Legendary high school football coach Herman Boone, who was immortalized by Denzel Washington in ‘Remember the Titans,’ dies at 84, almost 50 years after guiding the newly-integrated T.C Williams High to a Virginia state title
- Herman Boone, the former high school football coach portrayed by actor Denzel Washington in the movie ‘Remember the Titans, has passed away at 84
- Boone famously took over T.C. Williams football team in 1971, which was the first year the city’s schools were consolidated and integrated, and won a state title
- With white assistant Bill Yoast, who was originally supposed to be the head coach, the African-American Boone guided the team to an undefeated season
- Yoast died in May at age 94. Boone admitted their relationship was rocky at first, but said ‘we found a way to talk to one another,’ which he says helped the team
- In 2016, Boone received the Living Legends of Alexandria award, and has been viewed throughout the years as an icon of integration in the area
- The movie, which was made in 2000 by producer Jerry Bruckheimer, grossed over $115 million domestically and was nominated for several awards
Herman Boone, the former high school football coach portrayed by actor Denzel Washington in the movie ‘Remember the Titans, has passed away at 84.
A former principal at Alexandria, Virginia’s T.C. Williams High School, where Boone coached, confirmed his passing on Wednesday, according to WTOP.com. A cause of death was not given.
Boone famously took over T.C. Williams football team in 1971, which was the first year the city’s schools were consolidated and integrated.
Along with a white assistant named Bill Yoast, who was originally supposed to be the head coach, the African-American Boone guided the Titans to an undefeated season and a state championship.
Yoast died in May at age 94.
Former T.C. Williams assistant coach Bill Yoast (left), coach Herman Boone (center) and producer Jerry Bruckheimer at the ‘Remember the Titans’ premiere in 2000 in Pasadena
Actors Will Patton (left as Bill Yoast) and Denzel Washington (center as Herman Boone) in ‘Remember the Titans,’ which is the story of the 1971 T.C. Williams football team
At the time, Boone spoke to the Washington Post about the struggles integrating the Titans.
‘No doubt, the beginning of our relationship was rocky,’ said Boone, who coached the Titans from 1971 to 1979. ‘I didn’t know Yoast. Yoast didn’t know me. I knew that [Francis Hammond High School, where Yoast previously coached] had no black athletes and I didn’t know if coach Yoast had anything to do with that. But we got to [training camp] and became roommates and found a way to talk to one another.
‘I think that’s the formula for race relations throughout the world. People have to learn to talk to one another. You have to learn to talk to that individual, and when you talk to that individual, you learn to trust that individual, and that’s the greatest gift God gave to man.’
The team’s quarterback, an African-American player named Ronnie Bass, went on to play collegiately at South Carolina, but the Titans roster was not populated by many top college prospects.
In 2016, Boone received the Living Legends of Alexandria award, and has been viewed throughout the years as an icon of integration in the area.
‘ACPS and the @TCWTitans community will never forget his contribution to bringing our city together post-segregation,’ the school system tweeted out Wednesday.
‘Sad to hear of the loss of an Alexandria legend and pioneer,’ Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson tweeted. ‘Coach Boone was an irreplaceable part of our history and integral in building the community we enjoy today.’
The movie, which was made in 2000 by producer Jerry Bruckheimer, grossed over $115 million domestically and was nominated for several awards.
Alexandria’s T.C. Williams High School football coach Herman Boone, right, during a break at summer camp, in 1971, with guard Johnny Colantuoni, (62) and John Vaughn, center