| January 19th, 2018
Agile, Mobile, Hostile! New biography on the life and legacy of Jake Gaither debuts
By: journeymagazine
By: Ke’Neesha Weaver
Former Florida Agricultural & Mechanical Univeristy Athletic Director and School of Journalism & Graphic Communication Professor Rooselvelt Wilson had a book signing in commemoration of the 2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday. The event was held at the Historical Jake Gaither House.
FAMU civil engineering alum Cornelius Jones is the owner and restorer of the Historic Jake Gaither House.
“Jake Gaither was something to be reckoned with. I never knew he had football clinics here in this house,” Jones said. Jones also spoke on the legacy that Gaither left for athletes today. “Jake Gaither established the legacy of football coaches, I have a letter from a coach writing me saying he got to get one of those fast black boys to catch the other fast black boy. If it wasn’t for Jake African American athletes going to Division I schools wouldn’t have really happened,” Jones explained. Jones was able to get $100,000 from the state of Florida to revise the walkway in front of the Historic Jake Gaither house for ADA handicap to enter into the house. “I really need the community to help with the process of the ADA handicap, I can’t do it all by myself,” Jones said as he explained the efforts of the brick campaign and the ADA ramp to help the elderly enter the house in a more accessible way.
Wilson and daughter signing copies of his book “Agile, Mobile, Hostile: The Biography of Alonzo S. Jake Gaither.” Photo by: Ke’Neesha Weaver
“Agile, Mobile, Hostile: The Biography of Alonzo S. Jake Gaither” was written by former SJGC Professor Roosevelt Wilson. Wilson named the book Agile, Mobile, Hostile because it was one of Gaither’s famous sayings. “Jake would say he wanted his team to be agile, mobile, and hostile,” said Yanela McCloud, honorary second daughter to Roosevelt Wilson and a history professor at FAMU. “I only have one biological daughter and Yanela is the next closest thing to it,” said Wilson. McCloud was one of Wilson’s students while he was teaching in SJGC. She helped him with all his writing and books once she noticed his vision was going bad. McCloud and Wilson became very close and they decided to do a book based off the columns Wilson had written. McCloud then discovered a manuscript and how everyone was using it, but stayed on Wilson’s case until he got it published. McCloud’s role with Wilson is a major reason as to why the book “Agile, Mobile, Hostile: A Biography of Jake Gaither” is published today.
Before joining the public relations staff at FAMU in 1969, Wilson was a high school English teacher and professional journalist for six years. During his tenure Wilson also served FAMU as Sports Information Director, Director of University Publications, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and a member of the faculty of the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication from which he retired in 2003.
Wilson started writing this manuscript back when he was teaching at FAMU as a Public Relations professor and before getting it published different students at that time was using his manuscript to help them write their dissertations. Interim Athletic Director, John Eason spoke on how he had the opportunity to read the book before anyone else did. Eason was working on his dissertation and went to Roosevelt Wilson because he heard of him working on manuscript about Jake Gaither, in which that manuscript was the catalyst of him getting his dissertation done. “I’m a blessed man. I was able to read the manuscript before any of you did, even before the writer. And that manuscript helped me with my dissertation,” said Eason.
Although this event was about Wilson and his book signing a lot of people spoke about the memories made and shared with Jake Gaither himself that led to relationships with Wilson. Retired Vice President of University Relations, Eddie Jackson spoke on his first job while working for Jake Gaither and how it led him to knowing Roosevelt Wilson. “Gaither used to say I was the best sports information director he ever had until Roosevelt came long,” said Jackson.
Aside from being an Associate Professor in the SJGC, Wilson was a former publisher for the Capital Outlook newspaper in Tallahassee. As a publisher of the Capital Outlook which he and his wife Cathy have previously owned from 1991 to 2009, his weekly columns and editorials have won national awards, and the newspaper has been cited for excellence in editorial writing, public service, creativity and religion coverage.
“It takes a special feeling to have people come out to listen to what you have to say and hear what people have to say about me. Everybody in here is special and I really appreciate all your support from now and from the time I published my newspaper,” said Wilson. Wilson expressed how much he appreciated those for taking the time out on this historic day to come out and listen to him as well as get their books signed.
February 18th at 8:00 p.m. (tentative) the first part of a series on Jake Gaither on WFSU-TV called “The Local Route” will be aired. To find out more information about the series visit: https://www.wfsu.org/television/schedules-weekly.php
