Cheesy Grits: Granddad Ralston: Schools and Playgrounds

At some point, the New York City Public School system began to operate summer recreation programs at various city parks and playgrounds. The 16 July 1921 New York Age announced the opening of such a program at the P.S. 89 playground, where Granddad Ralston was already coaching basketball. These programs included organized sports, phys. ed., and—surprise!—activities in the fine arts.

Granddad Ralston was named principal of the entire summer program at the playground, and, considering that he was not yet thirty years of age, this seems a signal recognition of his leadership abilities above and beyond his technical skills with Xs and Os as a basketball coach.

Cheesy Grits: Granddad Ralston at P.S. 89

When last we looked in on Granddad Ralston, he was juggling a new family and the positions of "physical director" at the Boys' Welfare Assocation, basketball coach of the P.S. 89 Buffaloes, all while still competing in the occasional track meet for St. Christopher Club.

But of all these careers—besides his family of course—the one he was apparently most invested in was coaching basketball at P.S. 89. And, as I mentioned earlier, it was as a basketball coach that he became most well-known and respected during this period.

As it turns out, one of the players on his earliest teams would go on to considerable accomplishment and recognition, first in basketball and then as a social services and local government worker. His name is George Gregory.