Bristol board rejects initial bid to name VHS court after Ballard Lee

BRISTOL, Va. – The new basketball court at Virginia High School won’t be named in honor of former Bearcat Coach Ballard Lee – at least not yet.

At its meeting this week, the city School Board rejected a bid to name the court after Lee, who coached from 1972 until he retired in 1990. The 2-2 vote, with one member absent, was about process rather than rejecting Lee’s accomplishments, board Chairwoman Virginia Goodson said.

“This [naming] has never been addressed before,” Goodson said. “It’s not that I’m not in agreement. I just feel like a policy or some type of criteria needs to be established before we name something after an individual or individuals. Possibly some more nominations might come forward.”

Goodson said she needed “more time” to study the request.

Vice Chairman Randy White, who advanced the proposal, suggested making the change while workers are finishing up a new hardwood maple floor inside the Bearcat Den.

“Several people in the community have spoken to me about this and – with the completion of the new gym floor – this seems like a good time to name it the Ballard Lee court,” White said.

White said other sections of the high school, including the swimming pool and auditorium, have been named to honor people. And the city’s newest elementary school is named for former educator Joseph Van Pelt.

“This was all done without a policy,” White said.

Board member Tyrone Foster said he sees no problem with creating a policy, but feels Lee should be honored now.

“I think we should honor someone who gave his life to the children of this community,” Foster said. “With Coach Lee it was not so much wins and losses as it was building character. I think this would be a fitting time.”

Board member Eric Clark said the motion to rename the court caught him “off guard.”

“I do not have a problem naming the floor after Ballard Lee,” Clark said. “But we do not have a policy or guidelines or criteria to name anything. Coach Lee is very deserving of this type of honor, but why not rename the science wing after a deserving science teacher. This should be done the proper way.”

Board member Ronald Cameron was out of town and couldn’t attend Monday’s meeting. Goodson suggested the issue be discussed again when all five members are present.

Lee, who died earlier this year, played basketball at the former Douglass High School before becoming a standout at King College where he was enshrined in its athletics hall of fame.

VHS Athletics Director Barry Reed said he knew there was interest in naming the court, but doesn’t know what the outcome might be.

Inside the Bearcat Den on Wednesday, a four-person painting crew from Recreational Plus was finishing the stripes and lettering that will mark the court at the center of the 2,500-seat arena.

All work is expected to be finished by Friday, Reed said.

“Virginia Intermont has a game on the 14th and we hope to have it open for them,” Reed said.

The high school basketball season begins Dec. 2.

“Our goal has been to make this the ultimate site in the western part of the state with our light show, music and a more college-type atmosphere,” Reed said.

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