This response is not directed at the American Legion, which we wholeheartedly support, nor is it meant to disparage Boys State, which is a phenomenal asset for the young men in Oklahoma.
Further, this letter is not an attack against Mr. Amerson, whom should be celebrated as a veteran of The Korean War. For your service, we sincerely thank you.
The spirit of this letter is to clarify allegations and provide first hand facts. In a previous letter to the editor, Mr. Amerson stated he was told by a fellow church member a friend’s son was told by a Shawnee coach or coaches if he went to Boys State, he could not play football for Shawnee.
The referenced football player is our son and it is incumbent on us to edify the public with correct, first hand facts.
Our son was fortunate enough to be selected to attend Boys State because of his excellent academics and leadership demonstrated at Shawnee High School.
A few weeks prior to Boys State, he learned a Shawnee High School football team camp, along with several Shawnee High School Summer League baseball games and Boys State occurred the same week.
To further complicate matters, our son had a Shawnee High School basketball camp the same week which he was unable to attend. After serious contemplation, our son voluntarily decided to attend the football camp and play in the baseball games.
He did not discuss this matter with the coaches or anyone else outside the family, not because he felt the coaches would pressure him, but to the contrary, he knew the coaches would support his decision.
During our association with the football program, the coaching staff has shown great support for activities outside of football, especially those involving academics.
Contrary to Mr. Amerson’s contention, the coaches were in no way involved with our son’s decision which was based solely on his desire to give himself the greatest advantage relative to skill and training to compete at the highest level possible during his upcoming senior season.
While I can imagine the pressure to which Mr. Amerson references is possibly pervasive in the state, his contention the Shawnee football coach or coaches were responsible for our son not attending Boys State is simply untrue, maligning to the coaches and extremely unfair to our son. Now you know the first-hand truth.
Jim and Jessica Berry
Shawnee
