Atlanta Daily World

PRICE HIGH HONORS ATHLETES AT FIRST ALL-SPORTS BANQUET
Ray Norton

By ALFRED R. JOHNSON

A new method of honoring prep athletes was introduced by the Athletic Committee of the Luther Judson Price High School. The occasion was an all-sports banquet, held Friday night in the school cafeteria.

This was a rare feature and the first among the six city high schools. In observing the banquet the procedure was somewhat the same just as the traditional football banquets.

Athletic director and head coach John W. Merkerson, introduced the speaker and made the presentation of awards. The dean of Atlanta High School coaches, Leslie C. Baker, athletic director and the head coach of Booker T. Washington High School was the principal speaker of the affair.

Awards were presented in every area of sports to athletes. Acknowledgement of guests, high school coaches, queens, captains, preceded the remarks by Principal R. E. Cureton which was the final phase of the well-planned program.

TWO DIFFERENTIATIONS

There is a conjunction, however between the traditional football banquet and that of an all sports banquet. The atmosphere is different that separates the two.

The two differentiations in the old and new method of honoring athletes is this: The task of playing football is hard, even from the eighth grade high school team up to the varsity squad. It is a good thing to acknowledge those participants. However, now in this modern world of today, the local high school athletic program undertakes six different sports. The students that participate in the sports other than football should be made known. For, they too, are striving to bring honor to their respective schools.

Being within the midst of the all sports banquet, the atmosphere was quite different from that of the football style. Not only were football participants present but those of basketball, baseball, track, tennis and golf. This includes the members of the girls' basketball, track and tennis teams. Even the trainers, managers and scorekeepers attended the affair. This type of banquet seems to symbolize the unity of the athletic participants who have worked together harmoniously for one purpose - that of bringing recognition to their school in all athletic phases.

GOOD PLAY TO ADOPT

The banquets for this season is just about at a completion point. but to the various athletic committees of the six high schools, the idea of an all sports banquet for next season should be given much consideration. Let it be placed on the discussion memorandum's first page book.

It would be a wonderful change from the traditional football banquet type trend. This columnist hopes that the all sports banquet will be adopted by other schools in the near future.

Congratulations and hats-off to the athletic committee and department for the new arrangement of honoring athletes who will be tomorrow's stars and leaders.