October 20, 1954 Lee Roy Selmon, hall of fame football player, was born in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Selmon played college football at the University of Oklahoma where he was an All-American in 1974 and 1975. In 1975, he won the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy as the best college football lineman in the country. Selmon […]
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October 15th in African American History – Willie O’Ree
October 15, 1935 Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the National Hockey League, was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick. O’Ree started his minor league career in 1957 and made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958. He played in only two games that year and was sent back to the […]
October 14th in African American History – Charles B. Joiner, Jr.
October 14, 1947 Charles B. Joiner, Jr., hall of fame football player, was born in Many, Louisiana. Joiner played college football at Grambling State University. He graduated in 1969 and was selected by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League that same year. Over his 18 season professional career, Joiner played for the Oilers, […]
October 12th in African American History – Charlie Ward
October 12, 1970 Charlie Ward, 1993 Heisman Trophy winner, was born in Thomasville, Georgia. Ward played college football and basketball for four years at Florida State University. As a basketball player, he still holds the FSU record for career steals. As a football player, he won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and Davey O’Brien Award […]
October 10th in African American History – Eddie Futch
October 10, 2001 Eddie Futch, hall of fame boxing trainer, died. Futch was born August 9, 1911 in Hillsboro, Mississippi, but raised in Detroit, Michigan. In 1932, he won the Detroit Athletic Association Lightweight Championship and in 1933 he won the Detroit Golden Gloves Championship. A heart murmur prevented him from turning professional, therefore he […]
October 9th in African American History – Michael Singletary
October 9, 1958 Michael Singletary, hall of fame football player and former head coach, was born in Houston, Texas. Singletary played college football at Baylor University where he earned All-American honors in 1979 and 1980. He is the only two-time winner of the Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy given to the most outstanding player in the […]
October 6th in African American History – John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil
October 6, 2006 John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil, Negro League baseball player and manager and the first African American to coach in the major leagues, died. O’Neil was born November 13, 1911 in Carrabelle, Florida. In 1937, he signed a contract with the Memphis Red Sox in the Negro League. The next year his contract was […]