School Story:
"THE FOUR HORSEMEN of TIGERTOWN"
The most prominent story that I have is being able to grow up in Grambling, & watch at a time when the Nation & the World didn't know a thing about us. Grambling, La. & Grambling College were like seeds that were germinating in the nurturing soil. These historically tinted seeds that blossemed into our future were alive and well; and were always dwarfed by the bigger well managed, and well established institutions of higher learnings. We just kept doing our thing. We had a powerful team of producers that equally attributed to the success that GSU now enjoys. I call them the FOUR HORSEMEN of TIGERTOWN. They are without a doubt the true builders. PRESIDENT R. W. E. JONES. If it had not been for his love of the game; and his active participation, Grambling would not be the same. He was not a University President that was focused on academia only. If there was a hot player somewhere he would tell Coach Rob, "Go get him, tell his Mother that her Son will be in class, go to Church on Sundays, and will graduate".
The second HORSEMAN of TIGERTOWN was the Legend himself. COACH EDDIE G. ROBINSON. What a blessed, talented, and intelligent man. Coach Rob was an awesome person to learn from. The most striking thing about Coach Rob that effected me as a young man growing up, was his humbleness in success. The man just made the Sports Illustrated cover page. He still took it all in stride. That character eminated profoundly when he became the Nations winningest Collegiate coach. The third HORSEMAN of TIGERTOWN was MR. CONRAD HUTCHINSON. Mr. Hutchinson was truly a musical genius. It is reported that while in the bandroom he could tell you the note, that the freight train made as it traveled down the track. He would say What note is that?" After no reply he would say "That is a "G". He was perhaps one of a few Directors at that time to merge Symphony Instruments such as the Timpani Drums and the Electric Organ, in a Marching Band's field presentation. If Hutch were in his prime today he would no doubt be doing something today with the likes of Quincy Jones or Stevie Wonder. Hutch as he was affectionately called, knew how to give the people what they wanted. Which opened Grambling's door wide open to the world. The fourth HORSEMAN of TIGERTOWN was Mr. COLLIE J. NICHOLSON. Some talk about having a gift of gab, this man had hot talented hands. He easily created characters and personalities from rough & tumble football players like it was a daily soap opera. You couldn't wait to see what he would create next week. How would he detail the newest hottest star players at Grambling? What enchanting anecdotes would he think up, to keep the local and regional press boys beating a path down the hot and dusty red dirt roads, of the Piney Woods of North Louisiana. The light-hearted detailed descriptions he issued when one Big Tiger came to campus; Earnie "Big Cat" Ladd was one of these revealing tales. Stories that "Collie J" put out about Ladd, was that "Big Cat" would eat a whole loaf of bread during his lunch meal. He reported that he was so tall and big that his feet hung over the bed when he slept. They had to have special everything for this giant of a man. These four Great Grambling Men are what helped to make Grambling State University go from a town so small, the train wouldn't stop unless you flagged it down; to worldwide recognition. Thank GOD for the FOUR HORSEMEN of TIGERTOWN.
