Willie Travis

CARVER HIGH, NEWPORT NEWS

This 1947 graduate of Huntington High coached 31 years and compiled more than 350 wins at three high schools. Playing for legendary Coach Thad Madden, Travis played on Huntington’s VIA Group I Basketball State Championship team in 1945. As a senior quarterback he led his football team to an undefeated season. He is a 1951 graduate of North Carolina Central University where he played for hall of fame Coach John McClendon. He began his coaching career in 1951 at Ellerbe High in Richmond County, NC before moving to Carver High in 1953. His 1955 team finished third in the VIA State Tournament and was the only team to defeat state champion Booker T. Washington of Suffolk. His 1965 team lost was VIA state championship runner-up. In 18 years at Carver he also served as assistant football coach and head baseball coach. With the closure of Carver in 1971, he became head coach at Denbigh High in Newport News. Among his players were all around athlete Leroy Keys and NFL player Tommy Reamon. As coach and physical education teacher, his students remember him for his ability to instill a strong sense of teamwork and fair play in all situations. Coach Travis retired in 1982.