DATE:     12/10/98       
CONTACT:  Dr. Romando James, (864)656-5986
WRITER:   Giles Singleton, (864) 656-3876

James Wins Poetry Award

     CLEMSON   Clemson Extension Specialist Romando James
received a merit award for a poem at  the Eighth Annual
International Society of Poets Symposium held Sept. 2-4 in
Washington, D.C. 
     The Outstanding Poets award was given for "Point Guard with
PRIDE," a poem James wrote about his deceased son. The poem
placed 100th  of 5,000 entries. It will be included in Diamonds
in the Rough: Best Poems of 1998, an anthology the society
publishes.
     "In view of the present ethic and racial division in our
society, I feel a man should use whatever mode he has to try to
bring people together," James said.
     James works with 4-H youth and the Operation PRIDE program
he developed to instill pride in young people.
                         END