Kathy Pinna
Friends attend services for youth
Athletes who played alongside Calvin Cubie for Westport High School's football and basketball teams joined with his family and other friends Saturday to mourn the teen-ager at his funeral. Ten senior athletes served as pallbearers at the service for the youth, who was shot and killed last weekend. About 350 family and friends attended the funeral, according to officials at Lawrence A. Jones & Sons LInwood Chapel. Many cried as Calvin's casket was opened briefly and taken past family members.
Kansas City police said Saturday afternoon they still don't know who killed the 18-year-old high school senior. No one had been arrested by Saturday afternoon, police said. Calvin's services came one week after police found his body at 36th and Wayne Avenue. Police said he was shot once in the head during an argument about 2 a.m. March 15 at a party near his home, 3619 Wayne Avenue, in Kansas City. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jesse Sands, football coach at Westport High School, was among those mourners Saturday who wondered why he was killed. "He was a super athlete" Mr. Sands said in an interview after services at Blue Ridge Lawn Memorial Gardens. "He was a big brother to smaller kids. He took time out to help freshmen who didn't have skills. He had a lot of ability. He gave more than was expected of him."
Calvin played on Westport's football and basketball teams this school year after transferring from Central High School about a year and a half ago, Mr. Sands said. "He came in and picked up the school colors, made an adjustment and had a lot to offer," Mr. Sands said. "All the kids loved him. He had so much ability . . . Some kids are just born with that instinct to be great and that's what he was."
Harrel Johnson, who said he handles youth sports programs for a community organization called Key Coalition, said Saturday that Calvin played basketball for him from age 12 through 16. "The kid was in my gym every day," Mr. Johnson said. "He had a beautiful attitude. He stuck with it and worked hard. That's what most of his life was centered around, playing basketball."
- The Kansas City Star on Sunday, March 23, 1986, page 51.
Kansas City police said Saturday afternoon they still don't know who killed the 18-year-old high school senior. No one had been arrested by Saturday afternoon, police said. Calvin's services came one week after police found his body at 36th and Wayne Avenue. Police said he was shot once in the head during an argument about 2 a.m. March 15 at a party near his home, 3619 Wayne Avenue, in Kansas City. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jesse Sands, football coach at Westport High School, was among those mourners Saturday who wondered why he was killed. "He was a super athlete" Mr. Sands said in an interview after services at Blue Ridge Lawn Memorial Gardens. "He was a big brother to smaller kids. He took time out to help freshmen who didn't have skills. He had a lot of ability. He gave more than was expected of him."
Calvin played on Westport's football and basketball teams this school year after transferring from Central High School about a year and a half ago, Mr. Sands said. "He came in and picked up the school colors, made an adjustment and had a lot to offer," Mr. Sands said. "All the kids loved him. He had so much ability . . . Some kids are just born with that instinct to be great and that's what he was."
Harrel Johnson, who said he handles youth sports programs for a community organization called Key Coalition, said Saturday that Calvin played basketball for him from age 12 through 16. "The kid was in my gym every day," Mr. Johnson said. "He had a beautiful attitude. He stuck with it and worked hard. That's what most of his life was centered around, playing basketball."
- The Kansas City Star on Sunday, March 23, 1986, page 51.
