Boone was one of the coaches for the 1971 state championship team at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria.
It is with great sadness that we share the sad news of the passing of former Head Football Coach Herman Boone who lead the Titans to the State Championship in 1971🏈. #RIP@TCWilliamsAD @TCWSports @AlexandriaPatch @AlexandriaNow @AlexGazette pic.twitter.com/4I0DFAAWSF
— T.C. Williams H.S. Football Boosters (@TCTitanFootball) December 18, 2019
Boone led the Titans to a 13-0 record in 1971, blending players from two area schools into a championship team, Sports Illustrated reported. The team was immortalized in the September 2000 Disney movie, which grossed more than $136 million worldwide.
According to Alexandria City Public Schools, Boone "took the position at T.C. Williams when he was told that the town of Williamston in North Carolina was not ready for a black head coach," WJLA reported.
We are truly saddened to hear of the death of Coach Herman Boone today. ACPS & the @TCWTitans community will never forget his contribution to bringing our city together post-segregation. We encourage you to share your stories and memories of him with us. #RememberTheTitans pic.twitter.com/JZcsVVv0TT
— Alexandria City Public Schools (@ACPSk12) December 18, 2019
Bill Yoast, a notable coach at the all-white Francis C. Hammond High School, was the defensive coach for the team, the television station reported. Yoast died May 23 at the age of 94. Will Patton played Yoast in "Remember the Titans."
This comment from Herman Boone spoke to me #RipCoachBoone pic.twitter.com/vB3w1KWoqR
— Nicholas Wilson (@NickWilsonWFNZ) December 18, 2019
Boone and Yoast "put aside personal pride and pulled together to solidify a diverse coaching staff and team into the most successful team in the state in 1971,” the school system said.
A star fullback from the 1971 team, Petey Jones, died this summer, WTOP reported.
Boone remained with T.C. Williams until 1979 when he was fired, The Washington Post reported.
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