Lee E Rainer

LEE E. RAINER

I came to the Harrison High School building from the 6th grade to the 7th grade from across the street where I attended Elem Street Elementary School. Before attending Elem Street, I attended 1st through 5th grades at Robinson Elementary School in Robinson Addition. My mother moved to 10th street which was on the West side of Highway 61, and this move put me in the Elem Street School District.

I came to the Harrison Building where I met lifelong friends, only being in 7th Grade, we had a long ways to go before we could say we were in the 9th grade and had enter “HIGH SCHOOL”. Well I’ll skip 7th and 8th grade in this writing and go directly to 9th grade. I was in “HIGH SCHOOL”.

First day there, I joined the marching and concert band, I had been in the Rhythm Band before and I thought I was Satchmo, since my sister had given me a brand new Trumpet. I signed up for my classes, got lost (in that little building) trying to find my home room, which was in the Gym in the bleachers, by the time I found the place, home Room was about over, and Ms. Allen wanted to know who I was and where I had been? Told me don’t ever miss or be late for home again!

Finally, that same first day, I met the “Ole Man”, Coach Ira T. Young, I asked Coach if I could play Basketball, he said, well son, I don’t know, Can you? I answered, Yes Sir. He said ok, we’ll see. Be in practice after school. I was there, but I had no Gym shoes or anything, he told me to come back when I got some gym/tennis shoes. I got gym shoes and went back and the rest of this story is history.

I do recall one time we were playing Forrest City, at home. I shot the ball three consecutive times and hit all three shots, 6 Points, I was HOT! Next time, Freddie Fox brought the ball down the court, passed it to Prince Ruffin, Prince passed it to me and I shot and missed. Ole Man. Called me over to the bench and said, Bank Head, sit down. I look around to see who Bank Head was, he said you, you got your eye back, sit down. I guess he called me that because he could not remember my name. I was on the bench, and was referred to as Bank Head by him and most schoolmates ever since. It took me a long time to understand what he meant. I realized later in life that he meant I was not a good shooter, and by me missing that shot, I was now back to my normal self. I’ll never forget that lifelong lesson learned.

Well I don’t want to take up all the time I’m sure other classmates have similar stories to tell, so, I’ll end with this, as Ole Man did every time he met or passed you, he would speak, wave his hands or somehow acknowledge your presence in his space. He taught me to be kind to people, care for your Neighbor and help people Whomever, Whenever and Wherever you can.