EVERYDAY HERO

By Marjorie J. Hurst

Warren Barnett, Sr., was a running back for the high school of Commerce football team from 1981-1983. In his words, the team was “fair,” he “did okay, personally,” but team members “could have applied (themselves) a little more.” Neither he nor the team won any awards for outstanding play but they always had a lot of fun. Besides, Warren had other priorities. He was more into books than sports and graduated from high school with honors in 1983. He went right to work, married his high school sweetheart, Donette Jones, and had a son in 1984. He has been married for “fourteen years going on fifty.” Warren stayed in condition by going to the gym each day. Lucky for his son, Warren Barnett, II, that he did.

Before I go into details, let me tell you how Barnett, Sr. came to be a subject of this column. We run an application in each issue of Point of View that invites people to submit the name of their sports hero and to give us a brief explanation of why we should select their choice for an interview. Warren Barnett, II submitted an application naming his father as his sports hero, “For his endless dedication to the athletic as well as studious youth of Springfield (5A youth coach, NYSP volunteer).”

This son, who would select his dad as his sports hero, piqued my curiosity. Was his dad a closet Jim Brown or Ricky Williams? Was his wall adorned with certificates of sports achievements? Was his bureau full of trophies? How many banquets was he honored at and why wasn’t his name in someone’s hall of fame? Why didn’t I know of him? After all, sons have all kinds of opinions about their dads, but--sports hero!

I decided I wanted to know more about Warren Barnett, Sr. I got him on the phone and told him his name had been submitted as a POV sports hero and he asked me by whom and why. When I told him his son had submitted his name and that I was calling him to find out why, he told me that he didn’t know why his son submitted his name. He tried to convince me that he was no sports hero and that I should select another entry. Of course his modesty only further piqued my interest, so I convinced him to come in for an interview.

At the interview, I asked him about his early relationship with his son. It was obvious from his answer that he is a devoted family man who spent quality time raising his son. He took him on fishing trips to Quabbin Reservoir, where they engaged in a bit of mild competition for the largest and the most fish; he occasionally took him bowling and regularly played baseball and football with him and, under the careful tutelage of his father, Warren Barnett, II became a pretty good sportsman.

Barnett, Sr. left nothing to chance. He started out preparing his son informally in the backyard and at playgrounds. His son especially took to football, so he enrolled him in the 5A football program. 5A is more than a football team. It is a program that focuses on developing character and on the educational needs of the kids. 5A team members play football and they play good, competitive football, but the emphasis is properly on character and education.

He went further than that. Still in excellent condition from his own football days, he volunteered to coach his son’s team. His son was able to develop under the watchful eye of his dad from the 5^th to the 8^th grade at which time Barnett, II was actively recruited from 5A as a high school football player. He went on to a successful high school football career and is currently enrolled in Business Administration at Warren College in New York. He plans to specialize in sports management.

But the story doesn’t end here. Each summer Barnett, II works for the American International College National Youth Sports Program ((NYSP), a summer sports, academic and mentoring program for inner city youth. Ever mindful of opportunities to work with his son and serve kids in general, every summer Barnett, Sr. volunteers to help. In his own words, “I am able to spend some quality time with my son and mentor young people.”

Warren Barnett, Sr. is not Michael Jordan nor Tiger Woods. For that matter, he is not Travis Best or Bobby Knight. These sports heroes thrill us and entertain us but most of us could never do what they have done.

Warren Barnett, Sr. is a special kind of sports hero. Hard working family man and father, guardian of his son’s sports and academic development, football coach, selfless volunteer and mentor, Warren Barnett, Sr. is an everyday hero. He is an active reminder of what we all can be. Few of us can be super heroes, but just think of the progress we would make in our own communities if we all just followed his outstanding example. n