Reece Gardner: George Whitfield - Rags to riches

One of my guests this week on my television show is George Whitfield, and it is a pleasure to be in his presence. The main reason I wanted to write today about George is that he epitomizes the "rags to riches" theme of being the best that we can be. He is a "local boy,' so to speak, who excelled, but it was not without a lot of effort. A. J. Carr wrote, "Coach Whitfield produced a glittering record for more than 40 years, helped thousands of kids, and still promotes the sport of baseball with unbridled fervor."

His American Legion teams and high school teams in Eastern NC carved a 954-286 mark that included 8 state championships and 15 conference titles. Ninety of those players received college scholarships and three - Franklin Stubbs, Alvin Morman and Brian Moehlar - reached the Big Leagues. And all of this in the face of setbacks and hardships that came his way. His mother died when he was 18 months old, and his father died when he was 12. George's early teen years were very challenging. As a young teenager he found himself just striving to survive.

And then Noted High School Coach Amos Sexton and his wife invited George to live with them In that stable environment, he gained a new lease on life. He developed into a three-sport athlete at Kinston, went on to play baseball and basketball at Lees McRae Junior College, and completed his under-graduate degree at East Carolina. Inspired by Sexton and another great Kinston coach, Frank Mock, Whitfield chose to follow his mentors' footsteps. He went to Goldsboro in 1959 and taught school and coached three sports. Speaking of Sexton and Mock, George said, "I don't know where I would be without their help. I'm sure I wouldn't be here." And then he said, "God has always put somebody there for me at every place in my life."

Now in his Mid-Eighties and with a beautiful family of his own, he still conducts the popular "George Whitfield Baseball Clinic," as he has for nearly 50 years. This Clinic, held annually in Goldsboro, includes keynote speakers such as Jerry Narron, Arizona Diamondbacks Coach, and Al Aycock, Major General, U.S. Army. The Clinic always features Head Baseball Coaches from various outlets, such as Catawba College, Pinecrest High School, Belmont Abbey College, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, Brunswick Community College, Farmville Central High School, Oakland Athletics, and many more. Most importantly, this Clinic has helped mold the minds and hearts of thousands of young people to be the best they can be.

And now, a few highlights from George Whitfield's life: American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame; Goldsboro High School Hall of Fame; NC High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame; NC Sports Hall of Fame; Kinston/Lenoir County Hall of Fame; East Carolina Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award, Etc.

Folks, these are just a few of the highlights of George's career. There are many more. We still live in the greatest nation on the face of the earth, where a young teenager with tenacity, faith, and hope can indeed go from "Rags to Riches."

Now to close on a humorous note: A farmer drove to a neighbor's farmhouse and knocked on the door. A boy, about 9, opened the door. ""Is your Dad or Mom home?" said the farmer. "No, they went to town." "How about your brother, Howard? Is he here?" "No, he went with Mom and Dad." The farmer stood there for a minute, looking uncomfortable. The young boy said, "I know where all the tools are, if you want to borrow one, or I can give Dad a message." "Well," said the farmer, "No, I really want to talk to your Dad about your brother Howard getting my daughter Suzy pregnant!" The boy thought for a moment, then said, "You'll have to talk with my Dad about that. I know he charges $50 for the bulls and $25 for the pigs, but I have no idea what he charges for Howard!" HAVE A GREAT DAY!