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The Fly’s jersey retired at APSU

 

The guest of honor Fly Williams To whoops and cheers from the crowd in a half-time ceremony at the  game Thursday night, APSU retired the jersey of basketball great James “Fly” Williams. The crowd at the Dunn Center went wild.

William’s jersey plaque was placed on the north wall of the Center, a sports arena years after Martin put APSU on the sports map.

Williams expressed his appreciation to the SRO crowd and thanked former coach Lake Kelly and his teammates from 1972-73 and 1973-74 seasons. APSU lost the game with Martin in an overtime decision, 87-82, dropping APSU to 12-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference.Fly Williams adds another signature to the ball

In his time at APSU, Brooklyn native James “Fly” Williams brought national acclaim to the previously unknown college basketball team on the Clarksville campus. “Good memories,” Fly said, even as his fans remembered his exhuberant style on and off court. Fly led APSU to  NCAA tournaments twice.

Fly is currently promoting a book, Fly 35, by Dave Link, which documents Fly’s life, including his later involvement with drug addiction, violence and time spent in prison.

His rehabilitation from that seamier side of life now has him placing his hand “in God’s” and working to bring a message of hope to young people in sports and beyond sports.

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About Christine Anne Piesyk

    In my 40+ years in media, I have worked as feature writer, investigative reporter, editor, publisher, and film/theater/arts critic. I brought my liberal New England activism to Tennessee several years ago, having finally completed a mid-life undergraduate degree in community organizing and women's studies, and an MA in Interdisciplinary Arts with a concentration in Alzheimer's Disease. I served on Future Search Commissions for two colleges and on homelessness for the City of Northampton (MA), where I applied some of my undergrad work in urban planning and community development. I am a member of FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties. I am a certified storm spotter just because weather fascinates me. In my spare time (define spare time please?) I am a voracious reader, obsessive movie buff, ballroom dancer, and classical music junkie. I also create sci-fi/fantasy and renaissance costumes. I see life as an ongoing opportunity for learning and adventure (one current interest is mastering preparation of foods from India and Southeast Asia). My dream: a return trip to Machu Picchu. After all, the best things still to come. All posts by Christine Anne Piesyk as presented on Clarksville Online are copyright ©2006, 2007, 2008 to the author.

    Email: womanspeak@gmail.com

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