West Point Alum and All American Dan Williams
1980 Hempstead High School varsity photo. Dan Williams, second row, 4th player from the left, photo, Courtesy of Hempstead High School Year Book
We revisit an interview with West Point All-American Dan Williams a product of Hempstead High School on Long Island. Dan shares his lacrosse journey growing up playing on all African American teams. Contrast his Hempstead lacrosse experience with that of Hempstead alums, Reggie Terry, Arron Jones, Bill Beroza and Alan Lowe (see the links below). Put these podcast together and you have an interesting history of capital flight and white flight on Long Island. It’s the story of how Mitchell Air Force Base served as Hempstead's economic engine and its closure resulted in part to the slow erosion of Hempstead as a school district. Today the children of Hispanic immigrants largely attend the high school which makes one wonder how that will transform the school’s lacrosse team? Dan also talks about his son who had been a scholarship wide receiver on the Washington State University football team. Going into his senior years he failed a concussion protocol. With the Super Bowl coming up this weekend the interview is apropos. Follow the Fred Opie show and the content Fred shares on his website, Twitter and Facebook. Take the time to review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, and Soundcloud. If you like what you hear and learn, tell others about it and share and post the link to the show.
