St. Petersburg Florida is known for a multitude of things, some good, some bad. However, Inside Sports wants to shed some light on a positive story about a family who has taken football to a totally different level.
Von Newton is the Father of five African American Males. First of all when you are a single Father raising five boys in the City of St. Petersburg Florida were beating the odds to become a high school graduate is not easy. Pinellas County has one of the worst African American high school graduation rates in the country.
Let’s take this a step further. As a Father Newton always played an active role in each of his son’s lives. There were times when I would pass his automotive shop and see him working his boys out on a hot sunny day. Never imagining that four of his five sons would graduate from high school, with his youngest attending Clearwater Central. Catholic which they all did.
What makes this story so unique is that Newton was financially destitute and raising five boys sending them to a private school, had to be very tough. If any of you that are reading this thinks this was easy for Newton, you are sadly mistaken.
The Village
I am sure the majority of you all are familiar with the saying, “It take a village to raise a child.” In this case it has. You see Newton, Jovita Rich (Sons Mother) and Joanne Newton (Grandmother) has always gone beyond the call of duty to make sure that these young men had a shot at becoming successful in life. Honestly, what are the chances of an African American Father raising five boys and not having one to become being involved in an entanglement with any law enforcement agency? That is remarkable in this day and age! The “Village” must be held in the highest esteem. Newton says, “Rich was the good cop and I was the bad cop, but we blended it all together to make things work for the good of our boys.” “I was stern with them and never ever cut them any slack.”
Opportunity
How many African American men from the City of St. Petersburg can say that youth league sports have paved the way for each of their children to attend college especially four out of five in which two have recently graduated from West Florida (12-11-21) Newton was right to recognize his sons talent and to push them to excel and get football scholarships. More parents should invest in putting countless hours into investing into their sons/daughter’s future. Newton established a “pipeline” for his boys at CCC.
Truth
The truth of the matter is everything manifested from an opportunity via Clearwater Central Catholic. Basically, it all started though the St. Pete Lil Devils Football Organization. Truth of the matter is Von Newton, Jovita Rich and Joanne Newton deserve their props for keeping the Newton Boys intact along with CCC giving them the opportunity to exercise their talents. This successful blueprint was put into play by the Newton Family and it has been masterfully executed. The plan was fundamentally executed as if it were a down to the wire football game.
The Finale
It’s all about positioning your son/daughter for success by doing your research and playing a vital role in their development. The Newton Family has been blessed by God to have five boys and they all have been productive citizens of society and who have never been on a police report. The “Village” has done its job as every family should but unfortunately some do not. Give The Newton’s their flowers for their accomplishment of raising boys who have all earned football scholarships. #StPeteLilDevils #CCCMaruaders #UniversityofWestFlorida #UniversityofToledo #UniversityofIllinois
(1) Jervon Newton 5’11 195 RB University of West Florida (Graduated 12-11-21)
(2) Jerquan Newton 6’0 205 LB University of West Florida (Graduated 12-11-21)
(3) Jerjuan Newton 6’0 215 WR University of Toledo (Sophomore)
(4) Jerzhan Newton 6’3 275 DT University of Illinois (RS-Sophomore)
(5) Jershaun Newton 6’0 205 Clearwater Central Catholic (Freshman)
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