Bricker featured in Haygood’s historic “Tigerland” story

Wil Haygood, well-known Ohio journalist, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of the best-selling book “The Butler,” recently released his newest book entitled “Tigerland.” The inspiring and true story follows two East High School teams that won state championships in the midst of a turbulent time in history. Not only was the school, as well as the country, divided racially, but country-wide tension was at an ultimate high with the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy. Yet, East High’s basketball and baseball teams achieved the improbable during the 1968-1969 sports seasons.

Mentioned in the story is former Bricker attorney Bert Kram, who alongside East High’s first African-American principal at the time, Jack Gibbs, and attorney Fred Isaac, championed Columbus initiatives that would desegregate the city and ease racial tensions in Columbus. In 1968, they organized a free symphony concert designed to bring the community together. Rehearsals for the concert took place in East High facilities concurrent with the school’s athletic practices. These high school athletes were unknowingly preparing a desegregation initiative of their own and making Ohio sports history.