Honoring a Local Legend

THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 36, Number 5 Thursday, February 6, 2020 Honoring a Local Legend by Kim Nowatzke “When you say the name of Charlie Westcott, that brings a smile to my face.” That’s how Larry Gipson, and so many others, feel about the man who was a friend, mentor, coach and so much more to Michigan City youth. Gipson was one of “Charlie’s Kids,” a nickname bestowed upon those under the late Charles Ricardo Westcott’s tutelage as he served as director of Elite Youth Center, located fi rst on East Fourth Street, then at 318 E. Michigan Blvd., for 37 years. Born on Feb. 15, 1920, in Overton, Va., Westcott would have celebrated his 100th birthday this month. The community may have lost its local legend when the 84-year-old died on Aug. 27, 2004, but those who knew and loved him still plan to celebrate his day of birth with a Charles R. Westcott Birthday Celebra- tion from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. It will be held at the Charles R. Westcott location at 321 Detroit St., the site of the Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City. During the event, entertainment and refreshments are planned, while attend- ees can share plenty of special “Charlie” memories. “Its purpose is a community-wide recognition and celebration of Charles Westcott,” Allen Williams, another Continued on Page 2 Charles R. Westcott stands in front of Elite Youth Center. THE Page 2 February 6, 2020 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 Beacher Company Directory e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] Don and Tom Montgomery Owners email: Classifieds - [email protected] Andrew Tallackson Editor http://www.thebeacher.com/ Drew White Print Salesman PRINTE ITH Published and Printed by Janet Baines Inside Sales/Customer Service T Becky Wirebaugh Typesetter/Designer T A S A THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Randy Kayser Pressman Dora Kayser Bindery Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is Hope Costello, Cheryl Joppek, Production also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. John Baines, Karen Gehr, Dennis Mayberry Delivery Honoring… Continued from Page 1 “Charlie’s Kid,” said. He fi rst met his hero around 1953, when he was about 6. As time went on, “Wes,” as Westcott was called, took on different roles for Williams, from being a mentor to a “friend on a peer level.” The Boys & Girls Club’s role in the celebration is considered an honor, the club’s board president, Mike Johnstone, said. “Because of Mr. Westcott’s profound impact on our Michigan City youth, in 2005 we named our main location the Charles R. Westcott Center,” he said. “We wanted to hon- or and carry on the legacy and example set by Mr. Westcott as we continue our mission to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible individuals.” Coming from Connecticut, Westcott fi rst arrived in Michigan City at the request of his This photo, taken in June 1958, features Charles R. Westcott uncle and aunt, Tenola and Anna Graves, who with local youth at Elite Youth Center. had a vision for a recreational center to serve the through those doors,” said Charles Ricardo West- city’s youth. cott Jr., fondly known as “Ricky.” “The doors were “He touched each and every person that came opened and everyone was invited to participate.” For more than 30 years, Alber- tine Allen served alongside West- cott at Elite Youth Center as assis- tant director. A former Michigan City Area Schools board member, she now is a consultant with the Michigan City Health Coalition. “Every child was special to him,” she said. “He could see good in every child. He taught the chil- dren life skills such as persistence and to fi nish what you started. He taught the importance of grades and social skills.” Both Allen and Gene Simmons, another former “Charlie’s Kid,” recalled Westcott’s requirement that boys remove their hats upon en- tering Elite Youth Center. Allen recalled Westcott show- ing older kids at the center how to fi ll out applications, as well as his Charles Westcott was revered for the impact he had on so many “Charlie’s Kids” in Michigan City. famous quotes: “If you can’t read, THE February 6, 2020 Page 3 you can’t succeed,” and “You are only a stranger here once.” FEMA Insurance to the “We all considered Charlie our surrogate Rescue??? father,” said Simmons, Maybe I was not paying attention to the water a 34-year veteran of the levels and storms during the last high-water Michigan City Police period of 1986-1987, but I am of the opinion Department and its fi rst (shared by others) that the current high black police chief from water, little ice (yes, there is some ice along 1996-2004. “He was all the beach, but it appears to be melting) and about teaching life les- constant storms have not happened before sons. He introduced us — at least not since 1978. to the world as we know Albertine Allen it today. Charlie taught FEMA has been hosting programs about ÀRRGLQVXUDQFHIRUEHDFKIURQWRZQHUV7KH\ us how to win – and lose with grace. He taught us DUHFRPSOHWLQJDUHGRRIWKHÀRRG]RQHDUHDV how to coexist together.” using wind, wave and water-level history “My brother, O’Neil Simmons, and I grew up un- IURP WR )ORRG ]RQHV RQ /DNH der Charlie’s tutelage,” Gene Simmons said. “We Michigan are delineated based on winds and lived at the Elite Youth Center. It was a safe harbor waves: not just by water level, as on rivers for us. Whatever you got at home, Charlie solidifi ed and streams. it. He taught us how to win and how to lose with grace.” Until this year, I thought FEMA Flood Westcott had plenty Insurance was no longer available for owners of opportunities to teach RQ WKH ODNH 7KHQ , EHJDQ WR KHDU DERXW about winning and los- SHRSOH OLYLQJ RQ WKH ODNH EHLQJ UHTXLUHG WR ing, as basketball was a SXUFKDVH ÀRRG LQVXUDQFH 7KH )(0$ IRONV DVVXUHG PH ÀRRG ,QVXUDQFH LV UHTXLUHG LI major part of center ac- \RXUSURSHUW\LVLQWKH)ORRG=RQH7KH\KDG tivities, serving as a feed- the new maps at the presentation. Google: er system to the Elston )(0$ )ORRG 0DSV /DNH 0LFKLJDQ <RX FDQ High School basketball even search by address. team. He also served as basketball coach at 7KHPRVWLQWHUHVWLQJQHZVIRUPHDWWKH)(0$ Queen of All Saints Cath- presentation was that the FEMA engineer olic School. assured me “revetments” (huge boulders “Even while play- VWDFNHG WR IRUP D WR VORSH IDFLQJ WKH ing basketball at Elston water) appear to be the best way to protect High School, I went back Gene Simmons. VWUXFWXUHVRQWKHODNH7KHUHYHWPHQWVEUHDN the water force and do not push the sand to Charlie to get help with my shooting,” Gene Sim- EDFNVRIDULQWRWKHZDWHU mons said. “He was a problem solver to me. I always depended on Charlie. Everyone had Charlie to fall 6HDZDOOV DV FRQVXOWDQWV KLUHG E\ /RQJ back on.” %HDFK LQGLFDWHG SUHYLRXVO\ FDQ EH TXLFNO\ O’Neil Simmons went on to become captain of the compromised by the water action that digs 1966 state championship basketball team at Elston out the bottom of the wall and pushes the High School. Gibson also VDQGIDURXWLQWRWKHODNH7KHZDOOVIDLODQG was on that team, later WKHVDQGSXVKHGIXUWKHURXWLQWRWKHODNHLV playing basketball at In- QRW DFFUHWHG EDFN WR UHIRUP D EHDFK ZKHQ diana University. water levels drop. Fewer beaches come These two were, by EDFN far, not the only “Char- Final comment by FEMA depressed me. Flood lie’s Kids” to excel in the insurance only covers damage to the house/ game. Vernon Payne, for VWUXFWXUH ³:K\ EX\ ÀRRG LQVXUDQFH"´ LV instance, was featured P\ TXHVWLRQ , QHHG PRQH\ WR UHSODFH WKH in an April 1964 Ebony revetment before I lose the house. harbor country article that featured fi ve black high school senior O: 269.469.5635 Ext. 302 basketball players who C: 269.612.0505 Dan Coffey E: [email protected] together received “500 W: www.remaxhc.com Vernon Payne. Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 February 6, 2020 “He would discipline us and teach us that the Continued from Page 3 rules applied to us,” Payne said. “I give him a lot Honoring… of credit for keeping me on the right course. A lot of fi rm offers of athletic grants-in-aid to attend almost the things I believe in are because of his selfl essness every major college in the country.” He ended up and his love for kids. He was an amazing human be- playing at Indiana University on a full scholarship, ing. Charlie demanded a lot from us, and he gave a then played pro basketball for the Denver Rock- lot to us. I love the man – and I miss him. I’ve tried ets (now the Denver Nuggets). He spent 18 years to live my life in a way that would have made Wes coaching basketball at Indiana University, Michi- proud of me…if not for him…” gan State University, Western Michigan University, Gipson recalled Westcott’s discipline. Wayne State University and the University of Den- “He would ban us from the youth center,” Gipson ver. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball said, and that’s the last thing you wanted.” Hall of Fame in 2004 and currently is associate dean That was a lesson Williams never forgot.

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