tion—forged in long friendships and hard “Tommy.” He never called him Tom or were working on the second Johnny Brown work. Everybody sitting around the tables Thomas. Tommy was always “Tommy”; & Richard Drake Annual Golf Classic. at the meetings were good friends including much like Johnny remained “Johnny” even The tournament will take place on Oct. VMI great Truman Baxter, Jackie Bax- into his nineties. I sat next to Tommy at 5, 2016 at the Sewells Point Golf Club on ter (Truman’s wife and the best golfer in the Johnny’s funeral. Ruthven Road in Norfolk. All proceeds go family), Pete Nicholas, Charlie Elswick and But Johnny’s not the only former Granby to benefit the Virginia Wesleyan College Joe McDonough, just to mention a few. track coach with a great nickname. There’s Track & Field Program coached by Mat and By the way, Charlie took the state title also Richard “Snake” Drake. Jackrabbit was Krista Littleton. in the 60 yard dash in 1961 and Joe once Tommy Betz played football with the future a ’37 graduate of Norfolk’s Maury and Snake To sign up as a sponsor or to play, held the state record in the high hurdles. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Carroll Dale was a ’44 graduate of Portsmouth’s Wilson. contact Granby20@verizon.net. For more Truman earned a legacy in football and dentistry. Of course, back then they didn’t have at Tech, but more importantly Tommy was Both legendary coaches went on to be information about the tournament, go to one of the Jackrabbit’s “boys” at Granby High legendary high school principals. Brown http://vwcathletics.com/sports/track/golftournament. listen to him and listen to him and listen to to compete against Johnny, but they had to School in the fifties. (Granby) and Drake (Princess Anne & Bayside) met at William & Mary after World The late Steeler great George Hughes him. War II and remained friends for over six decades. introduced me to Johnny at the Chesapeake Other planning team members in- Track was in their blood. Athletic Club’s (CAC) Hot Stove Night. cluded a list filled with Granby greats: Art “Johnny ranks among the finest allaround Each year the CAC presents the George McDonough ( Joe’s brother and a five-time athletes this area’s ever seen,” said Hughes Award to the Outstanding Line- Granby letterman), Bob Layton, John Pear- Drake. man at William and Mary. son, Mickey Walker (Washington & Lee “I don’t know if Johnny’s the best ever, After both served in World War II, guard), Joe Leafe (attorney, House of Delegates but he’s the best I ever saw,” said the late George played football with Johnny at W member, Norfolk mayor and Circuit Don Griffin, Lefty Driesell’s high school & M. Both men are local legends and were Court Judge) and Mack Johnson. basketball coach and one-time Granby principal. longtime friends. Richard “Snake” Drake, VWC’s Track “You don’t know Johnny Brown?” ques- Coach Mat Littleton and Athletic Director Former Norfolk mayor Joe Leafe, one of Both Brown and Drake always built tioned George. “How can you write about JoAnne Renn complete the roster. Johnny’s “boys” at Granby, attended the people up. They made them feel that they Norfolk history and not know Johnny Tommy, who doesn’t even play golf, Norfolk Sports Club’s presentation of a could do anything. That, too, was in their Brown?” brought his former Tech roommate Clyde lifetime achievement award to his old coach. blood. You can’t. Barnette, a three-sport star at Norview Johnny’s track teams (1949-1962) at Before the introduction, George cautioned (football, basketball and baseball), to handle Granby High School once won 44 straight me, “Now if he ever asks you to do the golf. Clyde also played fast pitch baseball dual meets and his trackmen garnered 12 something—and he will—you might as well on former Norfolk mayor Pretlow Darden’s Norfolk Sports Club Outstanding Track do it right then because eventually you will Colonial Chevrolet team against Johnny’s and Field Performers Awards. Many of the do it.” Chesapeake Athletic Club in old City winners are on the planning committee. George knew what he was talking League. Johnny usually won the batting title. After Johnny retired from education, he about. Johnny has a way of sticking with you, With the Johnny Brown & Richard coached the United States Navy track and sticking to you, and—every now and then— Drake Golf Classic, Virginia Wesleyan College’s field team in 1988. sticking it to you. I did mention Johnny was Track & Field Program is now win- Since his days at Wilson, Richard Drake a coach. ning. With the Jackrabbit and the Snake on has been an expert hurdler. He’s coached In June of 2012 the Norfolk Sports Club their side, how can they lose? Johnny “Jackrabbit” Brown always enjoyed numerous hurdlers in the Tidewater area, (NSC) named its outstanding track and the monthly luncheons he had with his including Natasha Colander, who won an field performer’s award after Johnny Brown. • • • “boys” from Granby. Mid-August, 2016 The Downtowner - Norfolk, Virginia 7
Change language