Champ’s death stirs memory

Crucial levee link completed
June 14, 2016
Parallel truths loom large
June 14, 2016
Crucial levee link completed
June 14, 2016
Parallel truths loom large
June 14, 2016

When the death of former World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali was announced on June 3, Terrebonne Parish School District member L.P. Bordelon’s thoughts immediately flashed back 41 years, to the day the champ visited Gray.

“On March 3, 1975, Muhammad Ali came to H. L. Bourgeois High School where I was principal and entertained the student body for an hour or so,” Bordelon said. “And to top it all off, he sparred a couple of rounds with Assistant Principal Frank Kidd and myself. I don’t think we hurt him.”


The Kentucky native, born Cassius Marcellus Clay in 1942, was an Olympic boxer who went on to prizefighting fame, capturing the world heavyweight title from Sonny Liston in 1964. He shunned his given name, taking on the name Muhammed Ali after converting to Islam. Ali courted controversy in 1966, when he refused the military draft on religious grounds. He also opposed U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and was convicted of draft evasion and lost his boxing titles. In 1971 the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction.

For these reasons, the potential of Ali appearing at a local high school in Terrebonne drew concern from some parents. His appearance at H.L.B. occurred at the suggestion of English teacher Dorothy Lyons, whose sister was acquainted with the fighter. She knew that he would be traveling from New Orleans to Houston, and told Bordelon that she could arrange for him to visit the school.

“Everything was going along pretty well,” Bordelon said. “Then I started getting some flack from the school district officials, because he was very controversial.”


Schools superintendent Henry Breaux stood his ground and Bordelon stood his ground. But common ground was reached and a green light was given, so long as students could opt out of the appearance to a study hall. About 900 students attended the event and between 40 and 50 stayed in study hall, Bordelon said.

A local veterans group had threatened to protest Ali’s appearance but nobody followed through.

“Very few public officials came to the presentation, three or four at most,” Bordelon said.


During Ali’s appearance, the boxer spoke about current affairs and answered students’ questions. Then, to the delight of everyone, Bordelon said, came the mini-sparring matches with himself and Kidd.

“He was fine, the kids loved him,” Bordelon said. “They picked up on him right away and he was funny.”

Photos of the event appeared in the school yearbook. Newspaper clippings and photos now live in a frame hanging in Bordelon’s Houma kitchen. Reminiscing about his close encounter with the champ, the school board rep said he was particularly impressed with Ali’s sense of humor.


“He couldn’t get over where he was and asked me, ‘Where in the world am I?’ and I said, You are in Gray, Louisiana,’” Bordelon said. “When he was asked by a student why can’t everybody get along together, he said, ‘We should. We have to find our place in society and get along.’ He was very honest with them.”

During his visit Ali, who was not compensated, offered a poem to the students.

“You have a beautiful school and I admire your style/But your pay is cheap I won’t be back here for a while.” •


L.P. Bordelon looks over memorabilia related to former heavyweight champ Muhammed Ali’s visit to H.L. Bourgeois High School when he was principal there in 1975. 

 

JOHN DeSANTIS | THE TIMES