Television and Film Actor Thom Gossom, Jr. to Sign Memoir 'Walk-On' at Borders in Marietta, GA

Television and Film Actor Thom Gossom, Jr. to Sign Memoir 'Walk-On' at Borders in Marietta, GA

Memoir Details His Experiences as the First Black Athlete to Graduate from Auburn University

MARIETTA, Ga., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ --
Who: Thom Gossom, Jr. is a television and film actor and producer who
has appeared on numerous television series, including "Boston
Legal," "Cold Case," "NYPD Blue" and "In the Heat of the Night;"
and feature films, such as "Fight Club," "Jeepers Creepers II" and
"Miss Evers' Boys." In 2004, Gossom founded Best Gurl
Entertainment, which produced his acclaimed play, "Speak of Me As
I Am." In 1975, he became the first black athlete to graduate from
Auburn University.

What: Gossom will sign and read from his memoir, "Walk-On." A
coming-of-age tale about overcoming adversity and gaining success,
"Walk-On" not only tells the story of how Gossom earned a spot on
Auburn's football team, but it also offers a unique perspective on
a major social change sweeping college athletics during the 1970s,
showing readers what it was like to be on the front lines of
desegregation in the South. "Walk-On" is published by Borders and
is available in Borders and Waldenbooks stores as well as on
Borders.com.

Why: Gossom did not set out to be a ground breaker. He did not apply to
Auburn University with the goal of being the first black athlete
to graduate from the almost all-white college. He just knew that
he wanted to play football and he wanted to play football at
Auburn. A good student and a gifted athlete, Gossom was accepted
to Auburn in 1970 and forever left the comfort of his segregated
hometown boyhood to enter into a world of privilege that was just
starting to grapple with desegregation. Loneliness, anger,
jealousy and overt racism awaited him on and off the field. As
Gossom fought for his place on the team-and on campus-he became
part of the movement to make the world a better place for those
who were to come after him, and in doing so, became part of
history.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.

Where: Borders
4475 Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30062
(770) 565-0947

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060208/BORDERSLOGO )

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060208/BORDERSLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Borders

CONTACT: Matt Schweers, +1-770-604-9512, mschweer@bordersgroupinc.com,
or Bonnie Schmick, +1-734-477-1224, bschmick@bordersgroupinc.com, both of
Borders

Web site: http://www.bordersgroupinc.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/106169.html

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media interested in attending this event should contact Matt Schweers at (770) 604-9512 or at mschweer@bordersgroupinc.com . Media interested in interviewing Thom Gossom, Jr. or learning more about Borders' proprietary publishing program should contact Bonnie Schmick at (734) 477-1224 or at bschmick@bordersgroupinc.com .

-------
Profile: intent