Former Northside Running Back Trades Football for Telecommunication Career

ith the wind underneath his feet, Lartrell Redmond glides across the football field with the words "catch me if you can" running through his mind. Those words ran across Lartrell Redmond's mind during his early years in football. The former running back made touch down after touch down, for the Northside Cougar's football team. As a Northside class of 1970 graduate, Lartrell Redmond has made his home with his family in Northern California. He has thrived in his telecommunication career just as he thrived in football did during his early years.

Early Years In Football

Football has always been a part of Lartrell Redmond's life. During junior high school, he played tailback for Humes Senior High. In 1966, Redmond along with teammates Bobby Bramlett and John Manning lead the Humes Tigers to their first win in 14 years over the Southside Scrappers. When Redmond was bused to the newly built Northside High School in 1967, he started playing running back for the cougars football team. Redmond and teammates John Fitch, Willie Jones, and James Hayes, lead the cougars to victory over teams like the Lester Lions, the Central Warriors and the Douglass Red Devils. He ran his career high of 153 yards, during a Northside verses Central game. Redmond had just as much fun on the field as he did off the field.

High School Memories

In High School, Redmond was a friendly and humorous practical joker that was well liked by his teachers and classmates. His favorite teacher was Ms. McDonald. During his junior year, Redmond along with classmate Erma Hunt was voted Junior Favorites. His senior classmates voted him "Best Physique" along with fellow classmate Beverly Clark. Football was not the only type of sport that he enjoyed. He was on the basketball and track team at Northside. Redmond met his wife, Darlene Hill-Redmond during his senior year at Northside. "We met in study hall. She seemed so cute that I had to talk to her. It seemed that no one wanted to talk to her. I wanted to know why?"

Eye Opening Experience

Redmond was mentioned several times in the Commercial Appeal newspaper during his junior and senior high school days. It seemed that a college football career would be his next step. However, after graduation, no football scholarships were offered to Redmond. Six months after graduation, he was drafted into the Army. During a leave from the Army, Redmond decided to visit his family and friends in Memphis. While he was in Memphis, he decided to visit his old high school. One of the football coaches told him that he discovered something. What he discovered took Redmond totally by surprise. The football coach found letters from colleges and universities that were sent to the previous head coach requesting information and film clips on Redmond during the time he played for Northside. However, the head coach never responded to any of the request. "I could not understand why he would do that to me. I played my heart out for that guy. It hurt me when I found out. Coach knew how much I loved football and wanted to take it to the next level. He never mentioned it to me once." He eventually over came his disappointment with his former coach. Redmond was stationed in Fort Ord, California when he decided to leave the Army and pursue a football career.

Transition Into Telecommunication

Redmond played a couple of years, in California, for a semi-pro football team called the Seaside Vikkings. "I was always hoping that someone would see me and inquire but our league had such a low profile," says Redmond. Football was not all that was on his mind during this time. Redmond knew that there was something missing in his life and that something was in Memphis. In 1975, Redmond returned to Memphis to marry his high school sweetheart, Darlene Hill. Since his personal life was complete, Redmond needed to focus on his career goals.

Redmond started his career with SBC/Pacific Bell as a 411 Operator in 1974. Soon the position of 411 operator did not pose much of a challenge for him. "I decide that I wanted to fix problems instead of sending people out to do it," says Redmond. He worked in different technical positions within the company. SBC/Pacific Bell provided the technical training and Redmond provided the ambition to learn. He soon started working in positions like technician, manager, instructor and headquarters staff writer. In 1999, he left Pacific Bell and worked as a manager with a couple other companies before getting hired in his current position. Redmond currently manages the state of California Agnews Developmental Center's Lite Span Centrex System. What I like most about my job is the flexibility and leadership. People know that you will resolve the problem that they have with their system. He loves his family life just as much as he enjoys his job.

A Time For Family

Redmond is a family man that is devoted his wife and children. Together they have four children, 27-year-old Twyla Hill, 21-year-old Alque Redmond, 18-year-old Phillip Redmond, 14-year-old Breanna Redmond and three grandchildren. He has been very involved in his children and grandchildren's activities. Both of his sons have a love for football just like their father. Both have played football for PAL (Police Athletic League) since an early age. His grandsons currently plays little league football for Pop Warner. Redmond has been a football coach for Pop Warner and PAL for more than 15 years. "We've had about eight good championship teams. Five of the years, we went to the Super Bowl." He also coaches basketball at the Solari Community Center in San Jose, California. Redmond spends some of his leisure time away from coaching.

Leisure Time For Fishing and Hunting

Some of his weekends are spent fishing on his boat and participated in a couple of fishing tournaments. He has never won any trophies but there is always the next time. He has fished at all that lakes within a 2 to 3-hour radius from San Jose. His best place to fish is the Delta. He also hunts rabbits and quails.

Redmond took time out to talk to us about his high school memories and life after high school.

Jalia: What fun memories do you have about your years at Northside?

Redmond: I enjoyed getting to school early and walking the halls with my two buddies while sometimes stopping to visit with female friends. I remember how much I enjoyed playing football and running with the ball. It was so obvious to the people in the stands, during the football games, just how much I enjoyed the game. It was always a good feeling. The game I remember the most was Northside verses Douglas. I was interested in Francine Shelton and so was another gentleman from Douglas. He told his football friends to hurt me during the game. However, I ran a total of 143 yards and made a couple of Touch Downs. That turned out to be one of my best games. After the game, the guy realized that I could play football.

Jalia: When you started dating your wife in high school, did you know right away that she was the one that you wanted to be with for the rest of your life?

Redmond: No, I only realized she was the right one for me when I went in the Army and she was not there.

Jalia: What do you remember about your time in the Army?

Redmond: I remember the cold weather at Fort Campbell and getting up at four o'clock in the morning. I met a lot of people from many different parts of the country. However, the most important thing that I remember is being taught responsibility and leadership.

Jalia: How did you become interested in a career in telecommunication?

Redmond: I was working at my first job after leaving the military when I met a friend of mine that worked for the telephone company. She suggested that I try to get a job with her employer. After I was hired, I enjoyed fixing problems and being part of a resolution.

Jalia: How did you get involved in coaching football for Pop Warner and Pal?

Redmond: When my oldest son was eight years old, I put him in PAL. I always stood on the sideline until one day when the coach was late getting to practice. I took the team and started them on their drills. When the coach saw what I had done, he asked me if I wanted to help. I have taken both of my sons through PAL and Pop Warner. I am coaching my two grandsons in Basketball through the community center and Football through Pop Warner. I was also part of my two sons high school football coaching staff.

Jalia: What are some of the values that you and your wife have tried to instill in your children?

Redmond: We teach them to put God first in their life not by just talking but by their daily living. I teach them to say what they do and do what they say. We have to take the first step if we want to see change.

Jalia: Name three things that have been the highlights of your life personally?

Redmond: The three things that have been the highlight of my life personally is growing in the Lord, having a beautiful and supporting wife and being a good role model for our kids, their friends and the neighborhood.

Redmond has shown a love for his community as a volunteer coach and mentor. Although his football career may not have gone the way he planned it, Redmond's life is a testimony that God has a place and purpose for all of us in this world. It is up to each one of us to let go of the things that we cannot control and follow the path that God has planned for us.