Welcome to Community History 365! CH365 tells stories from Johnson City's rich multicultural history, stories you've probably never heard. This month we hear about women's basketball---at Langston High School and beyond.  

In the last five years, Alasia Smith played basketball for Science Hill High School and two NCAA Division I teams: Gardner-Webb University and the University of Memphis. And her success has a backstory. This story goes back several generations to tell the history of a basketball family, of the Langston Golden Tigerettes, and of women's basketball itself.

---

Credits

- CH365 is a production of the Langston Centre Media Lab

- Host: Karen Sullivan

- Producers: Kelvin Scott & Isaac Wood

- Writer: Isaac Wood

- Mix and Master: Kelvin Scott

- Multicultural Engagement Manager for the Langston Centre: Adam Dickson

- Thank you to LEAD and to the City of Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation Department for supporting Community History 365. 

- Many thanks to Jennie Jackson, Bobbie McAdams Douglass, and Leah Jackson-Smith for sharing their stories.

- Thank you to the Community History 365 History Task Force for giving their collaboration and expertise.

- Thank you to Rebecca Henderson for agreeing to promote CH365 in Today in Johnson City History in exchange for us promoting her newsletter.

Sources

Information about the University of Tennessee Knoxville basketball

• https://www.knoxnews.com/story/shopper-news/south-knox/2025/04/03/lady-vol-for-life-gloria-deathridge-looks-back-at-early-70s-team/82639328007/

Information on Senda Berenson: 

• https://thewestendmuseum.org/history/era/immigrant-neighborhood/senda-berenson/
• https://thesportjournal.org/article/book-review-senda-berenson-the-unlikely-founder-of-womens-basketball/

History of Women's Basktball:

• https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-womens-basketball-in-america-3528489

Recordings

• The Community History 365 theme song is called “Feels Good to Be” and comes from audionautix.com
• The music for the Today in Johnson City History promotional comes from Pixabay.com. It's called "Uko," and it's by St Joseph Anglican Church in Likuni, Lilongwe, Malawi, Africa.
• The audio clip at the beginning, with music and an announcer saying "Smith," comes from this video on the Memphis Tigers Athletics YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/c7P2pqPkno0

---

Community History 365 is supported by LEAD (Langston Education and Arts Development), a nonprofit created by Langston High School alumni. Seeking to preserve the school building’s integrity, legacy, and historical value, the alumni formed LEAD which helped the building open up as the Langston Centre. This multicultural facility serves the community as part of the City of Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department.   

Welcome to Community History 365! CH365 tells stories from Johnson City's rich multicultural history, stories you've probably never heard. This month we hear from two former majorettes in Langston High School's marching band.  

Both Veral Jean Goddard Neal and Evelyn Fields Debro remember marching downtown with the rest of the Langston band. All sorts of people lined the streets to hear them play. In this episode, hear Jean and Evelyn tell stories of the complex relationship Langston students had with downtown Johnson City. 

---

- CH365 is a production of the Langston Centre Media Lab

- Host: Karen Sullivan

- Producers: Kelvin Scott & Isaac Wood

- Writer: Isaac Wood

- Mix and Master: Kelvin Scott

- Multicultural Engagement Manager for the Langston Centre: Adam Dickson

- Thank you to LEAD and to the City of Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation Department for supporting Community History 365. 

- Many thanks to Jean Goddard Neal, Evelyn Fields Debro, Angelo Newman, and Johnny Russaw for sharing their stories.

- Thank you to the Community History 365 History Task Force for giving their collaboration and expertise.

- The Community History 365 theme song is called “Feels Good to Be” and comes from audionautix.com

- The cover photo for this episode came from stateoffranklin.net

Sources

Information about Masengill's Specialty Shop:

- https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/constitution/site27.htm

- https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/news/business/masengills-specialty-shop-celebrates-100-years-of-business/article_f936fcd5-5e29-5ac4-a510-966773f6f903.html

Recordings

Music from freesound.org:

- I don't beleve (wurlitzer) by EKVelika -- https://freesound.org/s/411470/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- marchingband2.wav by nfrae -- https://freesound.org/s/195370/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- High School Marching Band 01.wav by thepodcastdoctor -- https://freesound.org/s/486664/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

---

Community History 365 is supported by LEAD (Langston Education and Arts Development), a nonprofit created by Langston High School alumni. Seeking to preserve the school building’s integrity, legacy, and historical value, the alumni formed LEAD which helped the building open up as the Langston Centre. This multicultural facility serves the community as part of the City of Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department.   

Happy Juneteenth! And welcome to Community History 365! CH365 tells stories from Johnson City's rich multicultural history, stories you've probably never heard. This month we hear from Johnny Russaw, the first black student to play football at East Tennessee State University.

But today's story rewinds to before ETSU was even on Johnny's mind. He grew up watching Langston greats play football, and he always wanted to play on the team (although he had other aspirations too). In this episode, you'll hear about all that and about the difficult decision Johnny had to make in 1964.  

So far this season of CH365 has covered a lot of Langston history---from its founding to its closing to its rehabilitation. For the next few episodes, we zoom in to what it was like to be a student at Langston. 

---

- CH365 is a production of the Langston Centre Media Lab

- Host: Karen Sullivan

- Producers: Kelvin Scott & Isaac Wood

- Writer: Isaac Wood

- Mix and Master: Kelvin Scott

- Multicultural Engagement Manager for the Langston Centre: Adam Dickson

- Thank you to LEAD and to the City of Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation Department for supporting Community History 365. 

- Many thanks to Johnny Russaw, Evelyn Fields Debro, and Angelo Newman for sharing their stories.

- Thank you to the Community History 365 History Task Force for giving their collaboration and expertise.

- Thank you to the Langston Centennial Annual Staff who put together a wonderful book of Langston history in 1992. This book helped out a lot with this episode. 

- The Community History 365 theme song is called “Feels Good to Be” and comes from audionautix.com

Newspaper Articles

- "Langston Opens Season At Greeneville Thursday" - Johnson City Press-Chronicle - 1958-8-31

Recordings

Marching band music and sound effects from freesound.org:

- marchingband2.wav by nfrae -- https://freesound.org/s/195370/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- Parade Drums by SoundsAreGr8 -- https://freesound.org/s/340935/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- High School Marching Band 01.wav by thepodcastdoctor -- https://freesound.org/s/486664/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- Stadium Crowd by stomachache -- https://freesound.org/s/274516/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- Crowd Cheering - Strong Cheering 1.wav by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/481776/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

---

Community History 365 is supported by LEAD (Langston Education and Arts Development), a nonprofit created by Langston High School alumni. Seeking to preserve the school building’s integrity, legacy, and historical value, the alumni formed LEAD which helped the building open up as the Langston Centre. This multicultural facility serves the community as part of the City of Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department.   

Welcome to Community History 365! CH365 tells stories from Johnson City's rich multicultural history, stories you've probably never heard. This month we hear from Billy Gene Williams. Billy played football at Langston High School and graduated in 1958.

Billy's uncle played for Langston in 1936, when they had one of their greatest seasons ever. When Billy was old enough, he decided he wanted to play too. In this episode you'll hear about that 1936 season, Billy's most impressive game, and a game where Langston scored more points than you'll believe.  

So far this season of CH365 has covered a lot of Langston history---from its founding to its closing to its rehabilitation. For the next few episodes, we zoom in on what it was like to be a student at Langston. 

---

- CH365 is a production of the Langston Centre Media Lab

- Host: Karen Sullivan

- Producers: Kelvin Scott & Isaac Wood

- Writer: Isaac Wood

- Mix and Master: Kelvin Scott

- Multicultural Engagement Manager for the Langston Centre: Adam Dickson

- Thank you to LEAD and to the City of Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation Department for supporting Community History 365. 

- Many thanks to Billy Gene Williams for telling his stories. 

- Thank you to Evelyn (Fields) Debro and Angelo Newman for their interview.

- Thank you to the Community History 365 History Task Force for giving their collaboration and expertise, and especially to Tom Roberts for his extensive newspaper research. Without those clippings, we wouldn’t have known scores, records, or play-by-plays. Articles are listed below.

- Thank you to the Langston Centennial Annual Staff who put together a wonderful book of Langston history in 1992. This book helped out a lot with this episode. 

- The Community History 365 theme song is called “Feels Good to Be” and comes from audionautix.com

Newspaper Articles

- "Langston Notes - boys planning a football team" - Johnson City Chronicle - 1922-12-3

- "Langston Wolves to Meet Slater Thanksgiving Day" - Johnson City Chronicle - 1927-11-23

- "Langston Football Team Will Battle Greenville Eleven" - Johnson City Chronicle - 1928-11-23

- "Langston Tramples Carolina Gridders" - unknown - 1937

- "Langston Victory March Halted By 'Nooga Team" - unknown - 1937

- "Langston Thumps Benham, Ky., 34-13, In Homecoming Tilt" - Johnson City Press-Chronicle - 1956-10-26 

- "Langston Loses Tri-State Crown to Big Stone, 6-0" - newspaper unlisted - 1956-11-17

- "Langston Golden Tigers Humble Douglas 134-0" - Elizabethton Star - 1957-9-6

- "Langston Encounters Bristol Douglass High Here Tonight" - Johnson City Press-Chronicle - 1957-9-25

- "Lynch Tops Langston" - Johnson City Press-Chronicle - 1957-10-13

- "Langston Scores 21-19 Victory Over Kingsport Douglass" - Johnson City Press-Chronicle - 1957-10-18

- "Langston Opens Season At Greeneville Thursday" - Johnson City Press-Chronicle - 1958-8-31

Recordings

The recording of Herbert Hoover comes from the "1930-1937 Radio News" collection on archive.org. It is called "Hoover Nomination Acceptance - 1932-08-11"

Marching band music and sound effects from freesound.org:

- marchingband2.wav by nfrae -- https://freesound.org/s/195370/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- Parade Drums by SoundsAreGr8 -- https://freesound.org/s/340935/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- High School Marching Band 01.wav by thepodcastdoctor -- https://freesound.org/s/486664/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- Stadium Crowd by stomachache -- https://freesound.org/s/274516/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

- Crowd Cheering - Strong Cheering 1.wav by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/481776/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

- referee-whistle.wav by Pablo-F -- https://freesound.org/s/90743/ -- License: Attribution 3.0

---

Community History 365 is supported by LEAD (Langston Education and Arts Development), a nonprofit created by Langston High School alumni. Seeking to preserve the school building’s integrity, legacy, and historical value, the alumni formed LEAD which helped the building open up as the Langston Centre. This multicultural facility serves the community as part of the City of Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department.   

Welcome to Community History 365! CH365 tells stories from Johnson City's rich multicultural history, stories you've probably never heard. This month Donald Shaffer tells the story of Hezekiah Hankal, a beloved figure in Johnson City's African American history. 

Hezekiah was born in 1826 in Washington County, TN. He managed to receive his education and learn to be a physician, all before Emancipation. Listen to find out how, and to hear all the work this man did for the Johnson City community. 

---

- CH365 is a production of the Langston Centre Media Lab

- Host: Karen Sullivan

- Producers: Kelvin Scott & Isaac Wood

- Writer: Isaac Wood

- Mix and Master: Kelvin Scott

- Multicultural Engagement Manager for the Langston Centre: Adam Dickson

- Thank you to LEAD and to the City of Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation Department for supporting Community History 365  

- Many thanks to the Community History 365 History Task Force for their expertise and collaboration

- Thank you to Mary Alexander and Donald Shaffer for all of their research that made this episode possible. And to Donald Shaffer for the interview

Recordings

- The lyrics for Battle Hymn of the Republic were written by Julia Ward Howe. The music was composed by William Steffe. This performance was arranged by Sammy Nestico. It was performed by the United States Air Force Concert Band. Thank you to the Library of Congress for preserving the recording. Access: https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.100010421/

- Thank you to the Library of Congress for preserving the interview of Fountain Hughes. He was interviewed by Hermond Norwood in Baltimore, Maryland on June 11th, 1949. The recording is preserved in the collection "Voices Remembering Slavery: Freed People Tell Their Stories." Access: https://www.loc.gov/item/afc1950037_afs09990a/

- Hot Time in the Old Town was composed by Theo Metz. This recording was performed by Victory Military Band. It is preserved in the collection "African-American Band Music & Recordings, 1883 to 1923" of the Library of Congress. Access: https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.100010764/

- The Community History 365 theme song is called “Feels Good to Be” and comes from audionautix.com

---

Community History 365 is supported by LEAD (Langston Education and Arts Development), a nonprofit created by Langston High School alumni. Seeking to preserve the school building’s integrity, legacy, and historical value, the alumni formed LEAD which helped the building open up as the Langston Centre. This multicultural facility serves the community as part of the City of Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department.   

Welcome to Community History 365! CH365 tells stories from Johnson City's rich multicultural history, stories you've probably never heard. This month Dr. Jeremy Smith tells the story of a 20th century trailblazing woman named Mildred Ellis.  

Mildred was born in 1906 and lived a couple blocks from Langston School. She went on to travel all over the country teaching, performing, and composing music. She earned an impressive list of accomplishments. A former National Security Advisor once called her "a wonderful, proud African American pioneer. Someone who had helped make the path a little bit easier for all those who came after." This is the story of a Johnson City native who, despite the restraints of segregation, made it big. But there's one particular event that she thought of as the most significant. Listen to find out.  

Unfortunately we don’t have recordings of Mildred performing. But as a tribute, in February 2025 the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, in what is believed to be the world premier, performed Mildred’s original composition called “Keep Singin.” Her work continues to inspire the community where she was raised.

---

- CH365 is a production of the Langston Centre Media Lab

- Host: Karen Sullivan

- Producers: Kelvin Scott & Isaac Wood

- Writer: Isaac Wood

- Mix and Master: Kelvin Scott

- Multicultural Engagement Manager for the Langston Centre: Adam Dickson

- Thank you to LEAD and to the City of Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation department for supporting Community History 365 

- Many thanks to the Community History 365 History Task Force for research assistance, and especially to Dr. Jeremy Smith for the research and editorial assistance that made this episode possible.

Recordings

- The recording of Dr. Smith was captured at a Langston Centre presentation on January 28th, 2025 

- The lyrics for “Lift Every Voice and Sing” were written by James Weldon Johnson. The musical composition used in this episode was written by J. Rosamond Johnson. This recording was performed by the U.S. Army Field Band, 82nd Airborne Division Chorus. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lift_Every_Voice_and_Sing_-_United_States_Army_Field_Band.opus

- The instrumental version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was played and recorded by Clarence Simpson. The recording was adapted for this podcast episode. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported 2021. https://ccmixter.org/files/casimps1/63222

- Nathaniel Dett composed “In the Bottoms,” and this episode included “Barcarolle,” one of the parts from that five part suite. This recording came from the Petrucci Music Library.  Serenissima Music, Inc., 2023. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. https://imslp.org/wiki/In_the_Bottoms_(Dett,_Robert_Nathaniel)

- The performance of “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” was conducted by Josef Pasternack and sung by Marian Anderson. The recording comes from the Library of Congress National Jukebox. https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-71990/

- The Community History 365 theme song is called “Feels Good to Be” and comes from audionautix.com

Research

- Dr. Smith’s article on Mildred Ellis in Appalachian Places added context and details, especially for the Negro Music Festival itself: https://www.appalachianplaces.org/post/a-performance-of-impossibilities-mildred-katharine-ellis

- Thank you to the Amistad Research Center for preserving Mildred Ellis’ papers. Episode photo is from Amistad Research Center

- Thank you to the Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper for preserving their editions, which provided information on the University of Michigan campus

---

Community History 365 is supported by LEAD (Langston Education and Arts Development), a nonprofit created by Langston High School alumni. Seeking to preserve the school building’s integrity, legacy, and historical value, the alumni formed LEAD which helped the building open up as the Langston Centre. This multicultural facility serves the community as part of the City of Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department.   

Welcome to Community History 365! CH365 tells stories from Johnson City's rich multicultural history, stories you've probably never heard. This month we hear the story of the Langston school building from Adam Dickson, whose father attended Langston High School.

In 2019, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the building that used to be Langston High School, right off of I-26 in Johnson City. After decades of educating black children, the building had found itself in a state of disrepair in the 21st century. In the first episode of CH365, Adam Dickson tells the history of the Langston building, beginning in 1893, and the role it played in Johnson City's black community. Find out what makes this building meaningful to so many people and what ended up happening to it. 

---

- CH365 is a production of the Langston Centre Media Lab

- Host: Karen Sullivan

- Producers: Kelvin Scott & Isaac Wood

- Writer: Isaac Wood

- Mix and Master: Kelvin Scott

- Multicultural Engagement Manager for the Langston Centre: Adam Dickson

- Thank you to LEAD and to the City of Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation department for supporting Community History 365 

- Many thanks to the Community History 365 History Task Force for research assistance

- Thank you to the Johnson City Press for use of their Facebook recording of the Langston Centre opening day

- Theme music: "Feels Good To Be" by audionautix.com

---

Community History 365 is supported by LEAD (Langston Education and Arts Development), a nonprofit created by Langston High School alumni. Seeking to preserve the school building’s integrity, legacy, and historical value, the alumni formed LEAD which helped the building open up as the Langston Centre. This multicultural facility serves the community as part of the City of Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department.   

Welcome to Community History 365! Here's a sneak peak into what CH365 is all about. Take a listen, follow this feed, and stick around if you want to learn more about Johnson City and its multicultural history!

---

CH365 is a production of the Langston Centre Media Lab

Host: Karen Sullivan

Producers: Kelvin Scott and Isaac Wood

Writer: Isaac Wood

Mix and Master: Kelvin Scott

Multicultural Engagement Manager for the Langston Centre: Adam Dickson

Thank you to Langston Education and Arts Development (LEAD) and to the City of Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation department for supporting Community History 365 

Many thanks to the Community History 365 History Task Force for their research and expertise

Theme music: "Feels Good To Be" by audionautix.com

---

Community History 365 is supported by LEAD (Langston Education and Arts Development), a nonprofit created by Langston High School alumni. Seeking to preserve the school building’s integrity, legacy, and historical value, the alumni formed LEAD which helped the building open up as the Langston Centre. This multicultural facility serves the community as part of the City of Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department.