Font ResizeAttending college was a goal of William "Mel" Ransom, a standout basketball player for the York City School District in the 1930s.
His mother and his father, who both never finished high school, urged their children to learn as much as they could.
But being from a family with 10 children and living during the Great Depression, Ransom only dreamed about college.
That all changed when Chester Hayes, the first director at the Crispus Attucks Community Center, came to town.
"I got very close to him," Ransom said. "He was like a father to me."
Ransom said Hayes talked to the Matrons Club of York.
The club gave Ransom a $200 athletic student scholarship so Ransom could attend Lincoln University in Chester County.
This covered most of his expenses for his first year of college.
"I would not have been able to go to college if it hadn't been for that Matrons Club," he said. "Once I got in college on that $200 scholarship, that's all I got, and I made it by working my way through the rest of the way."
Though he worked hard through college, Ransom didn't forget his hometown.
He strove to motivate
"When I entered college, I came back with Lincoln (University) basketball players and played a team coached by the staff of the CA," Ransom said. "We played against that team and the place was packed. It seemed that after that, a lot of children after their graduation from high school found their way to Lincoln University."
Ransom later became an administrator with the Coatesville Area School District, Chester County.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
"Being elected into the Coatesville Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame."
What makes a hero?
"A personal love of God, which drives him to do other things creating a lot of love and appreciation for others."
Who is your hero?
"God."
What affect did you have on York County or on your profession?
"I hope that my love for God and my love for people proved my love for God. I hope that the love that I got from God filtered down to the people I came in contact with and to let them know that God loves all his children."
Who or what is your inspiration?
"I (knew) a man who is the director of the CA (Crispus Attucks) Community Center in York. The first director, Chester Hayes. I considered him my idol. I tried to pattern my life after him."
What would you like your hometown to know about you?
"I tried to set an example. You can be whatever you want to be if you want to be it bad enough."
What's the best piece of advice you can give or have ever gotten?
"Go to school, trust in God and study hard. Get ready, some day your chance will come."
If you could change one thing about your life or something you did, what would it be?
"I would postpone getting married until after college," Ransom said, recalling how difficult it was for him to financially support his wife and child while attending school.
"But the good Lord and my mother-in-law helped out tremendously."
WILLIAM "MEL" RANSOM BIOGRAPHY
Occupation: Retired in 1979 as an administrator from the Coatesville Area School District in Chester County.
Born: March 15, 1914
Birthplace: Bamberg County, S.C.
Current home: Gloucester County, Va.
Marital status: Married
Children: Four children
Education: Graduated in 1938 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Lincoln University in Chester County; received master's degree in school administration from Temple University.
