After winning the championship game Gerry was in a car accident in Alexandria. It was snowing and he lost control of his car. He was paralyzed from the waist down. He was an All-American football player, 6'2", weighed 220 pounds, raw talent, aggressive and made opposing quarterbacks shiver. He was one of the best defensive players in the country, but what was he supposed to do now? That question was easy for Gerry. He turned his efforts to the Wheelchair Olympics. Gerry had also done the shot put in high school, and was very good at it. With Coach Yoast's help, Gerry went on to become a 2 time gold medalist in the Wheelchair Olympics.[1]
He was killed in 1981 by a drunk driver. His number, 42, is now retired at T.C. Williams, and the gym is named the Gerry Bertier Gymnasium. He also was inducted into the "T.C. Williams Hall of Fame"[2]
Gerry and Julius's friendship continued until the day that Gerry died, and to this day Julius still speaks of him fondly.
Bertier was known at the time for this phrase: "There is no black or white - we are a team." Even though he is gone, his legacy continues through fundraising for spinal cord injury rehabilitation and research.[3]
[1] http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/remember-the-titans-files/remember-the-titans-supplemental-materials.html
[2] http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2015/nr2014110702.php
[3] http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2015/nr2014110702.php
,
He was killed in 1981 by a drunk driver. His number, 42, is now retired at T.C. Williams, and the gym is named the Gerry Bertier Gymnasium. He also was inducted into the "T.C. Williams Hall of Fame"[2]
Gerry and Julius's friendship continued until the day that Gerry died, and to this day Julius still speaks of him fondly.
Bertier was known at the time for this phrase: "There is no black or white - we are a team." Even though he is gone, his legacy continues through fundraising for spinal cord injury rehabilitation and research.[3]
[1] http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/remember-the-titans-files/remember-the-titans-supplemental-materials.html
[2] http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2015/nr2014110702.php
[3] http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2015/nr2014110702.php
,