Herman Boone, the Virginia high school football coach who was portrayed by Denzel Washington in the 2000 film Remember the Titans, has passed away at the age of 84.
Boone, who coached T.C. Williams High School to a state championship in 1971 during the early days of desegregation, had been battling cancer and died Wednesday at his home in Alexandria, Virginia.
“He touched many lives and hearts across the world. He was inspirational for so many people, including me as one of his former students,” Alexandria City superintendent of schools Dr. Gregory Hutchings Jr. told WUSA9. “Alexandria City Public Schools was fortunate to have him as an icon at such a critical time in our history. He will be dearly missed.”
A graduate of North Carolina Central University, Boone led undefeated T.C. Williams to the state championship over 15 all-white teams, overcoming racism, jealous opponents and crooked referees along the way. He was the first African-American coach at T.C. Williams.
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
“When I got there, you saw kids work together, hung out together,” said Aly Khan Johnson, an assistant coach for Boone beginning in 1972. “It was a brotherhood that you would see. As you know, athletics does something for a community, and it happened at the right time for that community.”
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