An American Sports Hero: Joe Dumars,

Another Great Example of Achievement in Spite of Adversity

A basketball novice should not write a story on a basketball hero unless the thrust of the story is the life as opposed to the sport. This is the target: the life of Joe Dumars, basketball star, basketball legend and generous citizen of America.

Joe Dumars grew up in Natchitoches, Louisiana. His parents were working class people of limited means with a considerable number of children, and as African Americans they had to struggle to give their children education. Joe and his several siblings, however, all completed college, no small feat, given the financial difficulties of the parents and the long hours both had to work in order to provide for their children.

Joe was the basketball hero at his high school in Natchitoches and a source of pride for the town high school basketball team. Basketball is big in Natchitoches with the University team, the Demons among the top 32 teams one season.

Folks describe Joe Dumars as a humble man, quiet, reserved and a hard worker. His former teacher at Natchitoches Central High School, Pat McKee, brightened when she talked to me about him. She said that he had been a good student, that he really paid attention, and that he was respectful of his teachers. He also had a set of parents who made sure that he did what he was supposed to in school. McKee told me that Dumar's mother's involvement in his education made a real difference and that she was very involved with it. In fact during one conference day at Natchitoches Central where she met with his teachers, including Pat McKee, Dumar's mother asked how her son was doing in school then said, "If you ever have a problem with Joe, just tell me and you won't have a problem". Pat's response was to laugh since Joe was a model student in Junior English and a student who kept his eyes on the board or on his teacher all the time. In addition he studied hard and made above average grades, straight B's, in his English classroom.