#89 the Road to Number One

© 2006 Ralph V. Brooks. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 01/17/06

ISBN: 1-4259-0790-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-2609-7 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2005910723

Contents

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ADDITIONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS

DADEVILLE TIGERS CLASS OF 1983

AUTHOR’S NOTES

INTRODUCTION

BEST OFFENSIVE BACK

MY BEGINNING

MY FOURTH-GRADE FIELD TRIP

MY FIFTH-GRADE TEACHERS

COACH PHILLIP BAKER

JIMMY BURSON

(THE SPIRIT OF THE DEFENSE)

COACH WAYNE KEAHEY

(1981 ALL-STAR COACH)

THE STORY BEHIND

NUMBER EIGHTY-NINE

MY SIXTH-GRADE TEACHERS

FACULTY AT DADEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

THE MAKING OF CHAMPIONS

HELEN GEORGE

MY SOPHOMORE YEAR

COACH EDWARD FLEMMING

MY SENIOR YEAR

DAVID (ROOSTER) JONES

ABOUT EUFAULA

ERIC MARTINEZ (QUALITY SERVICE)

RODNEY (BUSINESSMAN) CRAYTON

RODNEY CRAYTON TIMELINE

BRAD (B) FORD

BRAD (B) FORD CAREER CHRONOLOGY

RALPH BROOKS IN THE COMMUNITY

BROOKS’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

MY FRIENDS

THANK YOU, EAST TAMPA BAY BANDITS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WENDY L. HAMILTON ON MEETING RALPH BROOKS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DEDICATION

(1)    To God First                             

(2)    In Loving memories of my uncle Robert Johnson            

(3)    First Baptist Church of Eufaula—Dr. Bush and Staff            

(4)    Williams Barber Shop                        

(5)    Eufaula TV                                

(6)    Barbour County Churches                        

(7)    Tallapoosa County Churches                    

(8)    Eufaula School Board                        

(9)    Dadeville School Board                        

(10)    Mary & Richard Solomon, my parents                

(11)    Faith Theological Seminary and Christian College            

(12)    Dr. George W. Walters, Jr.

Founder and President

Senior Pastor of Faith Outreach Center Church            

(13)    Dr. George Siemer

Dean of Faith Christian College

(14)    Maggie Torrisi

Registrar of Faith Christian College

(15)    Dr. Ray Miller    

My first teacher at Faith Theological Seminary School

(16)    All of my classmates and teachers

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to acknowledge the families in the cities of Jackson Gap, Dadeville, and Eufaula, Alabama, for always looking after me. I wouldn’t have made it without each and every one of you. And thanks to all my classmates, teachers, and friends who visited me in the hospital when I was sick. I can’t say enough about how much your love and support has helped me to become the man I am today.

To Wayne Keahey, Jimmy Burson, Edward Flemming, and the late George Cochran, I thank you for your discipline and for molding me to be more than a football player. To the faculties at Dadeville Elementary, Admiral Moore Middle School, Dadeville High School, and Eufaula High School, I’m glad that I had a chance to learn from the best, for which I am grateful.

Catherine Traylor, Hattie Wyckoff, Annette James, Jeannette Everett, Keith Brooks, Patrick Brooks, and to the late Bertha Simmons, my brothers and sisters, thank you for helping Mom raise a kid that everyone could be proud of. I can’t think of a moment or day that I thought I would become a preacher and author. I just want to put down on paper that I love you all.

To my senior class of 1983, my only regret is that we did not win the state championship game. To my junior class, we won it all. It is hard to believe we have a twenty-five-year-old record. In 1981, we won the last state championship in football. To the Dadeville Tigers and Eufaula Tigers organization and their fans, thank you for making high school the best days of my life. What would I be without you? I came to you with nothing but left with an education.

To my best friend, Jessie Foster, thank you and your wife for always giving me a place to stay. In high school, Jessie would cry if we lost a game. His passion and hard work for the game has made it possible for others to finish what he started. I know he always wanted to go to college to play football. This book is part of my gift to you, for all you have done for the people and kids of Jackson Gap and Dadeville, Alabama.

THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE - WWW.RVBROOKS.COM

ADDITIONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS

DADEVILLE TIGERS CLASS OF 1983

In 1983, we were the seniors at Dadeville High School, and when we left we each took a part of each other with us. Although we lost Bernard and Fletcher, their memories can last a lifetime. We will always be bound by two simple words—Roll Call. We will always be together even though we said our goodbyes on graduation night.

Class of 1983

The joy you brought to our lives will never be forgotten.

AUTHOR’S NOTES

I have always wanted the best things out of life. I was willing to work hard and do whatever it took to make it big in the world. For a little while it seemed like I had everything in the palm of my hand. One day everything changed, when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord. He gave me a different outlook on my life. I started to treat my family, friends, and neighbors better. If you understand what I am saying, just hold your hands high and give him the praise.

I don’t know if anyone out there was like me. I do know that I am bought with a price and I belong to Jesus. I do know that I came into this world with nothing and I will leave when he is ready for me. I thought money was everything, but money doesn’t mean anything; you can’t take it with you. I am running a race not to win the prize money but in hopes that a crown is waiting at the finish line. I left all the material things that make people first in the world. I have set my eyes on the spiritual things in heaven.

I only seek the revelation and knowledge of Christ in order to preach the gospel. When I played football I would talk about it day and night. I wanted to be the best at whatever position I got to play. I am still in the game, but this time everyone can win. I only have one thing to say: if you know Jesus you know me. If you don’t know Jesus he knows you, because he gave his only begotten son as a sacrifice that we may have life. He paid in full for our sins.

I walked away from God fourteen years ago. I am so glad that he let me come back home. I know that in my flesh dwell no good things. I was like the prodigal son. I was down and out but I came to my senses. I went home to my father, who has never left me. I can always depend on God, and that is why I love him with all my heart, soul, and mind. Whatever you do in life, put God first, because without him you can do nothing.

Jewel Kelly, pastor of Community Fellowship Inspiration, would always tell me that she is under grace. Bishop W. T. Traylor of New Covenant Ministries of the World would always open his sermon with Psalms 19:14. The words stay in my head: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. I thank God for them both, and I pray that God blesses America and that the world asks a question: What must I do to be saved? The answer is simple: repent, ask for forgiveness, accept him as your personal savior, and believe that God has raised Jesus from the dead and thou shall be saved.

INTRODUCTION

There’s a great closeness on a football team. I had that with players and coaches from Jackson Gap, Dadeville, and Eufaula, Alabama. I could talk to them about any problems that I had. David Jones, Jessie Foster, Wayne Keahey, and Jimmy Burson are the brothers, and father figures, that I miss the most. It is the closeness we had for each other.

In this book I talk about my football and basketball career at Admiral Moore Middle School. I present a clear picture of my elementary and high school days and the effect my teachers and other people had on my life. I talk about my visit to the Horseshoe Bend Military Park when I was in fourth grade at Dadeville Elementary School. I talk about the War of 1812, where General Andrew Jackson attacked Chief Menawa.

Throughout this book, I talk about personal stories, experiences, and the effect football and winning a championship in 1981 had on many people in the community of Eufaula, Alabama. I speak about famous Alabamians whom I met in my lifetime, such as Henry Hank Aaron, Vincent (Bo) Jackson, Rodney Crayton, Brad Ford, and Mary Jo Warren. She was the first African-American teacher and principal at Dadeville Elementary School.

In the book, I talk about one of my high school coaches and a story that he tells about coaching Derek Richardson in the all-star game. Richardson is one of the greatest high school players I ever coached, says Wayne Keahey.

In the book, I talk about the story behind number eighty-nine, and how a high school player inspired me to wear his number. He meant to the team what Vince Lombardi means to the Green Bay Packers. He was tough and would do anything for his teammates. His success in football was an inspiration for the fans and the whole football team.

Derek was all business on the football field. When he was off the field, he would crack jokes and have fun with everyone. We always knew that with him we had a chance to win every game. He was a nightmare to most high school football players. One game, he tackled the quarterback, fullback, and the running back. He did not know who had the football, so he tackled everyone.

In the book, I talk about Eric Martinez, a good friend of mine who manages a local Burger King in Tampa, Florida. In my own life, I have been a supervisor, knitter, and have worked for companies such as Russell Mills, J.P. Morgan Chase, Hummingbird (formerly Techsonic Industries Inc.), Burger King, and McDonald’s. I thank my uncle John Hamilton and my friend James Hamilton for helping me get a job and for teaching me about responsibility after high school.

In the book, I talk about the making of a champion. My father loved to gamble and drink alcohol. He suffered from alcoholism, a disease in which a person’s needs to drink and cannot control it. My mother would talk to him about getting help. He struggled with life; his life did not have a good foundation in the beginning. His actions made me move from one city to another.

The book has stories about my personal interviews with Coach Edward Flemming, former coach at Eufaula High School; Wayne Keahey, former head coach at Dadeville High School; Rodney (Businessman) Crayton, former University of Auburn football player; and Brad (B) Ford, former University of Alabama and Detroit Lions football player.

In the book, I talk about my participation in the Great American Teach-In. It talks about the American flag. In 2004, a rock star at the Super Bowl wore the flag and he had to remove the poncho. It talks about what the red, white, and blue of the flag represents. It talks about our birth of the United States and our Independence Day. This is one subject I talk about at every Great American Teach-In. It marks the day in 1776, when a group of determined patriots declared our independence.

In the book, you will see that my life story is different from most authors. I have been blessed to be able to