Mr. Willie E. Goldsmith Sr. did a good thing when he organized a group of fellow alumni of the long closed Roosevelt High School in West Palm Beach to plan for the creation of a Hall of Fame to honor those who attended the school and went on to make a name for themselves.


The initiative is all the more remarkable in that the all-black Roosevelt High, which existed during the segregation era from 1950, ceased to exist some 41 years ago. But that did not stop Mr. Goldsmith and colleagues such as Dan Calloway from devoting the time, energy and resources to create the Hall of Fame and organize an induction ceremony — which took place on Feb. 19.

As a result, the names of 21 living and 11 deceased Roosevelt High alumni are permanently enshrined in the Hall of Fame, serving as a reminder that, even in the most difficult circumstances, African-American youth can rise to great heights.

Despite the efforts of a handful of institutions to preserve the history of African Americans in South Florida, there is not nearly enough documentation of the role of the men and women who have helped to shape the area. In fact, Mr. Goldsmith went on his campaign after he saw a list of 100 top athletes in Florida and Roosevelt High alumni were not among them, though several have excelled in sports.