On Thursday, March 13, State Representative Juandalynn Givan and Senator Rodger Smitherman honored the A. H. Parker High School Boys Championship Basketball Team with Parker Day at the Capitol. Givan and Smitherman rolled out the “red carpet” for the players and cheerleaders in attendance. The Thundering Herd trampled away 39 years of frustration in the AHSAA state basketball tournament at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Area with a 56-46 victory over Ramsay. Governor Bentley greeted the players as well as posed for a group photo with players, coaches and cheerleaders. The team was recognized by the Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard in the House of Representatives and by Senator Smitherman on the Senate floor, where the players were presented with a resolution on behalf of the state as well as greetings from the Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey, Jefferson County Senate Delegation Leader Jabbo Waggoner and Senate Pro Tempo Del Marsh and Senator Pricilla Dunn. Senator Smitherman stated “that Parker honored the state with their victory as well as with their resilience over the past 39 years in never giving up.”
Rep. Givan presented each player with a medal and a certificate, also presenting Principal Darryl Hudson and Tyrus Moss, Athletic Director, with a resolution and medal for their leadership at Parker. Givan spoke to players and their families about the importance of “greatness and being great as well as knowing that they are great because God made them uniquely and distinctly themselves and that each one has to realize his or her potential to be even greater.
Executive Director of the AHSAA, Steve Savarese, brought greetings on behalf of the athletic association and cited the championship sprit that Parker has always been known for.
Representative Oliver Robinson formally with the San Antonio Spurs was the keynote speaker. Robinson in his comments impressed upon each player,” to be champions on and off the field, he stressed the importance of being productive citizens as well as the importance of a quality education.”
Greetings were brought by President Jonathan Austin, District 5 of the Birmingham City Council, as well as Council Pro Tem Jay Roberson, the Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus Napoleon Bracy and Senate Minority leader, Senator Vivian Davis Figures. Ron Bufford from Alabama Power Company, a proud Parker Alumni, spoke of the purple and white pride that Parker Alumni have and what the A.H. Parker High School means to the State and this nation, he rallied the crowd with excerpts from the school song;” there is no other high school we love like Parker, we sing and shout her praises until the day we die.” He ended with “when we bleed we bleed purple and white.”
The team was treated like royalty and the true champions they are.
