Celebrating new South End Black History museum and GHS Class of Champions

Family of DeWayne Norris, all of whom helped the museum come to life by gathering data, designing merchandise and coordinating the weekend’s events. (Left to right): DeWayne, Donna, Tasha, Brennan, Deslyn and DeWayne II.

Banner Graphic/NINA THOMPSON

Friends and family from near and far gathered for a potluck luncheon at The Inn at DePauw this weekend to celebrate the opening of the South End Black Hisory Museum, as well as commemorate Greencastle High School’s 1968 Class of Champions.

The museum was created by DeWayne Norris, proudly born and raised in the South End and graduate of the Class of Champions. This class was made of GHS’ most impressive athletes yet in the school’s history, leading the baseball, basketball and football teams to winning Western Indiana Conference, regional and sectional championships. Norris played on five championship teams before graduating from GHS and continuing his athletic and educational career at New Mexico State.

Now, 55 years later, classmates and South End residents came from all over the countnry to celebrate the South End’s resilience and GHS’ legacy.

“Now, if you look at the body of work of the GHS class of 1968, no class even comes close to matching our success. We were that good,” Norris wrote in a curated booklet for luncheon guests.

Continuing the weekend’s festivities, free music performances by Zachary Le’on, James “Papa” Taylor, Tad Robinson and The City Heat Band were held in the Ballroom at the Inn at DePauw. The weekend was a call to celebrate achievements from the whole South End community, and to preserve the neighborhood pride that “extended to the schools,” Norris wrote.

“The South End Black History Museum is not about you or me. It is about honoring our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents... it is our responsibility to recognize them and never, ever let them be forgotten. They deserve better and so do we.”