Late Parkville coach Yates remembered as field dedication approaches
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Parkville High's plan to rename its football field in honor of Joseph Yates Sr., who in 1971 became Baltimore County's first African-American head football coach.
Since then, I've heard nothing but wonderful things from former players -- and one former student of his who is a colleague of mine here at The Baltimore Sun -- about what a great guy he was and how much he deserves this honor. I e-mailed one of his former players that it is a shame Yates is not here to receive this honor in person, but I was told he wouldn't like all the attention.
Yates died in 2006 at the age of 83, but, by all accounts he left a lasting impression on those around him. So for further insight into the legacy of Joe Yates, as Parkville prepares to rename it's football field Yates Field this Saturday at 12:30 p.m., read what former Sun
columnist Gregory Kane wrote just after Yates passed away:
When the Parkville High School football team plays its first home game this season, will the players be performing on a turf called Yates Field?
They will if Robert Gartside has his way. Gartside is a proud alumnus of Parkville, Class of 1969. His last season on the football team - where he played on the defensive line - was in the fall of 1968. Joseph Yates Sr. was an assistant football coach at Parkville then. Three years later, Yates became Baltimore County's first black high school head football coach.
