June 11, 1930 Johnny D. Bright, hall of fame Canadian Football League player, was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Bright played college football at Drake University where he led the nation in total offense in 1949 and 1950. On October 20, 1951 in a game against Oklahoma State University, Bright was violently assaulted by white […]
"National Football League"
May 23rd in African American History – Jerome Heartwell “Brud” Holland
May 23, 1985 Jerome Heartwell “Brud” Holland, education administrator and diplomat, posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ronald Reagan. Holland was born January 9, 1916 in Auburn, New York. He graduated from Cornell University, where he was the first African American to play on the football team and an All-American in 1937 […]
October 6th in African American History – Anthony Kevin Tony Dungy
October 6, 1955 Anthony Kevin “Tony” Dungy, the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl, was born in Jackson, Michigan. Dungy played quarterback for the University of Minnesota from 1973 to 1976 and finished his college career as Minnesota’s career leader in passing yards and touchdowns. He earned his Bachelor of Arts […]
September 29th in African American History – Bryant Charles Gumbel
September 29, 1948 Bryant Charles Gumbel, television journalist and sportscaster, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Gumbel graduated from Bates College in 1970 and began his television career in 1972 as a sportscaster for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. Gumbel was hired by NBC Sports in 1975 as the co-host of its National Football League pre-game […]
November 25th in African American History – George D. Webster
November 25, 1945 George D. Webster, college hall of fame football player, was born in Anderson, South Carolina. Webster played defensive back for Michigan State University from 1964 to 1966 and was an All-American his last two years. Webster was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1967 American Football League Draft and was the […]
Groups of Interest
One of the many ways to help us understand the tremendous impact of our famous and most influential leaders is to look at their achievements throughout history. The awards, the championships, the organizations that have been built by individuals are part of the legacy of these trailblazers. African Americans have made their marks all around […]
October 24th in African American History – Jack Roosevelt Jackie Robinson
October 24, 1972 Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson, the first African American Major League Baseball player of the modern era, died. Robinson was born January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. After graduating from Pasadena Junior College in 1939, Robinson transferred to UCLA where he became the school’s first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports, […]