DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Renowned Bethune-Cookman athletic alum Harold V.Lucas, Jr.  will be honored Saturday morning at the Daytona Pop Warner Homecoming youth football games at Derbyshire Field.

The sporting complex, an area landmark where many Daytona Beach natives played in their youth, will officially be named “The Harold V. Lucas Jr. Fields at Derbyshire Park.”

After a stellar athletic career at Bethune-Cookman – he was one of the football program's first standout kickers – Lucas embarked on an educational career that started at Campbell High School, where he retired as its last football coach before integration while establishing a track team.

He also served as Mainland High School as its track coach and returned to Bethune-Cookman, where as a child, he was the school's second-ever game day mascot, as a defensive back, linebacker and special teams coach.  

“Coach Lucas is so deserving of this honor. I am so proud that the Daytona Beach City Commission has recognized the contributions of this great man,” said B-CU Athletic Director Lynn W. Thompson. “He is personally responsible for many of the milestones I achieved as a student-athlete at Mainland High School and Bethune-Cookman University and I am simply one of thousands of people who were influenced by Coach Luke."

His many philanthropic endeavors include United Way, Serenity House, Children's Advocacy Center and Daytona Beach Human Relations Council, among many others.

In 2005, he received the prestigious HBCU Philanthropist Award from the Kresge Foundation and the Coca-Cola Company, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Association of Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. The 1953 graduate has also been honored by B-CU. Daytona Pop Warner and Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Saturday's activities begin at 9:15 a.m. at Derbyshire Field, 849 Derbyshire Rd, Daytona Beach.