Starks asks for new center to bear his grandmother's name

(Tulsa-AP) -- Tulsa Central's new fitness center was going to be named after its famous alumnus John Starks. <br><br>But the veteran N-B-A guard had other ideas at yesterday's groundbreaking.

Friday, April 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa-AP) -- Tulsa Central's new fitness center was going to be named after its famous alumnus John Starks.

But the veteran N-B-A guard had other ideas at yesterday's groundbreaking.

Starks made an emotional request that it instead be named afte rthe woman who he said made it all possible -- his late grandmother.

Starks donated $50,000 to launch a fund-raising campaign for the new facility.

Starks said he learned to give from his grandmother Callie West. He says West
served as a mother figure to many children in his old neighborhood. She died of cancer two years ago.

And so it will be called the John Starks-Callie West Fitness and Athletic Training Center. It is expected to be completed August 1.