Television and Film Actor Thom Gossom, Jr. to Sign Memoir 'Walk-On' at Borders in Westwood Oct. 16

Television and Film Actor Thom Gossom, Jr. to Sign Memoir 'Walk-On' at Borders in Westwood Oct. 16

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

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 9 /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: Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.

Where: Borders
1360 Westwood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 475-3444

Media: Media interested in attending this event should contact Lita
Weissman at (310) 475-3444, ext. 580 or at
lweissma@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.

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

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

Contact: Lita Weissman of Borders, +1-310-475-3444, Ext. 580,
lweissma@bordersgroupinc.com

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

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

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