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A6 Greensboro News & Record, Monday, Dec. 14, 1987
Two Worlds: Black & Whit
On the playgrounds, it's a mixed bag
D., nam lMmfcv ^-J
By LISA D. MICKEY
Staff Sports Writer
Thirty-two years ago, Dr. George Simkins
played a round of golf that he'll never forget.
It wasn't his score. Rather, it is the memory of
the first time Greensboro blacks ventured onto a
golf course reserved only for whites.
In 1955, the Greensboro dentist and five black
friends decided to play the whites-only Gillespie
Park Golf Course. Nocho Park, then the city's
designated course and recreation area for blacks,
wasn't as well-kept or. challenging. Simkins
wanted to play a better course.
By the time the group made it to the sixth
hole, the course professional and two deputies
approached them. The pro carried a golf club in
one hand and swore at the black players,
Simkins, now 63, recalled in a recent interview.
That night, the deputies served trespassing
warrants on Simkins and the other players. After
four years, two trials, a trip to the U.S. Supreme
Court and a pardon from Gov. Luther Hodges,
the case was settled and desegregation was
allowed at Gillespie Park.
A federal judge set a date when the course
would be opened to blacks. On the night before
that date, the clubhouse burned to the ground.
The city closed the entire course for almost 10
years.
"It went up in weeds and nobody played
there," Simkins said.
Some of the property was divided for other
purposes. When the golf course finally reopened,
only enough land remained for nine holes.
Simkins also led the way in integrating the city
tennis courts at Memorial Stadium off
Yanceyville Street and the Lindley Park pool,
the city's largest outdoor public pool.
"There's no question," Simkins said. "We've
come a long way from the '50s and '60s.
Everything was separate, but unequal."
Simkins, who was president of the Greensboro
NAACP chapter for 20 years, was a driving force
in the civil rights movement. Much of his energy
to challenge segregation stemmed from obstacles
he encountered firsthand as a recreational
athlete.
In the 1950s, Simkins and others invited white
players to Nocho Park to compete in tennis
exhibitions there. Many whites were receptive to
the invitation. Simkins entered the previously
all-white city tennis tournament in the early
1960s at the still-segregated Memorial Stadium
courts. He went on to win the men's doubles title
and advanced into the men's singles finals, where
he lost.
But his motivation to argue for equal
opportunities came from more than a desire for
personal glory.
"We made our greatest strides in opening up
the city's facilities and giving everybody a chance
to participate," he said.
For many years, Simkins was the only black
player in the state tennis tournament. He still
finds himself in a very small minority.
"I go to these tennis tournaments, and most of
the time I'm the only black there," he said. "But
people treat me just fine."
at'ludLT autfi Hne t0 If White students
Greensboro m*? Sc^.00u1>.or black students at
«5i? , »T ?.lgh' whlch is now Grimslev Hie-h
School," Simkins said. "I never thought I'd s£
blacks on the same football team as whites or
'meenbTaCkS C°mpetir* ■*** wtites e °r
J haPP?n" ' W3S P™** UP' * *"* didn't
j Today, black and white organizers nf
lhe?PX SP0rtS in GwenHbrw Se focusing
their efforts on smoothing out the remaininf
rough spots in race relations remaining
' W^ht? anyb«dy really l00ks at « ^ an
director for t£reen BPys^' assistant athl<*ic
DeltPJZt Greensboro Parks »d Recreation
The department forms its youth league teams
centers. Adult teams are often employees or
pickup players for teams sponsored by local
■~ suchZS^ S°TTently' Bryant acknowfedged
j such teams don't always achieve a balanced racial
"Teams are groups of friends from certain
boundaries and it doesn't really make a
white^H^3"^ a" the kids ■« bTack or
white, said Bryant, who is black.
; Bryant said most youngsters on recreational
George Simkins helped integrate
city recreational facilities in '50s, '60s
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| Title | Page 1 |
| Full text | A6 Greensboro News & Record, Monday, Dec. 14, 1987 Two Worlds: Black & Whit On the playgrounds, it's a mixed bag D., nam lMmfcv ^-J By LISA D. MICKEY Staff Sports Writer Thirty-two years ago, Dr. George Simkins played a round of golf that he'll never forget. It wasn't his score. Rather, it is the memory of the first time Greensboro blacks ventured onto a golf course reserved only for whites. In 1955, the Greensboro dentist and five black friends decided to play the whites-only Gillespie Park Golf Course. Nocho Park, then the city's designated course and recreation area for blacks, wasn't as well-kept or. challenging. Simkins wanted to play a better course. By the time the group made it to the sixth hole, the course professional and two deputies approached them. The pro carried a golf club in one hand and swore at the black players, Simkins, now 63, recalled in a recent interview. That night, the deputies served trespassing warrants on Simkins and the other players. After four years, two trials, a trip to the U.S. Supreme Court and a pardon from Gov. Luther Hodges, the case was settled and desegregation was allowed at Gillespie Park. A federal judge set a date when the course would be opened to blacks. On the night before that date, the clubhouse burned to the ground. The city closed the entire course for almost 10 years. "It went up in weeds and nobody played there," Simkins said. Some of the property was divided for other purposes. When the golf course finally reopened, only enough land remained for nine holes. Simkins also led the way in integrating the city tennis courts at Memorial Stadium off Yanceyville Street and the Lindley Park pool, the city's largest outdoor public pool. "There's no question," Simkins said. "We've come a long way from the '50s and '60s. Everything was separate, but unequal." Simkins, who was president of the Greensboro NAACP chapter for 20 years, was a driving force in the civil rights movement. Much of his energy to challenge segregation stemmed from obstacles he encountered firsthand as a recreational athlete. In the 1950s, Simkins and others invited white players to Nocho Park to compete in tennis exhibitions there. Many whites were receptive to the invitation. Simkins entered the previously all-white city tennis tournament in the early 1960s at the still-segregated Memorial Stadium courts. He went on to win the men's doubles title and advanced into the men's singles finals, where he lost. But his motivation to argue for equal opportunities came from more than a desire for personal glory. "We made our greatest strides in opening up the city's facilities and giving everybody a chance to participate," he said. For many years, Simkins was the only black player in the state tennis tournament. He still finds himself in a very small minority. "I go to these tennis tournaments, and most of the time I'm the only black there," he said. "But people treat me just fine." at'ludLT autfi Hne t0 If White students Greensboro m*? Sc^.00u1>.or black students at «5i? , »T ?.lgh' whlch is now Grimslev Hie-h School," Simkins said. "I never thought I'd s£ blacks on the same football team as whites or 'meenbTaCkS C°mpetir* ■*** wtites e °r J haPP?n" ' W3S P™** UP' * *"* didn't j Today, black and white organizers nf lhe?PX SP0rtS in GwenHbrw Se focusing their efforts on smoothing out the remaininf rough spots in race relations remaining ' W^ht? anyb«dy really l00ks at « ^ an director for t£reen BPys^' assistant athl<*ic DeltPJZt Greensboro Parks »d Recreation The department forms its youth league teams centers. Adult teams are often employees or pickup players for teams sponsored by local ■~ suchZS^ S°TTently' Bryant acknowfedged j such teams don't always achieve a balanced racial "Teams are groups of friends from certain boundaries and it doesn't really make a white^H^3"^ a" the kids ■« bTack or white, said Bryant, who is black. ; Bryant said most youngsters on recreational George Simkins helped integrate city recreational facilities in '50s, '60s |
