Denzel Washington scouts locations
Texas State Railroad considered
STORY BY LELAND ACKER
With all the movie credits for the Texas State Railroad, perhaps the steam locomotive should have a star on Hollywood's "Walk of Fame."

Two-time Oscar winning actor Denzel Washington tours the Texas State Railroad and poses for a photo with one of the railroad employees, Debbie Dugan. Mr. Washington is scouting film locations for an upcoming movie, "The Great Debaters" set in the 1930s.

The train's resume may get stronger because the TSR has an opportunity to star opposite of Denzel Washington in a movie called "The Great Debaters."

Mr. Washington is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Malcom X in 1992 and as coach Herman Boone in the 2000 hit movie, "Remember the Titans."

He will direct and star in "The Great Debaters," scheduled for release in 2008. Mr. Washington paid a visit to the Texas State Railroad last week to scout filming locations.

"The Great Debaters" is a movie about the Wiley College debate team, which beat Harvard for the national championship in 1935. Wiley College is a four-year, traditionally African-American university in Marshall. The 1935 debate team not only beat larger African-American schools, but defeated white powerhouses as well.

Karen Helton, vice president of university advancement for Wiley College, said another big victory for that debate team was against the University of Southern California.

"The debates with Harvard and USC are the ones we could document," Ms. Helton said.

Denzel Washington's role will be that of Melvin B. Tolson, Sr., the coach of that debate team. Mr. Tolson wore many hats at Wiley College in the 1930s, including teaching English, coaching football and coaching debate.

"He had a passion for scholarship," Ms. Helton said. "He was paid very little, close to $40-50 per week. Everything was for the love of scholarship and nurturing his students."

Ms. Helton said Mr. Tolson and the 1935 debate team left a legacy at Wiley College.

"It's one of our grandest legacies," she said. "We maintain archives and are re-instating the debating tradition."

Ms. Helton said the legacy extends beyond Wiley College.

"James Farmer came up under him. His legacy shaped the civil rights movement."

Mr. Farmer was one of Mr. Tolson's debaters. The spring 1997 edition of American Legacy magazine told the story of how Mr. Farmer had successfully debated against segregation. Upon bragging to Mr. Tolson about his success, Mr. Tolson pointed out the hypocrisy of debating against segregation, then participating in it by going to a segregated movie theatre.

Mr. Tolson then gave Mr. Farmer an essay written by Henry David Thoreau called "Civil Disobedience."

Mr. Farmer went on to found the Congress of Racial Equality in 1942, one of the first groups to conduct a sit-in. He also led the first round of the Freedom Riders through the South in 1961, according to American Legacy.

The movie about this team will intersect with the Texas State Railroad, if the deal is sealed, for a key, dramatic scene.

"The scene is where his college debate team boards the train bound for Boston," said Mark Price, operations superintendent for the Texas State Railroad. "Who in East Texas has a vintage 1930s model steam train?"

Mr. Price said Mr. Washington was looking at several options for using the Texas State Railroad.

Kay Young, location manager for "The Great Debaters," said they were planning on filming somewhere along the state railroad line. Sid Swink, publicity director for the movie, said filming is scheduled to begin on May 14.

Mr. Price described Mr. Washington as happy and outgoing.

"He liked what we potentially have to offer," Mr. Price said.

One concern about movie contracts which has surfaced in recent Friends of the Texas State Railroad meetings is the railroad's ability to accommodate filming requests with short funding and staffing. Mr. Price said this will not be an issue.

"We should not have any problems making arrangements," Mr. Price said. "It should have no effect on our passenger trains. Staff-wise, movies always put a strain on staffing matters, but this is not a huge undertaking."

Mr. Price emphasized that nothing has been signed, but the state railroad wants to help Mr. Washington with the train scene.

"I don't see any hold-up on our being able to help," he said.

Mr. Price said having a film production come to town is exciting for the local community.

"For the bigger cities, this may be more normal, but for us, this is exciting stuff," he said.

Ms. Helton said the production phase of the movie will not last long on location. The crew will only spend two days on campus. Ms. Helton said this is a big budget, major movie.

As for the value of the movie to Wiley College, Ms. Helton said she hopes it accomplishes three things.

"Number-one, it enhances our image nationally," she said. "Number two, it is helping the East Texas region appreciate the value of our college and it presents a unique opportunity for fund raising."

The movie will begin production May 14, and is scheduled for release in 2008. Denzel Washington's

career highlights

Academy Awards

"Training Day," 2001; "Glory," 1989.

Academy Nominations:

"The Hurricane," 1999; "Malcolm X," 1992 and; "Cry Freedom," 1987.

Golden Globe Awards

"The Hurricane," 1999; and "Glory," 1990.

Most Recent Movie "Deja Vu," 2006