In the summer of 2004, a regional representative for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America got a call about an inquiry from Kentucky. One of John R. Miller’s bosses wanted to send him to Hopkinsville and asked if he knew anything about the town.
Yes, said Miller. He knew about Hopkinsville. It was his hometown. He had graduated from Hopkinsville High School in 1981.
Soon Miller was back in Hopkinsville for a series of meetings with a former mayor, Wally Bryan, who had lined up introductions with first one person and then another as he pushed for the Boys and Girls Clubs to establish a local chapter.
Miller. now retired as a senior vice president for Boys and Girls Clubs, recalled those early discussions when he spoke Wednesday for a 20th anniversary celebration of the local chapter.
Along with Jim Clark, the national president, he was among several speakers for the Great Futures Luncheon, which drew a few hundred guests. The audience included donors, board members, community members and students who are club members.
Boys and Girls Clubs serve elementary, middle and high school students with mentorship, tutoring, meals and numerous activities that fill their summer days and afternoons during the school year.
Terrence Davis, the local executive director, highlighted several achievements for local members. As one example, he noted that six club members graduated from high school this year. Five are headed to college and one is joining the military.
One of the graduates, Illiana Apolo-Ramirez, who has been a Boys and Girls Club member for 13 years, became tearful as she described the organization’s influence in her life. She thanked the staff for supporting her. She will attend Hopkinsville Community College and plans to become a registered nurse.
Board member Cody Noffsinger praised Davis and staff members for their dedication and hard work.
“I want to honor Terrence Davis, our fearless, dedicated leader, as well as the current and former staff and board members of Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville-Christian County,” said Noffsinger. “… It takes a special person to devote their life to improving the lives of others … Terrence we are so blessed to have you. You are special in every way.”
Also Wednesday, another group of supporters gathered at the Boys and Girls Club on Walnut Street to cut a ceremonial ribbon and dedicate the Wade Family Gymnasium.
Tommy Wade Jr., a Hopkinsville native and recently retired collegiate basketball coach, is the benefactor for the newly renovated gym. He invested $165,000 in the project — which has a new wooden floor, bleachers, scoreboards, sideline chairs and video system — as a memorial to his late parents, Tom and Wanda Wade, who owned and operated a men’s clothing store in downtown Hopkinsville from nearly 40 years.
Several former classmates, teachers, coaches and friends joined Wade for the dedication.
Wade said his parents were deeply rooted in Hopkinsville and never considered leaving their hometown. They were also dedicated to their only son and made sacrifices as he pursued basketball dreams.
His parents graduated from the old Hopkinsville High School, which stood on the grounds now occupied by the Boys and Girls Club.
The new wood floor in the gym is named for them. A window-box along one wall in the gym holds orange and black Hopkinsville High memorabilia, including a basketball jersey with Tommy Wade’s number, 10.
Davis, who had been looking for ways to upgrade the gym for several years, said, “It took the perfect partner, and Tommy Wade was the perfect partner.”
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
