Overview
- About 2,200 people filled the Calvin Simmons Theater at the Henry J. Kaiser Center on Saturday for a public tribute to the longtime Skyline High and Laney College coach.
- Speakers included Mayor Barbara Lee and U.S. Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, with Oakland stars Marshawn Lynch and Damian Lillard among those in attendance.
- Beam, 66, died on Nov. 14 after being shot Nov. 13 in the Laney College fieldhouse; former student Cedric Irving Jr., 27, was arrested the day of the shooting and is charged with murder, with court filings indicating a potential mental-health defense.
- Across a 45-year career, Beam won 160 games and 11 Oakland Section titles at Skyline and guided Laney to the 2018 California community college championship, sending many players to four-year programs and the NFL.
- Mourners emphasized his mentorship and life lessons, with dozens of former players standing at his daughter's request, following an earlier memorial walk at Laney on Dec. 13.