Metro Youth Sports Celebrates 50 years!

By Tabitha Ervin
FWIS Editorial Director

Metro Youth Sports celebrated their 50 year anniversary of serving youth in Fort Wayne with a Jamboree hosted at Northrop High School and the organization was honored at the Indiana Black Expo Fort Wayne Chapter’s White Party over the weekend. The Jamboree included a health and resource fair and an awards presentation among other activities.

At the Fort Wayne Black Expo event, the founders Mr. Jim Winters and Mr. Tom Macon were honored and thanked along with various other coaches and supporters over the last 50 years. Dr. Eugene White shared some brief history on the evolution of the program over the years from 1974 to now and the expansion to other sports which led them to changing the name from Metropolitan Midget Football League to Metro Youth Sports.

He shared that the program has impacted over 12,000 youth including Vaughan Dunbar, Jaylon and Rod Smith, Jessie Bates, Lamar Smith and a few others who have played or are playing in the National Football League.

The Mayor, Sharon Tucker along with 6th District Councilwoman Rohli Booker shared supportive words and Joe Jordan closed with an inspiring message about the organization.

Metro’s mission is to provide central city youth with guidance toward fulfillment of their potential through organized volunteer, supervised academic/sports programs that offer constructive use of leisure time while enhancing personal, social and educational development.

Metro’s current Athletic Director is Willie Burton who looks to continue the great history of the organization and as they serve youth in the community. Burton himself participated in Metro as a young person and is proud to now be leading the organization. From a story we printed in February on Willie Burton, “This is a crucial time for us at Metro Sports as we are celebrating our 50th Year being a part of the SE side of Fort Wayne. I know what Metro football did for me as a youth growing up, in McCormick (bricks) and if it wasn’t for some of our early metro pioneers’ names like: Tharnell Hollins, Tom Macon, Archie Lundsey, Preacher Pilot, Jerry Wilson, Jon Autry, Charlie Woods, Prince Chapman and the man who started it all Jim Winters I’m not sure where many of us would be. I owe it to them to carry on the legacy that they’ve started. Some 50 years ago!”