David L. Lash, Sr.

David L. Lash, Sr., The Yellow Jacket, 1958

According to former students, David L. Lash, Sr. (1919-1996) was more than a teacher and coach of multiple sports: He was "a father figure to many," said Isaac Howard, who played football for Lash at Carver Consolidated School and enjoyed a career in the NFL. The math and science teacher with degrees from Shaw University and NC A&T also coached tennis and girls' basketball. Lash was committed to youth development and looked to improve his ability to serve students, and like many teachers of his generation, summers included further study at northern universities. Students like Arthur Dark — Carver class of 1964 —took note, remembering how well-educated teachers like Lash were and that they studied "at some of the top universities." Lash studied modern math and modern geometry in 1959 at Yale. In 1962, his Carver football team won the North Carolina Athletic Conference State title and, in 1965, he was the Winston-Salem and Forsyth County High School Coach of the Year. The Yellow Jackets still play football in the stadium at Carver named in Lash's honor. He was married to fellow educator Wilhelmena B. Lash for 53 years.

Video: Arthur Dark, Carver, class of 1964, discusses the impact of David L. Lash, Sr.