Leading with Laughter
“Laugh a little. And teach your men to laugh. Show good humor under fire. War is a game played with a smile. If you cannot smile, grin. If you cannot grin, then stay out of the way until you can.” Lt. Winston Churchill Speaking to fellow junior officers during a difficult period of World War I (1916) While certainly not nearly as grim as war, last season for the East High Scarlets boys basketball team was extremely trying. The most important factor which kept us moving on day after day was the enduring character and good spirit of our seniors. Katrell Graham was by far the guy most responsible for us having fun every day. If he had been in Churchill’s battalion, he would have been leading the other men with a healthy dose of humor in the dreary trenches along the Western Front. Every day, regardless of the circumstances, Katrell would be making people smile, occasionally with little jokes, but usually just by being himself. On our team he made both playe...