Cocoa High Renames Stadium After Longtime Principal, Councilman Dick Blake

ceremony to be held Thursday at 6-7 p.m. at Cocoa High auditorium

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Cocoa High School will honor legendary Brevard educator and community leader Dick Blake by renaming its sports stadium after him.

A dedication and unveiling ceremony attended by Blake will be Thursday from 6-7 p.m. at the Cocoa High auditorium at 2000 Tiger Trail, Cocoa.

Blake served as a Rockledge city councilman for 40 years, from 1976 to 2016, while also leading Cocoa High as principal for 23 years.

“I consider him a trailblazer,” Cocoa High Principal Rachad Wilson said.

“He was the only African-American high school principal in Brevard County until I became principal in 2017. He mentored a lot of other principals and community leaders.”

As a youth, Blake played football, baseball and basketball at the black Monroe High School in Cocoa (Now the site of Emma Jewel Charter Academy).

Blake earned a bachelor’s degree from Claflin University in South Carolina and master’s degrees from Columbia University in New York and Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

Afterward, Blake returned to Monroe as an educator. While teaching science and math, he also coached Monroe’s basketball teams to state championships in 1965 and 1966.

After 11 years at Monroe, Blake became the new assistant principal at Cocoa High School and helped in the integration of Brevard Public Schools.

“He persevered through some difficult times for Brevard County,” Wilson said. “That says a lot about his character.”

Thursday’s ceremony will follow a social gathering from 5:30-6 p.m.

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