New Mural installation at W.D. Hill
By: Annette Smith, Grants and Special Projects Analyst, Sr
A new mural is being installed as a part of the renovations to W. D. Hill Recreation Center. Local artist Wade Williams, and a team of assistants are working on a mural celebrating the Recreation Center’s namesake, William Daniels (W.D.) Hill and several noted local athletes who developed their skill and talents at the recreation center. The painting of the mural will take several weeks. Be sure to watch the progress as you travel down Fayetteville Street.
The artist for this project was selected by a committee representing community members, youth and staff in early 2021. Mr. Williams conducted significant engagement within the Hayti neighborhood while developing his concepts for this mural. DPR conducted an online survey with residents to select the final concept.
Bonnie Logan grew up playing tennis at WD Hill and excelled in tennis at Hillside High School and at Morgan State University. After graduation, Ms. Logan continued her tennis career and was the first black female to play professionally with Billie lean King and the Virginia Slims. She has been inducted into the N.C. Tennis Hall of Fame and the Hillside High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame. Bonnie now divides her time between Durham and her home in Baltimore, MD.
Joe Williams an outstanding athlete who played exceptional tennis at Hillside High School and continued to do so during his years at NCCU, where he was a member of the tennis team, winning numerous tournaments including NCAA Championships. He was later inducted into the NCCU Alex Rivera Athletic Hall of Fame. For many years, he has introduced and taught the game of tennis to the youth of Durham. Mr. Williams can still be found on the tennis courts at W.D. Hill!
Mr. John H. Lucas II excelled at tennis and basketball as a student at Hillside High School. He attended the University of Maryland after graduating from Hillside High. While at the University of Maryland he also continued to play tennis, winning a several men's singles ACC championships. After graduation from the University of Maryland, Coach Lucas played professional basketball in the NBA for 14 years. After which he was head coach of several NBA teams. He was inducted into the NC Tennis and Basketball Halls of Fame. Coach Lucas continues to teach the sport of basketball to youth and operates a substance abuse recovery program for athletes in Houston TX.
A new mural is being installed as a part of the renovations to W. D. Hill Recreation Center. Local artist Wade Williams, and a team of assistants are working on a mural celebrating the Recreation Center’s namesake, William Daniels (W.D.) Hill and several noted local athletes who developed their skill and talents at the recreation center. The painting of the mural will take several weeks. Be sure to watch the progress as you travel down Fayetteville Street.
The artist for this project was selected by a committee representing community members, youth and staff in early 2021. Mr. Williams conducted significant engagement within the Hayti neighborhood while developing his concepts for this mural. DPR conducted an online survey with residents to select the final concept.
About the Athletes
William Daniels Hill (1890-1945); was an executive of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co. and the prime mover in that firm's projects to serve Durham's African American youth. Hill was a founder of the John Avery Boys Club in 1939. That institution (now a Boys and Girls club) has carried on ever since. In addition to his dedication to youth, W.D. Hill was a founding member of the Durham Committee on Negro Affairs (now Committee on the Affairs of Black People) in 1935.Bonnie Logan grew up playing tennis at WD Hill and excelled in tennis at Hillside High School and at Morgan State University. After graduation, Ms. Logan continued her tennis career and was the first black female to play professionally with Billie lean King and the Virginia Slims. She has been inducted into the N.C. Tennis Hall of Fame and the Hillside High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame. Bonnie now divides her time between Durham and her home in Baltimore, MD.
Joe Williams an outstanding athlete who played exceptional tennis at Hillside High School and continued to do so during his years at NCCU, where he was a member of the tennis team, winning numerous tournaments including NCAA Championships. He was later inducted into the NCCU Alex Rivera Athletic Hall of Fame. For many years, he has introduced and taught the game of tennis to the youth of Durham. Mr. Williams can still be found on the tennis courts at W.D. Hill!
Mr. John H. Lucas II excelled at tennis and basketball as a student at Hillside High School. He attended the University of Maryland after graduating from Hillside High. While at the University of Maryland he also continued to play tennis, winning a several men's singles ACC championships. After graduation from the University of Maryland, Coach Lucas played professional basketball in the NBA for 14 years. After which he was head coach of several NBA teams. He was inducted into the NC Tennis and Basketball Halls of Fame. Coach Lucas continues to teach the sport of basketball to youth and operates a substance abuse recovery program for athletes in Houston TX.
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