City of Austin

Join Austin Parks and Recreation, Austin Parks Foundation and community members on Saturday, December 6 at 12 p.m. for the Unveiling Ceremony of the L.D. Washington and Nathaniel Cannon Wall of Honor at Rosewood Park in the Britton, Durst, Howard and Spence Building, 1183 Chestnut Ave. This event is free and open to the public.

The Wall of Honor celebrates the legacy of individuals who shaped youth sports and mentorship in East Austin. It recognizes the contributions of leaders who built and sustained the East Austin Youth Foundation and the Greater East Austin Youth Association—organizations that created vital opportunities for Black youth during and after segregation.

The wall is housed in the Britton, Durst, Howard and Spence Building at Rosewood Park, a historic center for Black youth sports. The building was renamed in 2011 to honor four community leaders, including Lawrence M. Britton, Sr. and James Howard, who helped found the East Austin Youth Foundation. Their work provided a safe and empowering space for young athletes at a time when Black children were excluded from white leagues.

James Howard later partnered with Nathaniel Cannon to co-found the Greater East Austin Youth Association, continuing the mission of community uplift. Cannon has served as the association’s treasurer since its founding in 1975 and has been a key organizer of the group’s annual Juneteenth celebration for over 25 years.

L.D. Washington, a beloved coach and mentor, also played a pivotal role in the East Austin Youth Foundation. His influence extended beyond sports, and he was honored with the Al Edwards Juneteenth Un-Sung Hero Award in 2001 and inducted into the Prairie View Interscholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016.

The idea for the Wall of Honor came from Kenneth D. Thompson, Sr., a former player and parent in the East Austin Youth Foundation. He partnered with Lee Dawson, Jr., president of the Greater East Austin Youth Association and a former player himself, to bring the vision to life. The project was made possible through funding from the Austin Parks Foundation’s Austin City Limits Music Festival Grants Program.