Rap Curry was skeptical when William Penn School District’s new superintendent, Dr. Eric Becoats, announced in 2020 that he was upgrading the district’s athletic facilities, writes Matthew DeGeorge for the Daily Times.

The long-time Penn Wood athletic director had lived through many broken promises.

Curry, an All-Delco basketball player at Penn Wood and a standout at St. Joe’s, had always advocated for student-athletes. He died at age 51 in July following a short illness.

So it was fitting that the district’s new complex should be named for him.  On Nov. 16, a ribbon-cutting officially opened the Rap Curry Athletic Complex Kerr Field.

“He was more than an athletic director. He was almost like a father, like a brother, a coach,” Becoats said at the ceremony.

The complex is a $14.6 million upgrade to the school’s football field and track.

About 200 people attended the ribbon cutting, including Curry’s wife, Gina Curry, current state representative for the 164^th district.

The upgrades include a new track, lighting, bleachers, and parking lot, which is the first phase of a 10-year district-wide master plan.

Curry shares the naming honor with William T. Kerr, the Yeadon resident instrumental in creating Flag Day. Find out more about the new sports complex and Rap Curry in the Daily Times

Rap Curry was interviewed in this video from Sept. 1, 2020.