Leon Strauss was born in Houston, Texas on September 29, 1952, to Ivory and Ophelia Strauss.  He received his early years of education in the 5th Ward and Kashmere Garden area. At Kashmere High School, his Alma Mata, he excelled in academics and sports. Leon never played organized football until he attended Kashmere High School where he became a freshman starter on the varsity team… He was a two …

  First Quarter Timothy Gray known to many as Tim was one of four kids born to Thelma and C.M. Gray in Houston, TX on November 11, 1952. Tim was an inner city student in the Kashmere Gardens area of Houston. He attended public school from elementary to high school.  As a student, standing tall among his peers Tim not only focused on his education but also making the most …

The Houston Texas native Russel Charles was a three-time prep letterman in both football and track at Houston’s Kashmere High School. Russel was a 1971 football captain and a two-way starter as a senior. Charles had many accolades bestowed upon him throughout his high school career including All City, All-Greater Houston Area, and All-State, but none more gratifying than being named to the 70’s Houston Chronicle All-Decade First Team. Russel …

August 28, 1955, was a very blessed day for Amos and Annie Morehead. Their third child was born at St. Elizabeth Hospital which they named Patsy. I was raised in Trinity Gardens on Weaver Road along with my three siblings, Pearline, Ronnie (deceased) and Anthony. We were a close-knit family that didn’t have a lot but didn’t know it. We were dedicated members of Gospel Hill Baptist Church for over …

During the PVIL years, Michael W. Ashley (Mike) was an outstanding student-athlete at Kashmere Gardens High School in Houston, Texas.  As an eighth grader in 1957, he played on the varsity football team because there was no Junior High team.  For five years, 1957 – 1962, Ashley’s honors were numerous; his honors included All-City, All-District, All-State, and MVP on both the basketball and football teams.  He was the only tenth …

Larry Edwards -1968 While at Kashmere Gardens Senior High School his team won the City and District Football Championship under the leadership of Coach Billie Matthews. Larry made All-City, All-Regional, and All-State football team his senior year. During those years Larry was nicknamed “Big Lou”. This nickname followed him as he continued his football career and education at Texas A & I University in Kingsville, Texas. He graduated from Texas …

 Kirby Jones: HISD Coaching Legend Kirby Jones a lifelong Houstonian is a 1948 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School where he was a star student-athlete in football and track. He received All-City and All-District honors as a football player. BTW advanced to the state semi-finals in 1948 before losing to Cole High School of Corpus Christi, Texas.  Mr. Jones received a football scholarship to Texas Southern University where he …

  Below you will read about the many coaches and players that cross my path throughout my athletic career and to those I say thank you. My interest in athletic began in my parent’s backyard when I was eleven years old. At that time my cousin David Brown was attending Prairie View A&M University. He was an All-Conference tackle; David would show me how to properly get in a 3 …

                  Joseph Wayne Pittman was born January 1, 1953, to the late Freddie L. and Lee Artie Criswell Pittman. He was educated in the public school system in Houston and was a 1971 graduate of Kashmere High School. At Kashmere High, he excelled as a four-year letterman and starter; he also served two years as captain before graduating as one of the …

Jarvis “Teddy” Williams’ love for basketball started at a very young age from idolizing his older brother, Shannon Williams, Jr. (Kashmere Stage Band-1968). He started playing organized basketball and football at Francis Scott Key Junior High School in the 7th grade. During his summers off from school, he developed his skills by playing with the older guys during open gym at Key Junior High. This allowed Jarvis to be able …