Memories of ole Blue and Gray will live on forever

He was a solid shooter and people rarely outjumped him. He dunked with ease and could rebound and pass with the best in the nation. He once scored 59 points in a game and finished his career with more than 1,500 points. He poured in 26 points a game his senior season. In 1967, Nelson was selected as one of the top 10 basketball players in the South, according to the 1967 yearbook.

“I didn’t realize how good I was until I graduated,” Nelson said.

But others noticed and never forgot.

That’s why Nelson was inducted into the National Negro High School Basketball Hall of Fame two years ago.

Then there was Eugene Hart. His name still rings bells.

“Oooh, (Eugene) Hart was the best running back to come through this town,” said Lincoln Middle School physical education teacher Linda Leaks.

People in Palmetto, including myself, have heard the same thing over the years, and we’ve had the chance to watch superstar tailbacks such as Shevin Wiggins, Dyral McMillan, Kevin Freeman and Tommie Frazier — who was a quarterback, but wouldn’t have had a problem playing tailback — light up the scoreboard and the stat sheet.

Older folks still say Eugene was better. They say it was his vision with the football. They say it was his ability to run past or through defenders. Hart ended his career with more than 5,500 yards of total offense and 72 touchdowns. And they say it was his ability to get the tough yards when needed that separated him from the pack.

At least that’s how the stories have been passed down.

Then there was Waite Bellamy, who was a dominant basketball player for the Trojans, starred at Florida A&M University, was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the NBA and finished his career playing in the Eastern League for the Delaware Blue Bombers.

There are plenty of others who left their indelible marks on the program and the black community.

These great players are a big part of the reason why the community is holding this five-day celebration to commemorate the great times at Lincoln Memorial.

This part of the great history of Manatee County athletics should never be forgotten.

Before Manatee High, Southeast High and Palmetto High won their seven combined state football titles, and before Lakewood Ranch High and Palmetto each won a state baseball title, it was Lincoln Memorial High School that paved the way to the greatness that is Manatee County prep sports.

Live on, Lincoln Memorial Trojans, ’ole Blue and Gray.

Ryan T. Boyd, sports writer, can be reached at 745-7017.