October 28, 1937 Leonard Randolph “Lenny” Wilkins, hall of fame basketball player and coach, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Wilkins was a two time All-American at Providence College and when he graduated with a degree in economics he was second highest scorer in the college’s history. Providence retired his jersey number in 1996, making […]
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May 21st in African American History – Clarence Edward “Big House” Gaines, Sr.
May 21, 1923 Clarence Edward “Big House” Gaines, Sr., hall of fame college basketball coach, was born in Paducah, Kentucky. Gaines attended Lincoln High School where he excelled academically and athletically, graduating as class salutatorian in 1941. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Morgan State College in 1945 and in 1950 […]
April 18h in African American History – Clarence Edward “Big House” Gaines, Sr.
April 18, 2005 Clarence Edward “Big House” Gaines, Sr., Hall of Fame college basketball coach, died. Gaines was born May 21, 1923 in Paducah, Kentucky and attended Lincoln High School where he excelled academically and athletically, graduating as class salutatorian in 1941. Gaines earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Morgan State College […]
February 10th in African American History – Lusia “Lucy” Harris
February 10, 1955 Lusia “Lucy” Harris, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Minter City, Mississippi. Harris attended Delta State University and led them to the AIAW National Championship three consecutive years between 1975 and 1977. She was also named All-American each of those years. When she graduated, she held 15 of 18 Delta […]
October 8th in African American History – John B. McLendon, Jr.
October 8, 1999 John B. McLendon, Jr., the first African American basketball coach at a predominantly White university, died. McLendon was born April 15, 1915 in Hiawatha, Kansas. He studied at the University of Kansas in the 1930s where he learned the intricacies of basketball. However, McLendon was not allowed to play because the university’s […]
September 29th in African American History – Mabel Fairbanks
September 29, 2001 Mabel Fairbanks, figure skater and coach, died. Fairbanks was born November 14, 1916 in New York City and fell in love with figure skating in the 1930s. Despite her ability, she was not allowed to join skating clubs because of her race. She was often told “we don’t have Negroes in ice […]