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Article published May 8, 2004
Davis: Fitness, education key to success
Gary Henderson
Staff
Writer
Carolina Panthers running back Stephen Davis came "home"
Friday to Jesse Boyd Elementary School. Boyd's gymnasium rocked with the cheers
and applause of the school's 635 students as Davis took his place behind the
lectern."Everything started right here," said Davis, who attended the east-side
school from 1981 to 1986 and left behind legendary field-day performances each
spring. "This is where I took my first steps."In April, Gov. Mark Sanford named
Davis, a Spartanburg native, as the state's honorary Ambassador of
Fitness.Harkening back to his schoolboy days, Davis chose Boyd as his first stop
to promote his message that fitness is the door to better health.Pam Howard,
Boyd's physical education teacher, introduced Davis in a gym packed with
students, teachers and visitors."I've followed him though his entire career --
high school, college and professional," Howard said. "We knew he was something
special when he was in the second grade."Davis stressed both academics and an
active lifestyle in his talk to the students."What you've got to do is get
yourself prepared and ready," Davis said. "I had to study to make better grades.
Respect of teachers and coaches not only applies in football, but it also
applies at home."Then he reminded the crowd of the importance of getting an
education. "You don't have anything if you don't have your education," Davis
said. "If I get hurt, I have something to fall back on."When Davis stepped out
of his Cadillac SUV to enter the school, visitors who were waiting outside began
handing him footballs, pennants and jerseys to autograph.Conrad Hurst, a
third-grader at Pine Street School, and his father, District 7 school board
member Chip Hurst, stood together as Davis signed the back of Conrad's jersey, a
Super Bowl pennant and a football.Hurst said he thought it was worth letting his
son "play hooky for an event like this.""It's real cool," Conrad said.
"Especially when it's your favorite player."Teachers who had taught Davis
eagerly lined up for pictures with him after the event.Flora Jane Parker, who
frequently substitute taught at the school when the 30-year-old football player
was a Boyd student, wore a Davis jersey Friday. She also had a button that
pictured Davis when he was a student at Boyd, and the words, "I taught #48.""I
substituted all way through his time at Jesse Boyd," Parker said. "He remembered
me."The Panthers' logo enclosed by a heart shaped of Boyd children's handprints
and the words "A Heartfelt Welcome" greeted Davis as he arrived at the
school."Walking down that hall, I recognized some places I got in trouble,"
Davis said.He patiently stood for photo after photo with people who have
followed the All-American's career and wanted a memento to remember the day.It
was a day of remembrances for Davis as well."It was special," Davis said. "To
see all my old teachers, to see where I started from. I knew in the second grade
I wanted to play some kind of sports."Gary Henderson can be reached at562-7230
or gary.henderson@shj.com.