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 )  

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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 .

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Profile: International Entertainment