Gerry Bertier

Gerry Bertier ( ; August 20, 1953 – March 20, 1981) was a high school American football player and Paralympian. He became known for his participation on the 1971 Virginia State Champion football T. C. Williams High School team, and their portrayal in the Disney film Remember the Titans. Bertier was also the nephew of Howie Livingston. After the conclusion of the 1971 season, Bertier was involved in an automobile crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Despite this injury, Bertier attended Northern Virginia Community College and remained an active athlete, participating in the Paralympics. There is also a gymnasium at Alexandria City High School (formerly T.C. Williams High School) that bears his name.

Early life Bertier's parents divorced when he was around age eight and he was raised primarily by his mother until she remarried Robert Agnew. As a child and young man, Bertier was described as an amiable, goal-oriented individual. However, Bertier was only able to play three seasons, when Hammond H.S. was merged with two other Alexandria high schools to form T.C. Williams High School. Although doctors tried to relieve pressure on his spine to help him regain some feeling, it was unsuccessful.

Community work Bertier coordinated with junior colleges in Alexandria to set up a "Walk for Mankind," and he encouraged students, adults, and company executives to donate. Bertier occasionally met with others who survived similar injuries, helping them with their rehabilitation. Outside of his hometown, Bertier made speeches across the country for the rights of the disabled. He addressed subjects such as making buildings accessible to disabled people. Bertier worked for Abbey Medical selling medical equipment to disabled people, a position that allowed him to attend wheelchair sporting events held nationally.

Paralympics After Bertier recuperated from his injuries, he once again became a competitive athlete. According to his sister, Becky Britt, "During Gerry's childhood he had mentioned being in the Olympics. His long-term goal was to receive a gold medal."

Second car crash and death On March 20, 1981, Bertier was critically injured in a car crash while returning home from a business trip. Driving alone, his southbound 1980 Oldsmobile collided with a northbound car that crossed over the center line on Route 20 in Charlottesville, Virginia. and Bertier and Campbell's relationship, were misrepresented. Bertier's on-the-field portrayal in the film, however, is almost entirely correct. As the team's defensive captain, Bertier was a dominating force on the linebacking corps and received All-American honors following the team's championship season. Although heralded as an exceptional leader on and off the football field, Bertier's duties never included cutting a fellow player from the team as he was shown doing in the film, as there was no player such as Ray on the real life team. The second annual tournament was held September 29, 2007, at the Cannon Ridge Golf Club of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Proceeds were donated to the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation and Research Center of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (VCUHS). The 2007 tournament raised approximately $20,000 for donations to the VCUHS.