February 25, 1994 Jersey Joe Walcott, hall of fame boxer, died. Walcott was born Arnold Raymond Cream on January 31, 1914 in Merchantville, New Jersey. He made his professional boxing debut in 1930 and in 1951 won the heavyweight championship at the age of 37. At the time, he was the oldest man to win […]
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February 24th in African American History – Alma Woodsey Thomas
February 24, 1978 Alma Woodsey Thomas, painter and art educator, died. Thomas was born September 22, 1891 in Columbus, Georgia. In 1924, she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Howard University, becoming the first graduate of the program. In 1934, she became the first African American woman to earn a Master of Fine […]
February 24th in African American History – Octavia Estelle Butler
February 24, 2006 Octavia Estelle Butler, award winning science fiction writer, died. Butler was born June 22, 1947 in Pasadena, California. She began writing at the age of 10 and at 12 began a lifelong interest in science fiction. In 1968, she earned an associate’s degree from Pasadena City College and then participated in a […]
February 23rd in African American History – Melvin Franklin
February 23, 1995 Melvin Franklin, original member of The Temptations, died. Born David Melvin English on October 12, 1942 in Montgomery, Alabama, his family moved to Detroit, Michigan when he was nine. Franklin took his mother’s maiden name as his stage name and sang with a number of local groups. In 1960, he joined The […]
February 23rd in African American History – Oscar Palmer Austin
February 23, 1969 Oscar Palmer Austin, Medal of Honor recipient, was killed in action. Austin was born January 15, 1949 in Nacogdoches, Texas and joined the United States Marine Corps in April, 1968. He was promoted to private first class in October, 1968 and deployed to the Republic of Vietnam where he served as ammunitions […]
February 22nd in African American History – Julius Winfield “Dr. J” Erving, Jr.
February 22, 1950 Julius Winfield “Dr. J” Erving, Jr., hall of fame basketball player, was born in Roosevelt, New York. Erving played college basketball at the University of Massachusetts and is one of only five players to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds in NCAA Men’s Basketball. In 1971, he began his professional […]
February 22nd in African American History – Dennis Wayne Johnson
February 22, 2007 Dennis Wayne Johnson, hall of fame basketball player, died. Johnson was born September 18, 1954 in Los Angeles, California. Johnson played college basketball at Los Angeles Harbor College and Pepperdine University. He was selected by the Seattle Supersonics in the 1976 NBA Draft and over his 15 season professional career was a […]