Biographies: Coleman Powell, 1975, Winn Parish, La. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: May 21, 1975 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American For Coleman Powell, Success: Raising Eight Boys Into Talented Young Men by Vernon Ray Davenport, Sr. It is a blessing to raise one boy to manhood, but it is an extraordinary blessing to raise eight boys into strong, healthy, talented men. That is exactly what one man who lives at the intersection of South Jones and South Pineville Streets in South Winnfield has done. Coleman Powell, an 82 year old retired millworker, raised eight boys while earning only 9 to 15 dollars per week during the depression and afterward. He also had a truck patch, whenever he could convince someone to let him use their land. He is the father of a former National Football League player, a nationally known soul recording artist, a manufacturer, a church deacon, two former deputy sheriffs, a city patrolman and land developer. One son is a successful businessman, owning a store and a laundromat. The Powell name was synonymous with great football players for three generation with seven of the boys excelling in the sport. Preston, the sixth son, made All-State in both football and baseball while in high school. He went on to make All-American at Grambling State University before playing in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns. Preston now makes his home in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is a deputy sheriff. Charles, now deceased, was a deputy sheriff in Dallas, Texas, for several years after he starred in football at fullback at what was the Winn Parish Training School. Hasting, the fifth son, was one of the greatest running backs in the history of Winn Parish. Called "Hurricane" Hasting because of his speed, he was also a great punter. He is a deacon in church now. Val Pal, the third son and O. C., the second son, were also good football players. Although they did not finish high school, they showed potential of becoming great. Van Pal is now deceased and O. C. is living in Chicago. Donald Ray, the seventh son, owns and operates a successful shop which manufactures burglar alarm equipment in Los Angeles. Narvin, the fourth son, was one of the first of his race to become a city patrolman in Winnfield. He also is the first of his race to own a laundromat. Additionally, Narvin owns a store which his wife and children operate. The former football standout is also a land developer. Bobby, the eighth son, is a nationally known soul recording artist. Although blind since early childhood, he writes most of his songs. Bobby, who now lives in Baton Rouge where he finished high school, is responsible for such recordings as "Do Something For Yourself", "Red Sails In the Sunset", "The Bells", part 1 and 2, "Nothing Takes the Place of You", "Our Love", "C. C. Rider", "Question", "Peace Begins Within, Wake Up People", and his current smash hit, "I Want To Thank You". Asked why his sons have been so successful, Mr. Powell said, "I always taught my boys to strive to be the best in whatever they do. I told them never do anything to make me ashamed of them. Anybody could whip my children when they saw them doing wrong. If they would act like they didn't like it, I would give them another whipping when they arrived home.." Narvin added "My father always had control of his home. He didn't raise us on rules that he got from a book; he made his own rules and stuck to them. I try to use the same principles in my home," the police added. Mr. Powell said that he would rather raise boys than girls because boys are handy. "They could help me on my farm." Asked what advice did he give his boys to make them the outstanding men they are, Mr. Powell said, "I raised them up in the church and taught them to lead a Christian life." He said that only Bobby and Preston showed signs of outstanding talents when they were growing up. "I could tell that Bobby was going to be a musician because he always was playing around with the piano and singing. Preston always had a ball which he would play with every day. The other boys didn't show any special interest while they were growing up.