Oakland school’s community remembers Bill Russell, says his generosity will continue well into the future
OAKLAND – Held up by several McClymonds students a little before sunset, a banner with Bill Russell’s many accomplishments was both expansive and far too short to list all the basketball legend had done.
Flanking the display honoring Russell, who died this summer at the age of 88, was a collection of Oakland’s public figures and former McClymond icons.
A McClymonds staff member said the banner would be displayed at a prominent location at the school, a constant reminder of the consistent excellence Russell embodied.
McClymonds paid tribute to Russell (Class of 1952) before the school’s season-opening football game Friday night against Bellarmine, a game the home team dramatically won in overtime.
Afterward, McClymonds football coach Michael Peters said Russell was looking down on them.
“There’s a lot of great people who came out of McClymonds high school,” said Peters, himself an alum of the school. “But for him to win all the championships, and then to be the first African-American coach in the NBA is huge for the area.”
Russell has a resume beyond reproach, both as a man and an athlete.
He was at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement. He won two NCAA championships at USF. As a star with the Boston Celtics in the late-1950s and ‘60s, Russell created the modern archetype for the NBA’s superstar centers, stacking up an American-record 11 championships.
He went on to become a player-coach, which made him the first Black coach in the four major American sports leagues. He also was a TV broadcaster.
After retirement from basketball, Russell continued his Civil Rights work, authored several books and traveled the world.
“Bill saw the complete and holistic view,” said Bill Patterson, who had been close with Russell since the two met when Russell was a young man in Oakland. “He could see all the improprieties in the things that took us back. The reason he was so effective was because he was moving in different segments, bringing people together from those segments and exerting leadership to give national attention to the problem.“
Outside of the public eye, Russell gave back to his community through philanthropic contributions. His donations will continue to help McClymonds students well into the future.
“Bill Russell was part of a group that was anonymous and donated $3 million,” McClymonds athletic director Humphrey Garrett said. “That money is in the bank and the students are being awarded for that by the interest that accumulates on the money Bill Russell donated.”
Garrett said that McClymonds students who attend college will receive a merit scholarship to help with expenses.
Peters, even as his team was getting ready to play Bellarmine, explained how the financial assistance will work.
“When you’re at a four-year school, you get four stipends,” Peters said. “And as long as you’re at a junior college, you get two and then you get more if you go on to a four-year school. That helps the kids out in college.”
It’s his off-the-court work that McClymonds dignitaries hope today’s students take most to heart.
“I’m proud to have gone to the same high school and played on the same court,” said McClymonds alum and former NBA standout Antonio Davis, who attended Friday’s football game. “More than anything, it has forced me to take on that persona of greatness, to be as good as I can be. It doesn’t mean I’m gonna be Bill Russell, but what it means is you’re going to see the best Antonio Davis at all times.”
Patterson, who has dedicated much of his life to helping Oakland in numerous roles, hopes McClymond’s future graduates use Russell’s posthumous contributions in a way the man himself would.
“He was concerned about the rest of the people,” Patterson said. “That’s what we always said, that you’ll be in a position to pull people up, to help people and have others follow in your footsteps.”