LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / January 28, 2000

HAHNVILLE – The tragic death of a star student and athlete at Hahnville High School 31 years ago spawned an ongoing memorial, generating bright futures for students.

The Don Raymond Educational and Athletic Memorial organization (DREAM) annually presents academic scholarships at Hahnville and Destrehan high schools. It also honors at a special annual banquet people who have offered alifetime of achievement in education and improvement of life and sponsors a gospel concert each June at HHS.

DREAM is presided over by Horace Raymond, elder brother of the late Don Raymond.

All this hard work, though, is done in memory of the late Don Raymond, who achieved much in his 16 years in academics, athletics and in the cause of civil rights.

Don, son of Vera and the late Alfred Raymond, was a budding athletic star who transferred from then-Carver High School to Hahnville High in the ninth grade as racial desegregation began in the local schools.

Once at Hahnville Don made his mark. He was active in choir and found timeto achieve on the athletic fields, lettering in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was HHS’s first black athletic superstar.In 1968, Don was a member of the state football championship team at HHS, received the outstanding offensive lineman trophy from the school after the 1968 Class AA title, and he was the first black athlete to be named to a Class AA All-State football team.

At the time, according to then-principal Robert Menezes, Don was being courted by LSU to become the first black athlete to break the color barrier at that university’s football team. Likewise, he was enough of a talent intrack that his name was also being considered for the Olympics.

At heart, however, Don was relaxed, humble and spiritual. Friends at schoolnicknamed him “Easy” for his laid-back nature. He was also active at TrueVine Baptist Church, less than two blocks from his home on Courthouse Lane.

It all ended tragically for Don Raymond on the night of March 29, 1969.

He was driving on River Road with his girlfriend, Debra Scott, headed into Hahnville from Luling. In the sharp curve, coming in the opposite direction,was another car driven by Don’s close friend, Danny Wagester, with his girlfriend, Joy Erwin.

About 10 p.m. the two vehicles collided head-on. Raymond died at 12:30 a.m.on March 30 at West Jefferson Hospital from injuries received in the accident.

The HHS student body paid their respects, both at his funeral wake and in the procession of mourners from the church to the cemetery where he was laid to rest, passing alongside the school on the way.

Hahnville High School later named its annual track meet the Don Raymond Relays, this year set April 13, according to track coach John Lambert.

And iI 1992 DREAM was established, and the organization presented its first scholarships in May 1993.

At its eighth annual banquet, held Jan. 15, educator Katie Green was honoredfor her 28-year career, joined by many former colleagues and students.

“What we’ve done at the banquet is give recognition to someone who contributed in education or positively to the quality of life,” Horace Raymond says.

An annual gospel-music concert is sponsored by DREAM at Hahnville High School, reflecting Don’s Christian life, and DREAM also offers tutoring to at- risk students. Finally, DREAM also sponsors summer field trips for studentsand their parents to significant places in civil rights history.

Other officers of DREAM include vice-president Alfred Green, financial secretary Sonya Raymond, recording secretary Linnie Raymond and treasurer Larry Franklin.

“We were fortunate in that our parents disciplined us well,” Horace Raymond recalled. That could have been tough, as Don was one of 10 children. Hissurviving siblings are Norbert and Jerry Gair, Yvonne Wolfe, Horace, Janet, Bobby, Billy, Carl and David Raymond.

Don’s legacy also lives on athletically, as his younger brother, Bobby, was a star receiver in Hahnville’s 1972 championship season. Nephew Horace Jr.was an outstanding running back in Hahnville’s 1992 championship season and graduated from Tulane University last year. Finally, nephew Don was afootball leader in Hahnville’s 1994 season as an offensive tackle, going on to Nicholls State where he is now in his third year.

Don might have lived to a grand old age, as his grandfather, John Raymond Jr.

of Killona, died in May 1999 at the age of 101.

Though he didn’t, the legacy of Don Raymond in St. Charles Parish and beyondmay survive for many years to come, proof that no one is really gone unless he is forgotten.

Don Raymond will not be forgotten.

“This organization has been able to touch a lot of people,” Horace Raymond concluded.

Return To News Stories