POWERGRAMS

Basketball is not king at Theo Ratliff's annual basketball camps. Squeezed in between morning snacks and lunch, there are daily classes for kids ages 6-13 to learn about creative writing, character building, life skills, arts and crafts, health and fitness, and avoiding substance abuse. Most of each day, the basketballs are put away. "We're just excited about what is being done here," says Ed Ward, who has been executive director of the Ratliff Recreation Center since the local sports legend opened the 30,000-square-foot facility in 2006. Although the largest visible portion of the center is the gymnasium, the centerpiece for the 5,000 visitors each month is what goes on beyond the basketballs. Rather than athletics, the vast majority of efforts here go toward providing crucial resources for young people – and their parents – senior citizens, disabled adults and others who walk through the doors each day. There are posters of the 6-foot-10-inch-tall benefactor on the walls, but round ball is the least of the action 'round here. For more than a decade, each day Ward and a staff of six city employees and 16 AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers have offered more than 100 children after- school snacks and tutoring, piano, guitar and Spanish lessons, anti-tobacco, drugs and alcohol information, computer classes … and sports. A child with a C-average or below must study before being awarded playtime. There are welfare-to-work classes, parenting programs and high school equivalency diploma classes for adults. Senior citizens come to exercise and get help with their Social Security concerns. More than 4,000 people receive free medical services through the annual health fair. The center has been expanded from the original lobby and gym to include surrounding offices, and a swimming pool and an arts and crafts building across the street. "There's always something going on; we're here from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.," says Ward, who left a career as a juvenile court probation officer. "It's just amazing to me. In my old job, I had to transport so many kids to juvenile facilities. God has blessed me to be in a position to keep these children from getting in trouble or going to jail." For the 98 percent of Ratliff Center students who have never been on an airplane, a flight simulator spurs interest in aviation. Each year, Ratliff awards top students a trip to see Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The 25-station computer lab is being upgraded with a $15,000 Elevate grant, which Ward calls "a dream come true" from the Alabama Power Foundation, one of many organizations and businesses that aid the Ratliff Center. "We have so many groups that meet here," says Ward. "We have about 70 senior citizens who began taking computer classes. When they first went into the program, they were scared to touch the mouse. Now they have email accounts, are online and read publications here each day." Blind adults from Choctaw, Marengo and Sumter counties have begun taking computer instruction at the Ratliff Center. Ward sees an opportunity for online employment. "This can really, really change their lives," he says. "Our computer lab is the heartbeat of this facility. It is much more important than the gym." Two days each week, 70-80 mental health constituents from a five-county area visit the center for recreation and education. After Hurricane Katrina, many people came to the center seeking help, which eventually led Ward to seek certification for the center as a Red Cross disaster relief shelter. The licensing required extensive training for the staff, which now aids victims of storms and other disasters. Ratliff earned millions during 16 years with the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trailblazers, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Bobcats and Los Angeles Lakers before retiring in 2011. After graduating from the University of Wyoming, he was an NBA All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year. Those exploits followed his athletic beginnings at Demopolis High School, which Ratliff provides 10 annual college scholarships for outstanding students. "He has to lean over when he walks through the door, but Theo seems no different than any other kid when he comes into the center," says Ward. "Still, anything we need, we just ask him and he gets it for us." Ratliff easily relates to kids, having been bullied as a skinny eighth-grader by classmates who called him "Daddy-longlegs" and "Giant Theophalus of Demopolis." He turned that experience around in a comic book Ratliff has distributed to classrooms across the South, giving tips on dealing with hurtful words and actions. "Remember, no one can make you feel less than the special person that you are … unless you let them," Ratliff says in "Theo the Hero." Ratliff lives in Atlanta but rewards his hometown students who excel in class by providing trips to NBA games, as well as to watch University of Alabama basketball, baseball and football. "Theo's life has touched the lives of so many people," says Ward. "It's just amazing what he's done." Theo the Hero BASKETBALL STAR GIVES BACK TO DEMOPOLIS by Chuck Chandler Ratliff's comic book. Ratliff played 16 seasons in the NBA. 23

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