Jamie Foxx funds upgrade to red-and-black basketball courts in his hometown of Terrell

Actor Jamie Foxx and Gilbert Willie Jr. go way back — they regard each other as best friends. So, it makes sense that Foxx would turn to Willie in providing a gift to his hometown of Terrell.

The gift? Foxx and his charity organization funded resurfacing and upgrading the city’s three existing basketball courts at Breezy Hill Park near where Foxx grew up.

The city announced the gift on its Facebook page over the Memorial Day weekend. The upgrades are to the park’s full-size court and smaller adjacent courts.

“This was all from Jamie,” Willie said. “He wanted to do something for his hometown.”

The city has been working through its parks board, the Park and Downtown Improvement Corp. and the city council to implement a series of upgrades at city parks.

In 2019, Willie said Foxx approached him about wanting to renovate the park. Willie said he told Foxx that the only existing need was the renovation of the basketball court.

Foxx stepped forward to give Terrell’s youth a safe and enjoyable place to congregate, Willie said.

The court will officially open to the public with a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. June 17. The event also includes free-throw and three-point shooting contests for boys and girls, starting at 10:30 a.m.

The lighted court and an adjacent court, feature Terrell High School’s red color scheme. Foxx’s name is on each center-court surface. “Foxx Hole: Believe & Achieve,” “Terrell Fighting Tigers” and “Gilbert Willie Charities” are also written near the courts’ sidelines.

Willie said he did the legwork while Foxx financially backed the donation through Gilbert Willie Charities, a Mesquite-based nonprofit.

Foxx, who was born Eric Marlon Bishop, grew up in Terrell and was a quarterback for the high school football team. He wore a No. 12 jersey in tribute to his hero, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach. Foxx, who is a Cowboys fan, is a regular on the sidelines in preseason training camp.

Over the years, as Foxx was prospering in Hollywood, he sponsored sports events, Special Olympics and other events in Terrell.

Willie said he approached the city and Mayor Rick Carmona in October and November about renovating the courts at Breezy Hill Park. The city will oversee the park’s maintenance, Carmona said.

“Jamie has been a really good partner to the city and giving back to the city he was raised in,” Carmona said. “I’m so grateful for him and his friendship with the Willie family.”

Leonard Lancaster, president of the Association of Breezy Hill Park, said the park is a dream come true for his group.

“I can’t even put it in words. It is beautiful,” he said.

The largest portion of the $170,000 to $180,000 spent for the renovation was donated by Foxx. The work included fence and concrete work and other code issues. Euless-based NexCourt designed the tiled courts.

“I did all the design work and the verbiage on the court, and I paid for the graphic designer, who actually did all the design work for it,” Willie said.

In a Facebook post with images of the new park, the city of Terrell wrote: “Look what’s new at Breezy Hill Park! Let’s play ball! A shout out to Jamie Foxx and Gilbert Willie Charities for making this awesome court possible!”

Foxx and the Willie family have a deep connection. Willie’s father, Gilbert Willie Sr., was a coach, teacher, principal and assistant superintendent in Terrell ISD for more than three decades. He died in 2013.

The younger Willie said he traveled to California to be with Foxx last month when it was reported that Foxx was hospitalized because of a medical complication.

Foxx’s daughter, Corrine, said this month that news about her father’s condition was blown out of proportion. Willie said he also believed the same. Foxx posted on his Instagram account that he’s continuing to recover.