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Volume 87 | Number 43
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NEWSTALK
Remembering Aretha Franklin
HISD ratings released by TEA
QUEEN OF SOUL
P2 NATIONAL KOFI ANNAN dead at age 80
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P4 H.S. SPORTS ANDRE WALKER
takes charge of HISD Athletics Department
P11
Jeffery Wallace
Simone Biles
The president of the Greater Houston Black Chamber talks about how Black businesses in Houston have fared after Hurricane Harvey. On the anniversary of the destruction, find out how they’ve weathered the storm post Harvey.
The talented gymnast won her record fifth U.S. all-around title and swept the four apparatus titles.The fourtime Rio Olympic gold medalist became the first woman to win all five golds at the national gymnastics championships since Dominique Dawes in 1994.
rebuilds businesses
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TOP EVENTS
Sweeps nationals
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Janette Cosley, Eileen Morris, Crystal Fox and Lamman Rucker at the Ensemble Theatre Gala
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School districts rated, Worthing improves Defender News Services
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the 2018 state accountability ratings for 1,200 school districts and district charters. Beginning this year, all multi-campus school districts and charters receive an accountability rating based on an A to F scale. Dozens of districts across southeast Texas are not being rated because they were exempt due to Hurricane Harvey. Though HISD was exempt because of Harvey, the district said it would have earned an overall B grade under the new system. Six of the district’s most underserved schools – known as Superintendent’s Schools – that for years had been on “IR” status earned a rating of “Met Standard.” Those campuses are Worthing High School, Woodson PK-8, and Blackshear, Dogan, Mading and Wesley Elementary schools. Other districts that did not receive a rating were given a “would be” overall grade as well. Some of them include: Fort Bend ISD, 89; Spring ISD, 70; Spring Branch ISD, 87; Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, 89; Humble ISD, 88, and Pasadena ISD, 80. Other local districts that were not exempt and did receive a rating included: Pearland ISD, A; Clear Creek ISD, A; Conroe ISD,
B; Crosby ISD, B; Katy ISD, A, and Klein ISD, B. Districts receive a grade or rating based on performance in three areas: 1. Student achievement – Measures what students know and can do by the end of the year. It includes results from state assessments across all subjects for all students, on both general and alternate assessments, College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) indicators, like AP and ACT results, and graduation rates. 2. School progress – Measures how much better students are doing on the STAAR test this year versus last year, and how much better students are doing academically relative to schools with similar percentages of economically disadvantaged students. 3. Closing the gaps – Looks at performance among student groups, including various racial/ethnic groups, socioeconomic backgrounds and other factors. Seventy percent of the accountability rating is based on student achievement or student progress (whichever is better is the only performance measure counted in the calculations). The remaining 30 percent is based on performance in the closing-thegaps area. To learn more about the A–F accountability system, visit https://tea.texas.gov/A-F/.
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localbriefs TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS who need a more flexible schedule for the upcoming fall semester have can now take part in a new “Fast Track to Graduation” option. TSU will offer flexible weekday afternoon classes that start on Sept. 10, but end at the same time as traditional semester classes. All “flex” classes are general core courses that are required by most majors at TSU. “We know that, for a variety of reasons, some students aren’t ready to start when the semester begins in August,” said TSU Provost Dr. Kendall Harris. “The Fast Track to Graduation program gives them an alternative. It keeps them on a path to achieve their goals and to graduate in a timely manner.” Fast Track classes are 13 weeks in length and offered only in the afternoon between 1-6 p.m. The traditional college semester is 16 weeks long with classes offered throughout the day and evening. For more information visit www.TSU.edu/ FastTrack........HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS WILL HEAD to the polls on Aug. 25th to vote on a bond aimed to make the county more resilient from flooding after Harvey. There are about 237 different projects included in the bond. Some of those projects include $1.2 billion for channel improvements, $401 million for detention basis, $12.5 million for new floodplain mapping, and $1.25 million to improve the early flood warning system. County officials estimate the bond will increase property taxes by two to three cents per $100 of assessed home value.
Local leaders weigh in on HISD rating While accountability standards have been waived for some schools in the While HISD didn’t receive an wake of Hurricane Harvey, HISD official rating because of Hurricane could still face sanctions without furHarvey, several elected officials ther improvement…” weighed in on the“unofficial” B State Rep. Garnet Coleman – “I rating the district says it would have am proud that HISD’s Achieve 180 received. initiative and interim Superintendent Congressman Al Green – “I beDr. Grenita Lathan have been suclieve that the new TEA ratings sigcessful in improving our schools. This nal understanding of the hardships improvement under Dr. Lathan should that many schools, students, and be allowed to continue for at least anparents in Houston endured when Congressman Al Green State Sen. Borris Miles State Rep. Garnet Coleman other year in order to avoid disruption Hurricane Harvey impacted our to student growth. The four IR schools avoided possible sanctions by the Texas Edulives. Worthing High School and the surrounding that did not qualify for a Harvey waiver all met cation Agency. I am ecstatic that three of the community have continuously shown they can standards, meaning TEA will not be statutorily schools requiring improvement in Senate District overcome adversity. This unyielding determinaallowed to take over HISD this year. However, 13 – Worthing, Mading and Woodson – have tion to succeed has been expressed with the TEA’s turned around student performance and now meet HISD is not out of the woods yet. HB 1842 from most recent ratings and demonstrates that Worththe 84th Legislative Session still allows for TEA TEA standards. Those students, teachers, parents ing is and always will be worthy of saving.” and principals are to be commended for their hard to take over HISD if the IR schools that received State Sen. Borris Miles – “I am happy to Harvey waivers this year do not meet standards work to reach this achievement. see progress at [HISD] and that the district has next year…” “The fight for our kids does not end here. Defender News Services
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national
White House seeks to ‘diversify’ staff Defender News Service
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the White House values diversity, but she would not say how many Black staffers there are in the West Wing. “We value diversity not just at the White House but in the entire administration,” Sanders said. “We are going to continue to try to diversify this staff. We have a large number of diverse staffers from various backgrounds…race, religion, gender.” Sanders has recently been pressed by reporters for a specific number and said, “I’m not going to go through and do a count.” The lack of diversity in President Donald Trump’s administration has come under fresh scrutiny in the wake of a new tell-all book from former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, who was the highest ranking African-American official on Trump’s staff. “We would love to diversify our staff and continue to do so,” Sanders said. In the eight months since Manigault Newman was fired, Trump has yet to appoint a single AfricanAmerican to a senior White House role as either an assistant or a deputy assistant to the President. According to CNN, none of the 48 assistants and deputy assistants to Trump are Black.
Georgia officials try to shut down voting sites Defender News Servic
The board of elections for a rural Georgia county that is mostly Black is reportedly proposing to close most of the county’s polling locations ahead of the crucial, nationwide midterm elections. The proposed move could have an effect on the race involving Democrat Stacey Abrams, the first Black woman gubernatorial nominee, critics say. Randolph County, Ga. officials claim the reason for the possible closure is because the sites are not equipped for people with disabilities. The county Board of Elections informed residents about possibly shutting down seven of nine voting locations that are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The American Civil Liberties Union is crying foul, citing the Abrams race and the fact that the seven polling locations in question were used in voting earlier this year. County officials will vote on the proposed closures on Aug. 24.
The whiteness of White House interns is an example of a lack of diversity.
Former U.N. Secretary-General Annan dead Defender News Services
Kofi Annan, a charismatic global diplomat and the first Black African to become United Nations secretary-general who led the world body through one of its most turbulent periods, died on Aug. 18 at age 80. Tributes flowed in from around the world after his foundation announced his death in the Swiss capital, Bern. The statement remembered the Nobel Peace Prize-winner as “radiating genuine Kofi Annan kindness, warmth and brilliance in all he did.” Annan spent virtually his entire career as a U.N. administrator. His aristocratic style, cooltempered elegance and political savvy helped guide his ascent to become the U.N.’s seventh secretarygeneral. He served in the position from 1997 to 2006. He and the U.N. were jointly awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. When he departed the U.N. he left behind a global organization more aggressively engaged in peacekeeping and fighting poverty with an emphasis on human rights and development.
VOLUME 87 • NUMBER 43 AUGUST 23, 2018 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Strategic Alliance Manager
Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Videographer
Jodie B. Jiles
Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Editor Max Edison Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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AUGUST 23 | 2018 | DEFENDER
entertainment
Remembering Aretha:
The ‘Queen of Soul’
smooth journey Ree Ree and hopefully I’ll get to sing with you in the Heavenly choir.” Aretha Louise Franklin was born March 25, egendary singer Aretha Franklin is being 1942, in Memphis and moved to Detroit with her remembered as a gifted artist whose music family at age 5. Her father, Rev. C.L. Franklin, spanned six decades. The “Queen of was a well-known preacher and her mother, BarSoul” died Aug. 16 of pancreatic cancer in bara, was a gospel singer. Aretha began singing in Detroit. She was 76. her father’s church and traveled with his revivals. Considered by many as the greatest female She branched out into secular music in the singer of all time, she was internationally known early 1960s. Her first song to reach No. 1 on the by her first name. She recorded her first album, R&B charts was “I Never Loved a Man (The Way “Songs of Faith, in 1956. She recorded her 42nd I Love You).” Her recording of Otis Reddings’s and final album, “A Brand New Me,” in 2017. “Respect” shot to No. 1 on the R&B and pop Aretha sold 75 million records, won 18 charts in 1967. Grammy Awards and was the In addition to her musical first woman inducted into the legacy, Aretha supported the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Civil Rights Movement and Her 1972 album “Amazing advocated for equality. • Tuesday, Aug. 28-WednesGrace” is the best-selling live “When Dr. King was day, Aug. 29 – Aretha Franklin gospel album of all time. will lie in state during a public alive, several times she helped “Being a singer is a viewing from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. us make payroll,” said Rev. natural gift,” she once said. at Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Jesse Jackson. “It means I’m using to the Museum of African American Aretha cherished her priHistory. highest degree possible the vacy and seldom discussed her • Friday, Aug. 31 – The funeral gift that God gave me to use. personal life. She had two sons for family members, friends I’m happy with that.” by the time she was 16 and and selected guests is 10 a.m. She sang at inaugural later had two other sons. She (EST) at Greater Grace Temple events for three former presiwas married to her manager in Detroit. dents – Jimmy Carter, Bill Ted White from 1961 to 1969 Clinton and Barack Obama. and married to actor Glynn “Aretha helped define Turman from 1978 to 1984. the American experience,” Obama said. “In her Motown founder Berry Gordy called her a voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in national treasure. every shade – our power and our pain, our dark“Aretha Franklin was my dear, dear friend, ness and our light, our quest for redemption and my homegirl, and I loved her a lot,” Gordy said. our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest “From seeing her as a baby singing and playing in eternal peace.” at the piano at her father’s home, to her giving a Singer Gladys Knight said Aretha set a stanrousing performance at the White House, she has dard for every woman in the music industry. always been amazing. No matter how the music “You have touched minds, hearts and spirits, has changed over the years, she remained so including my own,” she said. “I pray you have a relevant.”
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By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender
Funeral details
Aretha had a special bond with former President Barack Obama.
Family members include her son Kecalf and granddaughter Victorie.
Her greatest hits
1 “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)” 2. “Ain’t No Way” 3. “Angel” 4. “Baby I Love You” 5. “Call Me” 6. “Chain of Fools” 7. “Day Dreaming” 8. “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” 9. “Don’t Play That Song” 10. “Dr. Feelgood” 11. “Freeway of Love” 12. “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” 13. “I’m in Love” 14. “I Say a Little Prayer” 15. “Jump to It” 16. “Respect” 17. “Rock Steady” 18. “See Saw” 19. “Something He Can Feel” 20. “Spanish Harlem” 21. “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” 22. “The House That Jack Built” 23. “Think” 24. “Until You Come Back to Me” 25. “Who’s Zoomin’ Who” Compiled from greatest hits albums and record charts
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 23 | 2018
BLACK BUSINESSES
One year after Harvey
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By ASWAD WALKER Defender
n Aug. 25 of last year – the day Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas – Houstonians were forever changed by its destruction. Classified as a 1,000-year storm, Harvey devastated the city and surrounding areas in many ways, one of those being in the area of business. Though a number of entrepreneurs went under, with some returning to employee status, others who managed to keep their shops open are still struggling to regain their former levels of commerce. Still others were able to weather the storm and find even more business opportunities post-Harvey. “There were a lot of businesses that went under as a result of Harvey, and a lot of those businesses were Black businesses,” said Jeffery D. Wallace, president of the Greater Houston Black Chamber (GHBC). He added that the biggest issues Black businesses faced post-Harvey were developing and raising capital to deal with insurance problems, and dealing with the dynamic of starting over. “Many of these businesses were specific impact upon Black businesses two-to-four years in existence,” Walis still not known, according to Carlecia lace said. “That kind of catastrophic Wright, the city’s director of Business rebuilding is an expertise they didn’t Opportunity. have. Finding resources that were able to “The City of Houston hasn’t provide them with the tutelage and the collected data specifically on Black knowledge to make it through this kind businesses,” said Wright. “What we’ve of period was and remains critical.” learned through a partnership, who Jeffery D. Wallace Carlecia Wright Dr. Alexia McClerkin Stacey Lewis, owner of Center gave us some insightbased on data that Stage Events, a company with venues in Sugar Land and Missouri City, never imagined having to they’ve collected, is that businesses recovered within eight to 10 days directly after Harvey. So, rebuild. But the help she did need came in the form of community. businesses were able to get back on their feet really quickly. How this boils down to AfricanBefore Harvey, Lewis described her business as developing and growing thanks to consistent American businesses we still don’t know.” repeat clients of the company’s Paint and Sip Socials, as well as private parties, baby showers, and What Wright is certain about are the efforts from her office to assist Black businesses postweddings hosted. With Harvey however, Lewis faced the challenge of repairing facilities’ damage – all Harvey. while her family was displaced by the storm. “We partnered with the GHBC and the Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce to dis“Because of family support, the landlord of our building working with us, and us working with tribute Harvey Recovery Packs sponsored by Staples to over 50 businesses,” she said. “We also our clients, we had a lot of support that helped us stay in business,” Lewis said. partnered with the GHBC to find information on Harvey recovery opportunities.” Lewis stressed that a huge part of that community support came in the form of a micro-grant Wright said that last fiscal year, the period that covered Harvey, more than $100 million received through the Texas Black Expo and Rushion was awarded to Black businesses, a McDonald, the entrepreneur and entertainment execunumber she attributes largely to recovery tive whose production credits include TV’s “The Steve Video: CEO Sonny Messiah Jiles talks about efforts. Wallace added that, “At present, Harvey Talk Show” and the film “Think Like a Man.” the GHBC has redirected over $300,000 the impact of Hurricane Harvey on the Financial assistance was needed by numerworth of financial capacity to Black busiDefender. ous business owners as the economic damage done nesses specifically to help them get back by Harvey was estimated to be between $70 and on their feet.” $190 billion, depending on the source. However, the One entrepreneur who chose not to
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advantage of support funds was chiropractor Dr. Alexia McClerkin, owner of the Sports & ness Doc. McClerkin garnered attention for her effort to empower pregnant women on how re for their bodies through nutrition and light exercise via her personal example of running nd 10K races during her pregnancy. McClerkin was recently a panelist at the Mom’s Summit hosted by Congresswoman Sheila son Lee and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. “After Harvey business really slowed because people’s homes were flooded out, and also I dn’t get to the clinic because the area where my clinic is was flooded,” said McClerkin, who in Missouri City, and had to contend with flooding and a tornado that hit the area. She listed re-growing her business and getting patients back in as her biggest post-Harvey enge. “A lot of our patients are personal injury and when they don’t have transportation because car got flooded out, it makes it harder for me to continue to build my practice,” she said. McClerkin invested more time into marketing and into paying transportation expenses for atients. “I did it all on my own rather than take the time to look for different organizations to help use I felt that there were other people that needed it more than I did,” she said. One of the more fortunate entrepreneurs was Christopher Dawkins, owner of C. LuGrandkins Enterprises, a real estate development and commercial construction company. None of ompany’s contracts were affected by Harvey but Dawkins offered encouragement to fellow preneurs still seeking to regain their footing. “If you remember all of those rudimentary things that made your business work –consisy, ingenuity, perseverance – grind on those things and you’ll be back before you know it,” kins said. “And don’t be afraid to ask for help from your local partnership. Closed mouths don’t get There are still a lot of funds available to help businesses impacted by Harvey.”
e Houston area for over 85 years
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Experie nce of o ne entrepr eneur
Branden multiple b Morris had a uniqu usinesses. e Harvey experienc Morris is lutions as e in part b managing well as ow ecau partner of ner of a c two differe th o e consultin se he owns n struction nt Harvey g firm Ba company. realitie “The cons sal S The two e ulting firm s. n ti ties experi ostill in the at the tim enced client acq e Harvey uis not enoug hit was th h to really ition stages,” said re e years old Morris. “W say that w pick up m , and we w e had seve e were do omentum ere in ral contra before the g extra we weren’t sp cts, but ll. But we hurricane ending on h had starte it. consulting point.” d to . So, busin When the hurrican e e hit busine s s s ta rt Morris’ co e d sses s lo w ing up fro nstructio Rouge wh m that sta en Harvey n company, howev nder, was ju arrived. “We were s t fi n ishing up starting a job in B and there aton were a lot to look for new bu s iness,” he of people constructi we knew said. “Hu on compa that neede rricane H ny started Morris’ co arvey hit d reliable getting re n c s o u a n lt ll tractors. S in y g compan busy.” because o o our y was bus f the shee y as well rm panies be after May sides the o agnitude of Harvey or Sylves , riginal on contractors ter Tu e contracte opened the opportu . nity for oth rner, d fo r debris re “We were er commoval to fortunate become p cally did d enough to ri me ebris rem b e one of th oval for H e compan Morris’ bu a rv e ie y s chosen a for the ne sinesses c and break xt six mon n ontinue fast in Ne ths,” he sa d we basiw Orleans to grow and he has id . . plans to o pen anoth er – a bed
e c n a t s i s s a y e v r Ha s r e b m u by the n
s. ir program vative repa o arvey n H in e d n a n a ic y Hurr b housing d ry te ra c a o p p a m te nd nd ss im urvivors in Rhode Isla of land ma S , s e : e 5 ir il 1 sh m ,0 p 9 re m 1 a a • u H umber of sq usetts, New ware • 41,500: N onnecticut, Massach a local hard nC in a st th li r e ia c rg e a (l n sp pair strona mitigatio build or re ombined). h re , it d w il d u e b it Vermont c to vis w exans who to learn ho • 96,301: T er Recovery Center ations. ast hold registr store or Dis se u o h d n a ual assistance. fer. MA individ ster unemployment ger and sa E F nses paid d e v ro App lated expe re to disa rd e te st a a ic is d d • 373,440: e d er 19: Funds ng and oth • $23,311,6 23: Grants for housi BA) low07,8 istration (S in m d A • $1,635,7 ss sine rs. . Small Bu to survivo roved U.S p p A : 0 0 72,4 • $3,388,7 ians. ayments. ns. lo of Houston e Program (NFIP) p s d n a h interest a e th nts, SBA nc 00,000: In lood Insura nd state gra a F l l a ra n e o d ti • $4,290,0 a fe N ckets from 34,781: In rvivors’ po • $8,834,9 su In ents. : 3 8 ,8 19 NFIP paym d n a s n • $13,852,8 a lo st disaster low-intere A M E Source: F
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#HoustonStrong
A look back at the devastation from Harvey
The devastation from Hurricane Harvey in photos.
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Simone Biles wins at U.S. Championships Defender News Service Gymnast Simone Biles, in the second meet of her comeback, won her record fifth U.S. all-around title and swept the four apparatus titles at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The four-time Rio Olympic gold medalist became the first woman to win all five golds at the national championships since Dominique Dawes in 1994. She won the all-around by 6.55 points over 2017 world all-around champion Morgan Hurd, the largest margin since the perfect-10 system was thrown out in 2006. That gap is larger than that separating Hurd from the 11th-place gymnast. “I knew I was capable of [scoring this well], but I kind of thought I was going to be a nervous wreck and maybe fall apart,” said Biles, who wore a teal mint leotard in part to stand with fellow Larry Nassar sexual-abuse survivors (teal ribbons were worn at NCAA meets in the winter and spring). “Going into these events, I know I kept telling my family like I don’t know if I’m going to be able to calm myself down the way I did before and handle the nerves, but so far, so good,” she said.
Biles led by 3.1 points after a dominant first day. At 21, she is the first nonteen to win the U.S. women’s all-around since 1971. “She’s just in another league almost,” third-place Riley McCusker said. “I’m honestly just in awe of her.” After Rio, Biles took 14 months before returning to training last November under new coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi. She returned to competition three weeks ago, winning the U.S. Classic with an uneven bars fall. Biles won her first national title on uneven bars, the only event on which she did not earn a medal in Rio or at any world championships. She repeated this spring and summer that she feels like a better gymnast than in Rio. The Texan is on a five-year win streak with the only end in sight being her planned retirement after the Tokyo Olympics. “Confidence-wise and consistency, I still think we have a way to go to get back up to where I was in Rio, but gymnastics-wise, [better than in 2016],” Biles said. “I think I’m finally starting to get it and understand it. I’ve understood gymnastics for a while now, but I think it’s really sinking in.”
Simone Biles won every gold medal at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Boston
An education is one of the most precious gifts our children can have. Let's ensure that every child regardless of their zip-code has access to a high-quality education in a safe and student-centered environment.
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sports
Texans left tackle Davenport bodyguards QB Watson
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By MAX EDISON Defender
here is no position in football more important to a team’s success than the left tackle on the offensive line. The left tackle protects the backside/blindside of a right-handed quarterback. If the quarterback is the team’s most valuable possession, keeping that possession healthy and upright is the job of the left tackle. Julién Davenport is the Texans’ starting left tackle and QB Deshaun Watson’s bodyguard. Davenport was a fourth-round selection (130th overall) from Bucknell University in the 2017 draft. At 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds with long arms, he is tailor-made for the position. He played in 11 games as a rookie, starting four as heir apparent to the position after former Pro Bowl tackle Duane Brown was traded to Seattle. Despite his imposing physical measurables, there were questions concerning if and how quickly he could adapt to NFL level competition, coming from an FCS program (Division 1-AA). “I always had confidence,” Davenport said. “[The NFL] was my goal. I’ve made it here, now I want to excel. Davenport is in his second I’m never satisfied, I continue to work. season with the I’ve never let the fact that I went to a Texans. smaller school undermine my confidence. People can say what they want. That’s just extra motivation for me.” Clearly the coaching staff is pleased with the progression of their young left tackle, starting with coach Bill O’Brien’s training camp observations. “I thought he really progressed well during OTAs [organized team activities],” O’Brien said. “I think that during the first three practices he really has improved a lot in some of the techniques we’ve asked him to improve on. I think as long as he has the attitude of getting better every single day, which I know he does, he’ll be fine.” Offensive line coach Mike Devlin echoed the sentiments of O’Brien on the evolution of 23-yearold Davenport.
The 6-foot-7 tackle is an imposing figure on the field.
Julién Davenport
“He’s working hard,” Devlin said. “He has to go against J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney [in practice]. “Going against that group should help him prepare. He’s working hard at it. He’s trying to take consistent steps, trying to use his length and learn.” As a starter Davenport understands the responsibility of his position. “It’s a big role for every team and every single aspect of football – high school, college, NFL. You just have to work hard and do your best to protect your quarterback because you know everything revolves around the quarterback – protecting that number one guy, working with the guys next to you on the O-line and just being able to be technically sound and good every single play. You can’t take a play off. It’s my job, I make sure I go out there and do it every day.” Knowing the expectations for the upcoming season, Davenport prepared in the offseason. “I’ve really honed in on my technique coming from year one to year two,” he said. “My sets, my steps are all a part of the constant process of trying to get better which is what I work on. As a unit we’ve worked hard, changing our bodies, progressively getting stronger.” Davenport understands that building a productive offensive line is a team effort and the cohesion extends beyond the practice field, which is something he and his Oline teammates have been working to perfect. “We’ve jelled together very well,” he said. “We’re always hanging together. We do a group chat. We make sure we do everything together. That’s natural and easy for us.” In the six games that Watson started last year the Texans had the most prolific offense in the NFL. For the team to have success in 2018 Watson must be protected and that protection starts with Davenport and his offensive line mates.
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H.S. sports
AUGUST 23 | 2018 | DEFENDER
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Andre Walker leads HISD athletics
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By JODIE B. JILES Defender
his summer there was a changing of the guard in HISD sports. Andre Walker was promoted to director of athletics for the district. He spent the past 18 years with HISD as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and most recently as a senior athletics program administrator for the Athletics Department. Walker received a B.S. in Business Administration from Texas Southern University and master’s in Education from Prairie View A&M University. He is a member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, National Federation of State High School Association, Texas High School Coaches, Texas Girls Coaches Association, and the Houston Coaches Association. He serves on the Official’s Advisory Committee for the Texas High School Athletic Director Association. Walker talked with the Defender about his journey to becoming AD and the people who contributed to his career. Defender: Tell us about your journey to this position. Walker: I’m a HISD product. I went to Kashmere High School, Terrell Middle School and Chatham Elementary School. So, About the department I am HISD • Operates four sports complexes, all the way which serve Houston’s schools through. I’ve with game sites, game control and been a part of equipment storage and repair. the district my entire life be• Athletic programs serve students cause my brothin grades 7-12 at 24 high schools ers and sisters and 43 middle schools. attended before • Programs include baseball, me, nieces and basketball, cross-country, football, nephews after golf, soccer, softball, swim, tennis, me. track and field, volleyball and I’ve matricwrestling. ulated through the district my entire life. I went from there to receive my undergrad degree from Texas Southern. I then started working at Key Middle school as a substitute teacher and that’s where I got my start in the district in teaching. I went on to Prairie View A&M to receive my master’s and I’m actually working on my doctoral degree now trying to finish that up. And that’s the road I’ve taken to get where I am now. Defender: What are the duties and responsibilities of an athletic director and why is the position important? Walker: You have to identify things that are
Andre Walker takes charge of HISD’s Athletic Department.
Walker was inducted into the Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017.
going to help your coaches help the kids. If coaches are prepared and they know the rules, with professional development, they will be better suited to help the kids. I think that is the main thing. You also have the facilities that you have to keep up with and Walker succeeded former Athletic Director Marmion Dambrino (left). They joined Wheatley’s scheduling bus transporta- Takyera Roberson and Eryka Sidney during a 2016 National Signing Day. tion, all those things go into an athletic director and dad in my life. [position]. defendernetwork.com mom My community was a major I think the big thing is Video: Walker discusses his mentor in how they looked coaching the coaches bevision for HISD athletics after me, watched over me cause when you have good and wouldn’t allow me to do coaches in the right posicertain things. They suptions, they’re gonna do well by the kids and ported me. The community was huge. that’s what you want…That’s why it’s important In coaching, my mentor was Gary Dunham, because you’re touching so many kids’ lives, head football coach at Kashmere. Our relanot only the athletes. Think about all the people tionship is off the chart. I played under him, I coming to the games. You not only have the parcoached with him and now I sit in the role where ents and students from those schools but there I supervise him. I call him Uncle Dunham. In are so many other people that just love high the athletic world, Marmion Dambrino [former school sports. HISD athletic director] has given me all sorts of Defender: Who are some of your mentors opportunities and has prepared me for this job. I and what lessons did you learn from them? still have a long way to go but those folks have Walker: Of course my parents were major really played a major part in where I am today. mentors in my life. I was blessed to have my
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 23 | 2018
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
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GREATER HOUSTON BLACK CHAMBER NETWORKING Partner of the Year). Ensemble leaders Eileen Morris and Janette Cosley, along LUNCHEON……..The Greater Houston Black Chamber (GHBC) hosted with gala honorary chairs Jarvis and Andrea Hollingsworth, presided over an a Networking Luncheon at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, featuring evening filled with music, celebration and performances previewing plays to be entrepreneurs and professionals from all fields, as well as presentations by Carlecia featured in the Ensemble’s upcoming season. Attendees included Mayor Sylvester Wright, City of Houston director of Business Opportunity, Dr. Grenita Lathan, Turner, Councilmember Amanda Edwards, Denise Bates, Laurie Vignaud, HISD interim superintendent and others. The event’s guest speaker, Mayor Sylvester Kelly Rucker, Jackie Phillips, Damali Keith, Sharon and Larry Grant, Melanie Turner, highlighted the economic power and potential of the Bayou City. Attendees Lawson and more. …….. STUDENT GRAMMY AWARDS BACK TO included GHBC leaders Jeffery D. Wallace and Courtney SCHOOL EXPLOSION……..The World Youth Foundation Johnson Rose, Angelique Bartholomew, Olympian Dr. Seun Defender TOP EVENTS (WYF) honored youth and mentors at the first of its kind Student Adigun, Will Norwood, Niles and Lauren Dillard, Phillip More photos on defendernetwork.com Grammy Awards Back to School Explosion. The event served Balonwu, Michelle Johnson, Tequelia Lewis, Kiki Bacon, as the culmination of the WYF’s year-long “Seeds of Gratitude” Deidre Mathis and many more....…….. ENSEMBLE 2018 program, acknowledging standout students in several categories BLACK TIE GALA……..As a prelude to its 42nd season, the Ensemble Theatre including law, public relations, finance, theology, fine arts, agriculture, medicine, held its annual Black Tie Gala, “Elevating the Arts,” honoring actress and actor of science and more. Attendees included WYF Chairman/CEO Karen Franklin, the year, Crystal Fox (“The Haves and the Have Nots”) and Lamman Rucker event chair Raynese Edwards, Joi Beasley, James Douglas, Chauncey Glover (“Greenleaf”), respectively. Also honored were Wendy Armstrong (Rising Star), the (ABC13), Michelle and Madison Levi, Kim Landry, Kory McDaniel, the 915 All Creuzot Family (Community Partner of the Year) and United Airlines (Corporate Girls Jazz Band, Mayor Sylvester Turner and others.
Chef Tim, Michelle Johnson, Jeffery Wallace
Kiki Bacon, Sydney Whitman
Janette Cosley, Eileen Morris, Crystal Fox, Lamman Rucker
Donna Creuzot, Kelly Rucker, Cheryl Creuzot
Karen Franklin, Joi Beasley
Michelle Levi, Kim Landry, Kory McDaniel, Madison Levi
Quentin Wiltz, Angelique Bartholomew, Spurgeon Robinson
LaTorria Lemon, Cassiua Clay, Davon Richardson, Amanda Sapp
Carolyn Davis, Matthew Davis
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