The Westchester County Press Post Office Box 152, White Plains, NY 10602
County Press
94
The Westchester
YEARS
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WHITE PLANS, NY PERMIT # 5069
“Documenting Our History for the Future.”
VOL. XCIV NO. 45
Inside The County Press
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
For over three decades, Harry Jefferson, Jr. mentored thousands of students as they walked through the halls of White Plains High School. However, before serving as a teacher, administrator, and assistant principal, “Coach Jeff” earned his tiger stripes on the track and football fields. After he graduated from White Plains High School in 1953, the Student Government Vice President, Captain of the Track Team, and member of the All-County, All-Metropolitan, and National High School All-American teams took his talents to the University of Illinois (UI). While at UI, #28’s stellar performance earned him recognition on the International News Service’s All-Midwest Unit, second-team honors on the All-Big Ten squad, and honorable mention All-America laurels. After earning a degree in physical education from UI in 1957, Jefferson played football for the Quantico Marines and was named to the All-Sea Service team as a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Following his military career, Jefferson continued his football career with the New York Giants. When the door to his career with Big
MEMBER OF NNPA
COACH HARRY JEFFERSON
“He Won the Game!” By A. Kelli Higgs, Esq.
Congratulations Kecia Palmer-Cousins See story on page 8
Blue closed due to an injury, another door opened when he joined the White Plains High School faculty in 1959. The door opened wider after Jefferson earned a master’s degree from Columbia University, while coaching the White Plains High School varsity football, basketball, and track teams. With “Coach Jeff” at the helm, the 196566 Tiger basketball team captured the Section One County Basketball Championship and Jefferson was named Coach of the Year. After retiring from White
Plains H.S. in 1996, Jefferson was inducted into the White Plains H.S. Hall of Fame in 1997. In the following years, he could be seen at
every Annual Harry Jefferson Holiday Showcase, in the aptly named Harry Jefferson Gym at White Plains High.
COACH JEFFERSON, Cont’d. on page 2
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