West Columbia, South Carolina: The Dust Bowl Champions of 1963

In 1963, a small segregated high school in South Carolina achieved the impossible. Playing on a field so poor it was called "the dust bowl"—no grass, a four to six foot slope from end to end—the Lakeview High School Tigers went undefeated and won the Class AA state football championship. Their opponents were bigger, better funded, and played on actual fields. But the Tigers dominated them game after game, outscoring thirteen opponents by staggering margins.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series exploring one of American high school sports' most remarkable underdog stories. Team captain Bennie Sulton, Pastor Charles Jackson (former Lakeview student), and Keller Kissam (Dominion Energy South Carolina president) share how a community refused to let segregation and neglect define their school's legacy.

The interviews reveal life in South Carolina's segregated school system during the early 1960s, when integration was being debated and Black schools were systematically underfunded. Lakeview's teachers held advanced degrees but couldn't work at white universities due to discrimination, so they returned to teach in their community. The school became more than educational—it was the community's hub when Black residents had few other resources.

The 1963 team knew they were playing for more than a championship. As integration approached, white administrators claimed Black students would need to be held back a grade because they weren't "up to par." The Tigers set out to prove otherwise. Coach Reginald Danham told them this season would be remembered for fifty years. Sixty years later, their story still resonates.

One memorable moment came when Lakeview faced Westside High School from Anderson, a much larger school with players heading to Big Ten universities. George Webster—a future Michigan State star who would have his number 90 retired—was considered unbeatable. The Tigers designed an intentional interception play that set up a devastating hit. They won 40-0, sending a clear message: size and resources weren't everything.

The season statistics were staggering: approximately 526-27 aggregate score across thirteen games. Even when their starting quarterback and two running backs were injured in the first quarter of the championship game, reserve players stepped up to secure a 13-7 victory. These weren't just wins—they were statements about discipline, preparation, and educational quality at Lakeview.

But this story transcends football. When Lakeview closed in 1968 during integration, students scattered to unfamiliar schools where many faced hostility. The community lost its center and spent decades watching their old school building deteriorate. In Part 2, we'll explore how the Brooklyn-Lakeview Empowerment Center was born, how Dominion Energy partnered to renovate the dust bowl into a professional-grade field, and what the 1963 team's legacy means to today's young athletes.

Timeline: Lakeview High School opened in 1949, served Lexington County's Black students, won the 1963 Class AA state football championship on November 22, closed in 1968 during integration, and was transformed into the Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center in 2008. The field renovation was completed November 2022.

Historical Context: The story captures a crucial moment when segregated schools were closing and communities faced difficult integration circumstances. While segregation was unjust, schools like Lakeview served as vital community centers where Black students received excellent education from highly credentialed teachers who faced employment discrimination at white institutions. The 1963 championship challenged racist assumptions during a period when integration opponents claimed Black students needed remedial placement.

Legacy: When four youth AAU football teams swept state championships in 2019—fifty-six years after the 1963 victory—it demonstrated that Lakeview's legacy of excellence continues. The Dominion Energy partnership and National Register nomination ensure this history will be preserved for future generations.

Sources: Dominion Energy press releases, The Green Book of South Carolina, Lexington County Chronicle National Register coverage, ABC Columbia/WIS News interviews (November 2022), Michigan Sports Hall of Fame George Webster biography, South Carolina High School League records.

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