Oakland

Mack Memoirs: Virtual Murrell Resurrects Oakland City Treasure – The Original Warriors

Published

9 years ago

August 10, 2017

By Virtual Murrell

While growing up in (Harbor Homes) in West Oakland, I learned academics and how to play team sports, especially the game of basketball. When we played in the New Century and Thompkins gymnasiums all fast-break plays were stopped by the wall.

But at the Meltzer Boy’s Club, at 24th and Market Street, which was run by the legendary Marion Sims, we had the freedom to play fast-break-style basketball, without a wall. From Meltzer great players like Jim Hadnot, Ed Thomas, Paul Silas, Fritz Pointer, Wendell Hayes, Joe Ellis, “Cha-Cha” McKinney and so many others learned the fundamentals to help the McClymonds High School Warriors team earn the moniker, “Mack, The School of Champions”.

While I played for Oakland High against those awesome Mack squads, I had no idea they would become the best team in the nation.
Now living on the East Coast I have exchanged opinions and debated with local sports fans about this nation’s greatest high school teams.

All of the teams they favored were eastern teams with players like Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and from New York Wilt Chamberlain from Philadephia, Oscar Robertson, from Indiana, and Elgin Baylor, Dave Bing and Tom Hoover from the District of Columbia.

After doing a little homework, I discovered that Mack for three straight years was afforded the status of the best team in the nation. They were also California’s State Champion for five straight years. Mack historically had produced such greats as Willie Rock and Bill Russell, but it was not until 1958 that they had their first undefeated team. That Mack team remained undefeated for three straight years and carried the record over a five year period with 110 wins and only one loss. During that amazing period Mack also won six straight Northern California Championships, known as the Tournament of Champions (TOC).

I decided to help raise the awareness of Oakland’s treasured “Original Warriors” from Mack. With the city now mesmerized by the NBA-best Golden State Warriors, it is important to show Oaklanders and others that this is truly the place of Warriors greatness.
I then discussed the need to bring recognition to Mack with Oakland Post Publisher Paul Cobb and the founder of the Multi-Ethnic Hall of Fame Founder, Arif Khatib.

We formed a working committee and asked former Mack and Golden State Warrior great Joe Ellis to co-chair an event to honor the teams. We decided no effort of this nature would be complete without William “Bill” Patterson and Former Mack coach Ben Tapscott.
I contacted former Mack greats Ed Thomas, and Fritz Pointer and others who readily agreed to “team up again” to support the celebration event scheduled for October 11at Scott’s. Stories about Ed Thomas, Fritz Pointer and others will appear in upcoming editions of the Post.

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Oakland Post: Week of July 22 – 28, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 22 – 28, 2026

Published

18 hours ago

July 27, 2026

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Agricultural Engineer Effie Gant Plans Bay Area Farmers Market Initiative

Published

1 week ago

July 18, 2026

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Agricultural Engineer Effie Gant displays watermelons from her Sacramento farm at the Temescal Festival in Oakland. Photo by Carla Thomas.

In her 80s and still actively working as an agricultural engineer, Effie Gant continues to break barriers in urban farming and community leadership.

The certified USDA grower and respected urban farmer, based in South Sacramento, was recently spotted vending at the Freedom Farmers’ Market by the Temescal Street Fair on Saturday, July 11, where she proudly displayed dozens of sweet, juicy watermelons.

Festivalgoers gathered not only to purchase her produce but also to enjoy activities like the popular watermelon-eating contest. Yet beyond the festive atmosphere, Gant has a larger vision.

Gant is now setting her sights on the Bay Area, where she plans to launch a farmers’ market to increase access to fresh, locally grown food.

Known for her leadership in sustainable agriculture and food justice, she brings decades of hands-on experience and community advocacy to regions where food access remains inconsistent.

She has built a strong reputation through her work with Meadowview Urban Farm and the Yisrael Family Urban Farm, cultivating crops such as watermelons, honeydew melons, and collard greens. Her approach emphasizes sustainability, education, and empowering residents to grow their own food, even in small urban spaces.

As a USDA-certified grower, Gant blends technical expertise with grassroots engagement to combat food insecurity.

Beyond farming, Gant serves as CEO and President of Highways to Hedges, a nonprofit focused on environmental justice and community development. She is also president of the Hampton Station Neighborhood Association and board chairman for HHCORE, where she advocates for safety, equity, and economic opportunity.

Her proposed farmers market will connect small-scale farmers with urban communities while elevating Black farmers and other underrepresented growers.

“I want to teach the next generation about farming and how lucrative it can be,” Gant said. “You don’t need hundreds of acres. You can start with one acre or even your backyard.”Gant also noted her involvement in a collective of farmers who supply produce through government-supported programs.

“We operate as a team, and we all benefit,” she said.

Through workshops, speaking engagements, and hands-on training, Gant and her organization continue to educate communities about agriculture and food justice. Her market initiative will emphasize affordability, cultural relevance, and nutrition education.

Her broader work includes creating edible forests in partnership with Soil Born Farms, planting fruit trees directly in neighborhoods to expand food access. As a mentor with the Center of Expertise on Food Justice and Health Equity, Gant remains a leading voice in building sustainable and resilient food systems.

Gant says she welcomes the community to join her in creating a new farmer’s market.

“Farming is essential to life,” she said. “I want to train as many people as I can to use food and farming as a tool for empowerment, health, and long-term change.”