Stories/Blogs
How do you change a community?
An Illustration from the Life of Henry "Hank" Sevillian
Beyond my sorority line sisters, I have not contacted many of my college friends. One exception is Duane "Duke" Sevillian (seated in the photo above, front right). We both attended Johnson C. Smith University, an HBCU in Charlotte, NC. After graduation, we accidentally bumped into one another in Atlanta. This time, I discovered that Duke was a runner, an avid runner. Having no athletics in my family that I was aware of, I was intrigued by his dedication and commitment to running, simply running. In season and out of season, Duke could be seen running throughout the community. I could not help but wonder what could motivate a person to run like that. Little did I know that my friend had begun a journey that would result in him participating in the annual Peachtree Road Race (PRR) for forty-two years. This race, the world's largest 10K, is held annually in Atlanta. Duke proudly earned the prestigious PRR tee shirt awarded to those who completed the race each time. According to the Atlanta Track Club, the 6.2-mile course features the infamous Cardiac Hill, which climbs more than 12 stories in less than a mile. For many years, whether or not he resided in Atlanta, Duke would return to Atlanta during the Fourth of July weekend to run in the PRR. Again, I couldn't help but wonder what the source of such a dedicated runner was. Duke's father died in 2021, and I attended the homegoing service via the Internet. There, I discovered the life of Hank Sevillian, a husband, a father, a coach, the founder of the Buffalo Pioneers Track and Field Club, and a mentor to countless individuals. Then, I discovered that Hank Sevillians' love for the running track was handed down to his own children and countless others throughout Buffalo. Duke and his sister, the late Debra "DeeDee" Sevillian-Poles, were the first two Buffalo Pioneers Track and Field Club members. Because he has mentored so many young people in sports and character development, Mayor Brown and the city of Buffalo honored Coach Hank Sevillian by renaming the track at Johnnie B-Wiley Field for Henry "Hank" Sevillian. The information presented below is obtained from Hank Sevillian Foundation https://buffalopioneers.club. It illustrates how one person can bring about significant social change within the community and within the lives of a community's most valuable asset: the young people.
(Also, see: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2021/06/27/buffalo-renames-track-to-honor-treasured-coach)
The opening photo is from the following link:
https://issuu.com/challengercommunitynews/docs/october_20_2022.
The Trail Blazer
Henry "Hank" Sevillian was born and raised on the east side of Buffalo, New York. He graduated from Burgard High School, earning the title "The 100-Yard Dash King" by the Buffalo Newspapers in 1949. After graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army and served as a Paratrooper in the Korean War. While serving in the Army, he continued his athletic career to include: boxing, football, basketball, and of course, track and field. He was a top sprinter and excelled in all field events, including the triple jump, high jump, discus, and javelin.
His Mission
Hank Sevillian served as a United States Army paratrooper during World War II. He returned home to Buffalo, NY, with a dream and mission to positively impact the youth within his community.
Coach Sevillian created the Buffalo Pioneers Track & Field Club. Over five decades, he empowered generations of Buffalo youth to excel in athletics and, more importantly, in life.
He used track and field as the vehicle to teach countless kids the biggest of all lessons: how to believe in themselves.
Lives Inspired
Coach Sevillian kept his runners on their toes on and off the field - it wasn't uncommon for him to enter runners in field events; he knew they would grow. He set the standards high and ensured his runners knew he believed in them on and off the track.
Resources were never an issue; however, grades were a deal killer. He was one of the first to implement a strict policy prioritizing academic achievement - "No Pass, No Play," and he meant it.
Lives Changed
The youth that participated in the Buffalo Pioneers Track & Field Club knew Coach Sevillian had their backs, and they were supported and nurtured into adulthood. The youth had a safe place to grow and reach their goals in life.
As a result of his dedication to the youth of Buffalo, countless generations of successful adults and families have been impacted. He always had an encouraging word to uplift his community; never, ever would he accept "I can't" as an excuse for doing your best. Today, he is responsible for hundreds of his athletes receiving academic and athletic scholarships to college and beyond to become outstanding citizens, judges, lawyers, NBA referees, teachers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
Lives Inspired
Coach Sevillian kept his runners on their toes on and off the field - it wasn't uncommon for him to enter runners in field events; he knew they would grow. He set the standards high and ensured his runners knew he believed in them on and off the track.
Resources were never an issue; however, grades were a deal killer. He was one of the first to implement a strict policy prioritizing academic achievement - "No Pass, No Play," and he meant it.
