January 23, 1976 Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson, concert singer, scholar, stage and film actor, athlete, and multi-lingual orator, died. Robeson was born April 9, 1898 in Princeton, New Jersey. He won a full academic scholarship to Rutgers University, the third African American student accepted at Rutgers. Although he was the only black student on campus […]
Tag Archives | football
Jerome Heartwell “Brud” Holland – January 9th in African American History
January 9, 1916 Jerome Heartwell “Brud” Holland, education administrator and diplomat, was born in Auburn, New York. Holland graduated from Cornell University, where he was the first African American to play on the football team and an All-American in 1937, 1938, and 1939. Despite his athletic abilities, the National Football League ignored him because of […]
January 1st in African American History – Derrick Vincent Thomas
January 1, 1967 Derrick Vincent Thomas, hall of fame football player, was born in Miami, Florida. Thomas played collegiate football at the University of Alabama. In 1988, he was named an All-American and won the Butkus Award as the best linebacker in college football. Thomas was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1989 […]
December 31st in African American History – Woodrow Wilson Woolwine “Woody” Strode
December 31, 1994 Woodrow Wilson Woolwine “Woody” Strode, athlete and film actor, died. Strode was born July 25, 1914 in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of California where he was a world class decathlete and a star on the football team. Strode was one of the first African Americans to play in the […]
December 30th in African American History – Melvin Lacy Renfro
December 30, 1941 Melvin Lacy Renfro, hall of fame football defensive back, was born in Houston, Texas. Renfro attended the University of Oregon where he was a track star and All-American halfback and defensive back. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1964 NFL Draft and over his 14 year professional career was […]
December 23rd in African American History – William Vernell “Willie” Wood, Sr.
December 23, 1936 William Vernell “Willie” Wood, Sr., hall of fame football player, was born in Washington, D. C. Wood played college football at the University of Southern California where he was the first African American quarterback in Pacific-10 Conference history. Wood was not selected in the 1960 NFL Draft but was signed by the […]
December 19th in African American History – Reginald Howard White
December 19, 1961 Reginald Howard White, hall of fame football player, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. From 1980 to 1983, White played for the University of Tennessee where he was an All-American. After college, he signed with the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League and after that league folded in 1985 he signed […]