ALBERT BOULDEN-BOOKER, who was better known throughout the boxing world as “Potato Pie,” but affectionately called “Buster” by his family and close friends, finished his course on August 8, 2002, after losing the toughest fight of his life to a stroke. On Friday night, August 16, 2002, many of the boxers, trainers and people who considered Potato Pie one of the outstanding trainers of his era said their final farewells as his body lay in a state at Lyons Unity MBC, 3215 Lyons Avenue.

The following morning, as Rev. O.C. Johnson eulogized Bro. Boulden-Booker (“I don’t know him as Potato Pie”), it became obvious why a man who dedicated most of his adult life to training young men to savagely beat others into unconsciousness, was such a well-loved person. In spite of his chosen profession, Potato Pie had deeply imbedded Christian principles and, according to his pastor, “Loved the Lord.” Surely, éclat sportscaster Ralph Cooper, who unabashedly shed tears: “Not because he’s gone. He’s in a better place, but because I’m going to miss him so,” would say “Amen!” to that revelation. Ironically, the man who loved the Lord was born the day after Christians celebrate the birthday of a risen savior in 1935.

His birth parents were Wilma Booker and Fred Boulden, although he considered his Uncle Willie and Aunt Adell Boulden his real parents. They made sure he was raised in the church where his life was celebrated in services orchestrated by Ross Mortuary. Nevertheless, it is obvious, from the scant information in Potato Pie’s funeral program and lack of recognition throughout his career, few people are aware of the magnitude of his contributions to amateur and professional boxing, therefore it is incumbent upon Fiesta’s Black History 24-7-365 to record his achievements for posterity. First, however, African-American News&Issues must again set history straight.

The moniker “Potato Pie” wasn’t directly the result of his love for his Aunt Adell’s delicious sweet potato pies as previously reported, but it was a tag that Joe Brown, the legendary Lightweight Champion from Baton Rouge, put on him because he always ordered sweet potato pie for dessert. That was in 1958 when Potato Pie, was a sparring partner at his Camp Holden training camp. Brown, who won the championship at age 35, when he knocked out Bud Wallace at the Sam Houston Coliseum, had returned to the city for his first title defense against Ralph Dupas.

Also sparring a few rounds to prepare Brown to fight a light welterweight was Bud Johnson, who at the time was a 24-year-old Houston Informer sportswriter and former U.S. Army welterweight champion. Meanwhile, Potato Pie became interested in training boxers and teamed up with the late Jimmy Fields and David Carrington (who would later die from a heart attack after a 10-year battle against Metro as a union president) and trained young boxers in the Houston area.
In the interim, Potato Pie married Myrtis Battle in July 1957 and later married Velma Booker. When Rev. Ray Martin opened a storefront Progressive Amateur Boxing Association, at 3212 Dowling, in the heart of Third Ward, Potato Pie, Carrington and Fields became the original members of his advisory board.

Potato Pie never stopped supporting Rev. Ray, although he trained many fighters that competed against PABA’s Champions of Tomorrow. Potato Pie turned professional when Josephine Abercrombie, the beautiful heir of Cameron Iron Works, became interested in boxing and created the upscale Houston Boxing Association, that not only taught young boxers how to fight, but social skills.

When HSA’s assistant director Bob Spagnola needed a gentleman trainer, Potato Pie was the first person that came to mind. The stars of HSA were the Tate brothers (Frank and later Thomas,) who moved to Houston from Emanuel Stewart’s Kronk Gym in Detroit, Michigan.
“Choo Choo” Dixon was also one of the outstanding boxers discovered by HSA. Unfortunately, Mrs. Abercrombie’s grand plan for boxing in Houston failed, as many others that followed it would. Spagnola formed his own group and retained Potato Pie to train his fighters.

Potato Pie was in Frank Tate’s corner when he won a middleweight championship and made his biggest payday when Thomas Tate became a champion. One of his biggest disappointments came when he wasn’t allowed to work the corner of Lou Savarese when he fought Mike Tyson.
Although the Tyson fight would have made him a millionaire, he didn’t complain or bad-mouth Spagnola, who now works out of Galveston, Texas. He continued to train Savarese, who was knocked out in the first round.

Potato Pie, who was a legendary penny pincher, in the meantime took some of his earnings and opened the historic Club Waikiki that the great humanitarian and entrepreneur John Holmes built in northeast Houston. The club, that had been closed for almost two decades after Holmes died, became Potato Pie’s labor of love, as he tried to resurrect its rich tradition, including having an old junk box with 1950s music still in tact.

Unfortunately, he was felled by a stroke in 2001. As fate would have it, he came out of a three-month coma and was rehabbing when he quietly passed away while asleep in the same bed he slept in while being raised by Aunt Adell.

There were songs, resolutions and words of tribute for Potato Pie by Liz Vaughn, Esther Doubling, former boxers and personal friends. Albert Boulden, Creed Fountain, Henry Conway, Dewayne Jordan, Jerome Boulden, Stanley Hampton, Ralph Cooper and Oscar David were active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were: Damon Henry, Roosevelt Booker, Albert Harris, Chester Ford, Payton Dorsey, Jerome Boulden II, Foster Green, Christopher Boulden, William Battle and Louis Sevarese.

Left to cherish Potato Pie’s mostly fun and precious memories: a dear and special friend, Mrytis Boulden Kirk; four sons, Albert Boulden (Dorothy), Jerome Boulden, Sr. (Veronica) Christopher Boulden and Albert Anthony Harris; one daughter, Eugenia Boulden Ford (Chester); sisters: Louise McNeal, Hattie Roberts, Silverta Davenport, Helen Williams and Geraldine Green; his brothers Roosevelt Booker, Earnest Joe, and Billy Gene (Linda); grandsons: Dameon Henry and Cheston-Charles Ford, Jerome Boulden, II; granddaughter, Nadia Ford and a multitude of cousins, nieces, nephews and a host very close and dear friends and the boxing profession.