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Nearly 50 years have passed since local football fans witnessed power, speed, and balance bundled within the same body.

I saw Timmy Newsome do things on a football field that only a handful of players could do back then. He could run over a defender, around a defender and seemingly tightrope a sideline like an Olympic gymnast on a balance beam. His vision to see an on-field move several seconds before actually making the move was an even more remarkable feat.

And on defense he was a beast as well.

For three seasons (1973, 1974, and 1975), Timmy was part of an Ahoskie High School team that posted an overall record of 32-5-1.

As a junior on the ’74 squad, Newsome helped lead his team to a 13-1 overall record and a spot in the state championship game.

During his senior season in 1975 playing for the legendary Daryl Allen, Newsome was the team’s defensive captain, a unit that posted eight shutouts that year and allowed a total of only 32 points.

He concluded his high school career by playing in the then-annual North-South All-Star Football Classic in Greenville. His team was coached by Jimmy Addison from Edenton Holmes High School, and Newsome was the only two-way performer in that game, playing running back and safety.

In the spring of 1976, Newsome accepted an athletic scholarship from Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) as a running back. With Newsome as a key player, WSSU achieved back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in 1977 and 1978 with its number one NCAA Division II (D-II) national ranking.

While playing for WSSU, Newsome earned Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Offensive Player of the Year honors three consecutive years. Additionally, he earned All-American (1978 and 1979) and National Player of the Year honors his junior year where he finished second in the nation in rushing for D-II.

He ended his collegiate career as the all-time leading rusher in CIAA history. Averaging only 16 carries a game during his four-year career, Newsome rushed for 3,843 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and 38 touchdowns. He was the CIAA’s leading rusher and scorer in 1977, 1978 and 1979.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Newsome (6’1” and 235 lbs.) in the 6th round in the 1980 draft. As one of the strongest Cowboys team members, Newsome played three different positions – running back, fullback and tight end.

Scoring 30 touchdowns running and receiving, Newsome enjoyed a nine-year career with the Cowboys, finishing as the ninth leading receiver in the team’s history. He was named to the Dallas Cowboys Weekly Newspaper’s all-decade team (1980-1989).

But what you really need to know about Timmy Newsome is that when his playing days were over, his life was only beginning.

In the spring of 1991, two years removed from pro football, Newsome founded Newtec Business Solutions. Now in its 33^rd year, the company’s specialties continue to include securely merging voice and data, network integration and managed services, with an emphasis on security focused cloud-based solutions, database design and implementation, unified endpoint management, and implementations for Microsoft Dynamic 365 and Microsoft 365 (SharePoint).

You need to understand that Newsome’s annual salary as an NFL player paled in comparison with today’s $50-plus million per season performers. In the year that Newsome retired from the NFL (1989), the running back with the highest salary that season was Eric Dickerson of the Colts ($1.3 million).

During the off-seasons of his NFL career, Newsome didn’t spend time vacationing in some exotic resort. Rather, he worked as a computer programmer/analyst. He gained knowledge in banking (ATMs), voter registration and election systems; and that experience led to the forming of his company. During the early years the company offered software development for wholesale and distribution for businesses such as The National Dental Network and Jackson’s Furniture, Inc.

In addition to founding and growing his firm, Newsome has dedicated a significant portion of his time and resources to supporting youth empowerment and education in his community. He serves on several boards including the Computer Science Industry Advisory Board for Winston Salem State University, Department of Computer Science, and on the Board of Directors for Children At Risk in Dallas, Texas, NAMI North Texas (a mental-health organization), and Hugs Cafe (mental and physical disabilities).

I get the opportunity to chat with Timmy on occasion. He remains just the same as I remember him from 50 years ago…a humble man who is proud of his roots here in Ahoskie.

He always admired and respected Coach Allen, a man who won 306 games over his career, captured seven outright conference championships, and participated in nearly 40 state play-off games, to include winning four Eastern State titles (1974, 1979 and 1986 at Ahoskie High and 1988 at HCHS).

Nearly 70 of Allen’s former players went on to play college football. Three made it to the NFL –Newsome along with Bobby Futrell (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Sam Harrell (Minnesota Vikings). Another former player, Greg Harrell, later became a member of the U.S. Olympic Bobsled team.

All of those memories came flooding back to Newsome’s mind when he became the first Hertford County native to be inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in April of 2022.

While Newsome’s athletic talents are legendary, he’ll be the first to admit that he comes from a family of excellence. His father, Louis E. Newsome, played football at St. Paul’s College in Virginia.

Another family member, Kenneth Newsome – who was a standout athlete at R.L. Vann High School – received a basketball scholarship to the University of Indiana in 1964.

The family’s legacy continued with C.G. Newsome, who was a standout football player at Ahoskie High School. In 1968, he received a scholarship to Duke University, earning a Doctorate in Divinity, and later served as president of Shaw University.

Timmy’s mother, Dr. Dimple M. Newsome, served as chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Shaw University for a number of years.

Another family member, Curtis Newsome, played football at Ahoskie High School and Hampton University. He is a practicing dentist in Charlotte.

Timmy’s two brothers – Mark and Louis – along with their sister, Candyce, were also exceptional athletes.

And to think…it all started right here in tiny Ahoskie where today’s young athletes have every chance to be a future Timmy Newsome.

Cal Bryant is the Editor of Roanoke-Chowan Publications. Contact him at cal.bryant@r-cnews.com or 252-332-7207.