The Kimberly Bryant Dickens Thymoma Cancer Fund
There will be a fundraiser for Kimberly on March 30 at 3 p.m. at the North Westminster Presbyterian Church,743 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Lansing, 48915, (517) 484-8433. Kimberly is a 1988 graduate of J. W. Sexton High School. She has been battling this rare form of cancer now for three years now. The concert will feature The United Voices of Detroit, The MSU Community Music School Young Men's Chorus and The MSU Community School Young Women's Chorus. Concert is at 3:30 with a silent auction and back sale. Contributions can also be made to the church's address above in Kimberly's name. Thank you!. Any questions can be directed to Gordon Carr, Class of 1955, at (517) 482-7717.
In Memory of Duane Corbett
If you have ever had a favorite teacher you will never forget, this man was mine, and ours. Mr. Corbett. He was hardboiled but fair, humorous yet demanding, could be a tough at times, and the kids loved him because he would march through hell with us, leading the way, if he had to (that included a parade or two in the freezing cold with snow on the ground. And don’t ever not show up for a band function, or in his own words, “I’ll cut your cussed grade to the bone.” He meant it, but now we laugh about it affectionately. Anyone can see now he was teaching responsibility to show up for work. Of course, this was back in the day when you could teach values and school subject without needing a lawyer and a standardized test to prove you were a good teacher. In 1993 the Capital Area Alumni Band (originally the Sexton High School Alumni band) participated in a big Lansing parade, where he came back and we did a parade with him. For several years after that we continued to do the spring parade with him with all the old street maneuvers. The last time was 2009 and my son played trombone for the band and my daughter helped carry the banner. And we talked with him. He rode in a “Merry Oldsmobile” an old three wheel car, in front of the band as he could no longer walk very far. I am so glad I did that parade one last time with him. For many of us, it will never be the same without him. He probably kept more kids out of trouble than anyone will ever know, just by them being in his band program. As strict as he was, he was also always full of praise. We often heard a “Good job, man!” from him after a playing test or performance, or simply helping move equipment on the stage. So long Mr. C, you did us well and we will miss you terribly. Sometimes I hear his voice in the morning saying, “Get out of bed Timlin, you got work to do. Don’t give me any Hog Rot, get up and get moving boy! And remember, its 8 steps to the five and think, boy, think.” And that is what keeps me going.
It is so hard to say good-bye….but I envision him after the football games, all of us gathered around at the school door, as he climbs up on the cement wall and exclaims, “Who has the greatest marching band in the world?!” And we all answered in loud unison “Sexton!” Now we all answer in a hushed whisper in our hearts, “You did, Mr. Corbett, you did.”
Tom Timlin, Class of 1974
posted November 8th, 2011
SEXTON B-BALL STATE CHAMPIONS
Sexton won back-to-back boys basketball state championships in 1959 and 1960,
After a 75-60 win over Muskegon Heights in the Class B state championship game Saturday at the Breslin Center, the Big Reds could be setting themselves up nicely for another repeat.
They'll say goodbye to four seniors, but just one starter in forward Tyrin Wade.
Wade led the Big Reds with 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds in their title-clinching victory Saturday, but with the play of rangy sophomore Jalen Hayes (eight points, 11 rebounds), the future looks bright for Sexton in the middle.
The perimeter should be just fine too. Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes and Anthony Clemmons are all juniors that will lead a deep, experienced and dangerous backcourt.
"We know we have a lot of experience coming back with me, Bryn and Jalen too," Denzel Valentine said. "It's going to be a fun year next year. We're going to come out and practice hard next year and see what happens."
Valentine will get to play one last season for his father, Carlton, before moving on to Michigan State.
He showed his ability to score in the win Saturday over Muskegon Heights, but Valentine won't be forced to carry the load by himself all the time next season.
He'll have a rapidly improving running mate in Forbes.
A smooth stroke led to a breakout junior year for Forbes, who poured in 29 points in the semifinal win over Detroit Country Day.
"I'm not worried about scoring as much. I just want to be more of a leader," Denzel said. The elder Valentine has coached Sexton to two consecutive trips to Breslin Center.
After the win Saturday, Carlton explained how he improved as a coach in the past few years and how it has helped going forward as his Big Reds will likely enter next season as one of the favorites in Class B.
"I think my preparation is better. My coaching staff and I spent a lot of time with preparation," Valentine said.
He also has learned how to coach his team through the playoffs and maneuver them through a bracket.
"Our practices are better. I think we learned how not to burn the guys out during the playoff time. We go an hour and 20 versus getting guys in and grinding them out for two hours. I think we've got a little smarter in that aspect," Valentine said.
Wade sat with the Class B state championship trophy in front of him on the interview podium Saturday night. The rallying cry for the Big Reds after losing to Detroit Country Day in the final last year echoed what Walden had said earlier in the day.
"We knew from preseason we had one more thing to do," Wade said. "Last year we had to suck it up and get over the loss and get ready for the next season and execute from there."
