I'm petitioning to have the Apollo Heights Community Center named after David Merritt Sr.

David Lee Merritt Sr. is the youngest of nine siblings reared in Raleigh NC in the Apollo Height community.Many people would have said that a young black man such as David Merritt would be in jail or the grave. Reared by a mom who only had an 8th grade educationand nine children. David grew up at 717 Grantland Drive, where he loved playing Football in the big field in Apollo Height. Many hot days David and several friends in Apollo Height would play at the community center and in the big field off Grantland Drive.

David attended Millbrook High School and pressed his way to NC State University on a football scholarship. Dave was drafted into the NFL and played several years before becoming an NFL coach. Dave coached for the New York Giants where he received two Superbowl rings. Currently, David is with the Kanas City Chiefs as a DB coach and have received two Superbowl rings with KC. Dave is a husband, loving father, brother, and mentor. Dave has help so many young men in the NFL league by mentoring them. David L. Merritt Sr. is a great example of a young man that has made it out of poverty.