West Point graduate is saluted by City Council

RAYMOND JAMAL Maples, a product of West Philadelphia, has something in common with U.S. presidents and the nation's most honored war generals: As of Dec. 19, he became a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The journey gave Maples, 23, yet another distinction: He's one of the few African-Americans from Philadelphia to have graduated from the prestigious university in West Point, N.Y.

"It's a pretty big accomplishment and I feel grateful that I'm the one that had the privilege to do it, coming from the area that I'm from," Maples said yesterday.

Dressed in his West Point uniform and accompanied by his mother, Lisa, two younger brothers, and a host of relatives and friends, Maples received a citation from City Council and a standing ovation during the body's first meeting of the year.

"I think he serves as an example to all Philadelphians to follow your dreams and work hard," said Councilman Ed Neilson, who along with Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell sponsored the resolution to honor Maples.

"I hope he gets a chance to share his experiences with our students when gets a little older in life because he's going to be a mentor in the future and he has the best training available to anybody in the country," Neilson added.

Although the Council resolution states that Maples was the first African-American from Philadelphia to graduate from West Point, the Daily News was able to identify two others in recent years: Ebony Thomas (2010) and J.J. Durant (1993).

Maples is the first member of his family to graduate from college and the first West Catholic High School grad to attend West Point.

At West Catholic, he earned All-Catholic League honors as a running back and strong safety. He served as team captain and helped the school reach three consecutive city championships.

That earned him a football scholarship to West Point, where he became the university's sixth all-time running back with 2,489 rushing yards. He graduated with a degree in systems management.

Maples, raised by his mother near 52nd Street and Walton Avenue, departed for Georgia last night to begin officer basic training at Fort Benning. Next up will be five years of service in the Army, which he does not regret.

"Five years of service is a minimum thing to give back to your country," he said. "After that, you still have your whole life ahead of you."

Raymond's mother said her son's success is rooted in lessons learned at the family's church, Taylor Tabernacle, at 61st Street and Osage Avenue; working hard at football, beginning at age 7 with the New Breed Broncos at the Christy Recreation Center, and hitting the books.

"I held him accountable academically before he could play football, because football was his passion," she said. "That pretty much did it."