Since my election as your District Attorney in 2015, my office has hosted several camps for kids. Through the generosity of sponsors, we have hosted free volleyball and soccer camps for kids, and, in conjunction with the Caddo Parish School Athletic Department, a free football camp each summer for kids aged 5-17. I wanted to do this as an event to bring positive role models to our area youth in a fun environment, especially those children who cannot afford to attend athletic camps that charge money. I, as a former football and baseball coach as well as a SPAR Little League sponsor, have always been a proponent of kids being involved in sports and other extracurricular activities to keep them in school, disciplined, and to motivate them to stay out of the criminal system.
At our football camps, we have had such NFL players as:
- Brandon Wilson, current safety for the Cincinnati Bengals, and Calvary.
- Knile Davis, former running back for the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Josh Booty, former quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, LSU, and Evangel.
- Ryan Mallett, former quarterback for the Houston Texans, Arkansas, and Texas High-Texarkana.
- Ramon Broadway, former cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, Arkansas, and Evangel.
- Michael Hunter, a former cornerback for the New York Giants, Oklahoma State, and West Monroe.
- Damian Williams, former wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, and the University of Southern California.
As well as coaches such as:
- Scott Surratt, legendary defending Texas State champion, and Carthage High School.
- Jerwin Wilson, former head coach for Woodlawn High School.
- Steve Dennis, head coach for Huntington High School.
- Bo Meeks, head coach for Airline High School.
- Assistant coaching staff from Captain Shreve High School, and C.E. Byrd.
- David Gallman, little league coach extraordinaire.
All volunteer their time and give back to the thousands of kids who have shown up for a day of fun, food, and football.
At the end of each camp day, and most importantly, we use this occasion to let these kids meet, touch, and hear from each of the players a message about staying in school, pursuing your dreams, and persevering through tough times.
Every year at our camp, Michael Hunter shows up and tells the camp participants that he was not only a star multi-sport athlete at West Monroe, but that he was also the valedictorian of that high school. Michael tells the kids that being the valedictorian of West Monroe – the first and only African American to achieve that honor – is what he is MOST proud of. This is the type of message our kids need desperately to hear.
This year due to the coronavirus pandemic, we decided to not get hundreds of kids together but instead to try something new, an on-line virtual football camp, which begins Monday, June 22, 2020. The athletes have made for us training videos that any young player can do at home and download or press play on their computer or cell phone. If you or anyone you know are interested in participating, please go to the Caddo Parish District Attorney Facebook and follow instructions. The camp will last six weeks with new videos posted every week. There will be prizes for participants to win. And with the generosity of sponsors Notini’s Italian restaurant owner Tim Huck, ANECA Federal Credit Union, Hancock & Whitney Financial Advisors, Attorney Dell Harville, and Attorney Allen Haynes, we will be giving a complimentary t-shirt and a pizza at Notini’s at a set date to all pre-registrants.
Thanks again to our sponsors and to Coach Dennis, Josh Booty, and Michael Hunter for volunteering their time to make the videos.
Caddo Parish District Attorney
James E. Stewart, Sr.