Anthony Washington
Anthony Washington
Full Name:  Anthony Jerome Washington
     Born:  February 22, 1974
     Died:  August 23, 2017, Tallahassee, Fla.
   School:  Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida

Seminole Relations:  Husband of LaToya Washington


FSU Career
Track & Field
Year  Pos     Hgt  Wgt  Cl  Ltr  Hometown
92-93 J       6-3  182  Fr   *   Altamonte Springs               
93-94 HJ-TJ   6-3  182  So   *   Altamonte Springs               
94-95 HJ-TJ   6-3  182  Jr   *   Altamonte Springs               
95-96 HJ-TJ   6-3  182  Sr   *   Altamonte Springs               


Comments
Obituary for Anthony Washington
Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on Aug. 23, 2017

Former 'Nole Washington leaves lasting impact on volleyball community

By Jim Henry, Democrat sports editor

The smile. The laugh. The personality.

When Anthony Washington strolled into a gymnasium and bellowed “Attitude check,” the response from the youth volleyball players was instantaneous, if not infectious.

“Glad to be here,” they answered.

Washington wasn’t done either. Not Anthony.

He’d ask the players, “How are we going to play?”

“Hard,” they responded.

“How are we going to hit?” “How are we going to practice?”

“Hard” was the response each and every time.

Unfortunately, Wednesday was a hard day for many in Tallahassee’s volleyball community and at Florida State.

Washington, a former track athlete at FSU who helped direct the Tallahassee Jrs. Volleyball Club, died Wednesday afternoon after falling ill last month. An official cause of death is unknown.

He was 43.

“I just walked out of our locker room and everyone was bawling their eyes out,” Maclay volleyball coach Erica Bunch said Wednesday afternoon.

“This is tough.”

Washington was a four-year track standout (1992-96) for the Seminoles and still ranks eighth all-time in the high jump (7’1.75, set in 1994).

His wife Latoya Presberry Washington played volleyball (1995-98) for the Seminoles.

A talented hitter, her 4.61 kills per game in 1996 ranked second in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Washington also played a key role on the 1998 team that won the school's first ACC championship.

The couple met at FSU, were married 19 years ago and have three daughters – Daijah, Makayla and Alexa.

All three are talented volleyball players – Daijah is signed at Faulkner University, Makayla is a two-time All-Big Bend Player of the Year at Leon and Alexa is a middle-school player.

Anthony and Latoya have been heavily involved in the Tallahassee Jrs. Volleyball Club for many years. Anthony served as president and Latoya as a club director with Jose Morales, according to the organization’s web site.

The club - earmarked for youth and high-school aged players - was located at the Powermill Sports Facility in recent years and has plans to build its own facility.

“They have done a good job for so many people,” said former FSU volleyball coach Cecile Reynaud, who recruited Latoya and coached the Detroit native at FSU.

“They have had a great impact on a lot of young kids. I am in shock by the whole situation; it’s upsetting. He meant so much to this community in terms of giving back and providing kids a place to play volleyball in the community.”

Washington also served as a deacon at his church and enjoyed singing.

But his life revolved around his wife and three children.

“He loved his family like very few men do,” said Bunch, who helped coach the club’s 14U Elite team that won the USA Division at Disney World and earned a bid to the national tournament in Minnesota this year.

Former FSU track coach Terry Long recalled Washington as a talented jumper. The Altamonte Springs native earned six first place finishes in meets during his four-year career.

Yet it was Washington’s personality that also left an undeniable impression.

“He was always one of those gregarious guys,” Long said Wednesday afternoon.

“He was just one of those guys everyone enjoyed being around. He's done such a great job with his life and his family; he's one of those guys you just wonder, 'Why did we have to lose him?"

"He touched a lot of people and is going to be missed."



Conference Awards
Track & Field
Year  Award
1994  Atlantic Coast Conference - Indoor - All-Conference


FSU Statistics
Track & Field
   Date    Opponent/Meet                  Event                         Place      Results       Points   Comment
---------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------- ----- ------------------ ------ ---------------
            1993 Season
01/10/1993 Florida Open                   High Jump (I)                   4     6-10       2.08m   2                         
01/10/1993 Florida Open                   Triple Jump (I)                 2    46-11.75   14.32m   4                         
01/17/1993 Florida Invitational           High Jump (I)                   4     6-10       2.08m   2                         
01/17/1993 Florida Invitational           Triple Jump (I)                 7    44- 9.50   13.65m                             
01/31/1993 Barnett Bank Invitational      High Jump (I)                   5     6- 8       2.03m   1                         
01/31/1993 Barnett Bank Invitational      Triple Jump (I)                 4    47- 8.50   14.54m   2                         
02/05/1993 Gator Invitational             High Jump (I)                   6T    6- 8       2.03m                             
02/05/1993 Gator Invitational             Triple Jump (I)                 2    49- 1.50   14.97m   4                         
02/13/1993 Saluki Invitational            High Jump (I)                   2T    6- 9       2.06m   5                         
02/20/1993 ACC Indoor Championship        High Jump (I)                   3     7- 1       2.16m   6                         
02/20/1993 ACC Indoor Championship        Triple Jump (I)                 8    48- 8.75   14.85m   1                         
02/27/1993 Norhtern Arizona Invitational  High Jump (I)                   4     6-11a      2.11ma  2                         
02/27/1993 Norhtern Arizona Invitational  Triple Jump (I)                 5    46- 9a     14.25ma  1                         
03/20/1993 FSU Relays                     High Jump                             6- 8.75    2.05m                             
03/24/1993 Florida Relays                 High Jump                       6     6- 8.25    2.04m                             
03/24/1993 Florida Relays                 Triple Jump                     3    46- 6      14.17m   3                         
04/03/1993 Spring Track Classic           Triple Jump                     3    46- 0.50   14.03m   3                         
04/03/1993 Spring Track Classic           High Jump                       2     6- 8.75    2.05m   4                         
04/10/1993 Springtime Invitational        Triple Jump                     2    48- 0.75   14.65m   4                         
04/10/1993 Springtime Invitational        High Jump                       4     6- 8.75    2.05m   2                         
04/17/1993 ACC Outdoor Championship       High Jump                       5T    6-10.75    2.10m   3.50                      
04/24/1993 Gator Field Events Weekend     Triple Jump                     4    45- 6.25   13.87m   2                         
04/24/1993 Gator Field Events Weekend     High Jump                       3     6- 9       2.06m   3                         
05/01/1993 Florida Twilight               High Jump                       2     6-10.75    2.10m   4                         
05/22/1993 George C. Griffin Invitational High Jump                       5     6- 9.75    2.08m   1                         
            1994 Season
01/09/1994 Gator Indoor Relays            High Jump (I)                   3     6-10       2.08m   3                         
01/09/1994 Gator Indoor Relays            Triple Jump (I)                 2    48-11      14.91m   4                         
01/21/1994 Barnett Bank Invitational      Triple Jump (I)                 4    49- 0.25   14.94m   2                         
01/21/1994 Barnett Bank Invitational      High Jump (I)                   5     6- 8       2.03m   1                         
02/13/1994 US West Invitational           High Jump (I)                   2     6-11.50    2.12m   4                         
02/19/1994 ACC Indoor Championship        High Jump (I)                   2     7- 1       2.16m   8                         
02/19/1994 ACC Indoor Championship        Triple Jump (I)                 5    49- 1.25   14.97m   4                         
03/12/1994 FAMU Relays                    High Jump                       2     6-11       2.11m   4                         
03/16/1994 FSU Relays                     Triple Jump                     2    48- 4.50   14.74m   4                         
03/16/1994 FSU Relays                     High Jump                       2     7- 0.50    2.15m   4                         
03/23/1994 Florida Relays                 High Jump                       5     6-10.25    2.09m   1                         
04/02/1994 Spring Track Classic           Triple Jump                     1    48-11.75   14.93m   5                         
04/02/1994 Spring Track Classic           High Jump                       1     6-10.75    2.10m   5                         
04/09/1994 Auburn                         Triple Jump                     1    51- 0.75   15.56m   5                         
04/09/1994 Auburn                         High Jump                       1     6-10.75    2.10m   5                         
04/16/1994 Barnett Bank Invitational      High Jump                       1     7- 0.50    2.15m   5                         
04/23/1994 ACC Outdoor Championship       Triple Jump                     6    49- 8.50   15.15m   3                         
04/23/1994 ACC Outdoor Championship       High Jump                       4     7- 0.50    2.15m   5                         
05/21/1994 Georgia Tech-Reebok Invite     High Jump                       5     6-11.75    2.13m   1                         
05/25/1994 Seminole Twilight              High Jump                       2     6- 9.50    2.07m   4                         
            1995 Season
01/22/1995 Florida Indoor Invitational    High Jump (I)                   5     6-10       2.08m   1                         
01/22/1995 Florida Indoor Invitational    Triple Jump (I)                 7    47- 3      14.40m                             
01/29/1995 Barnett Bank Invitational      High Jump (I)                   3     7- 1       2.16m   3                         
01/29/1995 Barnett Bank Invitational      Triple Jump (I)                 1    48- 8.25   14.84m   5                         
02/04/1995 Holiday Inn Invitational       High Jump (I)                   3     6- 8       2.03m   3                         
02/04/1995 Holiday Inn Invitational       Triple Jump (I)                 8    47- 3.25   14.41m                             
02/25/1995 ACC Indoor Championship        High Jump (I)                   4     6- 9       2.06m   5                         
02/25/1995 ACC Indoor Championship        Triple Jump (I)                 3    49-11.25   15.22m   6                         
03/02/1995 Florida Fast Times             Triple Jump (I)                 3    48- 7.25   14.81m   3                         
03/25/1995 Florida Relays                 High Jump                       2     6-10.50    2.10m   4                         
04/22/1995 ACC Outdoor Championship       Triple Jump                     4    49- 5.25   15.07m   5                         
            1996 Season
01/21/1996 Florida Invitational           Triple Jump (I)                 5    48-10.25   14.89m   1                         
01/21/1996 Florida Invitational           High Jump (I)                  11T    6- 4       1.93m                             
02/24/1996 ACC Indoor Championship        Triple Jump (I)                 5    49- 5      15.06m   4                         
03/16/1996 Sun Bird Relays                Triple Jump                     5    48-11.75   14.93m   1                         
03/16/1996 Sun Bird Relays                High Jump                       5     6- 4.75    1.95m   1                         
03/23/1996 FSU Relays                     High Jump                       6     6- 6.25    1.99m                             
03/23/1996 FSU Relays                     Triple Jump                     2    47- 5      14.45m   4                         
03/30/1996 Florida Relays                 High Jump                      16     6- 6       1.98m                             
04/13/1996 Florida Intercollegiate        High Jump                       3     6-10.75    2.10m   3                         
04/13/1996 Florida Intercollegiate        Triple Jump                     1    47- 3.25   14.41m   5                         
04/20/1996 ACC Outdoor Championship       High Jump                       4     6-10.25    2.09m   5                         
04/20/1996 ACC Outdoor Championship       Triple Jump                     7    47- 9.75w  14.57mw  2                         
04/27/1996 Penn Relays                    High Jump                       8T    6- 7.50    2.02m                             
05/05/1996 Seminole Challenge             High Jump                       3     6- 8.75    2.05m   3                         
05/11/1996 Seminole Twilight              High Jump                       3     6- 8       2.03m   3                         
05/18/1996 Georgia Tech Invitational      High Jump                      10T    6- 9.75    2.08m