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WILLIAM (BILL) NORTH
Bill North was a premier
centerfielder. After attending Central Washington State, he signed with
the Chicago Cubs in 1969 and then went to the Oakland A’s in 1973, where
he acquired two World Series rings. The speedy North had stolen-base
totals of 53, 54, and 75, leading the American League in 1974 and 1976.
In 1978 he was traded to the
L.A. Dodgers, where he played in another World Series. He finished his
professional baseball career after 13 years in the 1981 with the San
Francisco Giants.
CHARLIE RUSSELL
Charlie Russell played football at Garfield High School with Dr. Homar
Harris in the 1930s and attended the University of Washington where he
excelled as the second African American running back in Huskies history.
In 1938, when visiting Iowa who lost to the University of Washington by a
score of 14-7, the two old friends were given the opportunity to play
against each other in a historic game.
Dr. HOMER HARRIS
Dr. Homer Harris went to Iowa in the 1930s and became one of the Hawkeyes
athletic and scholastic greats. As an All-American end at the University
of Iowa, he was the first African American captain in any sport in Big Ten
history. He was also named All-Big Ten End for three years in a row. Dr.
Harris, who returned to Seattle for a distinguished career as a
dermatologist, was the first African American doctor in the state of
Washington and was recently honored when a new Central Area park was named
after him.
JOYCE WALKER
Joyce
Walker, now the Garfield High School girls’ basketball team coach, has
lived her hoop dream. She overcame spinal meningitis to become one of the
all-time greatest female basketball players.
She played at Louisiana State
University, where she broke not just LSU’s, but the Southeast Conference
scoring records. After helping the U.S. win the Gold medal at the Junior
Olympics, she joined the U.S. Team that won the Gold at the 1984 Olympic
games in Los Angeles.
She was the second woman ever to play with the Harlem Globetrotters, and
was clearly the right choice to bring the “edge” back to the Garfield Lady
Bulldogs in Seattle.
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