Kenneth S. "Kingfish" Washington (born August 31, 1918, Los Angeles, California; died June 24, 1971) was a professional football player who was one of the first African-Americans to play in the National Football League's modern (post-World War II) era.
He was a star running back at Abraham Lincoln High School in Los Angeles and in college at UCLA, rushing for 1,914 yards in his college career, a school record for 34 years. He was one of two African American players on the team, the other one being Woody Strode who was another UCLA alumni. He led the nation in total offense and became the first consensus All-American in the history of the school's football program in 1939. However, he was named to second team All-America selection instead of the first and was omitted from the East-West Shrine Game that year.
He was a star running back at Abraham Lincoln High School in Los Angeles and in college at UCLA, rushing for 1,914 yards in his college career, a school record for 34 years. He was one of two African American players on the team, the other one being Woody Strode who was another UCLA alumni. He led the nation in total offense and became the first consensus All-American in the history of the school's football program in 1939. However, he was named to second team All-America selection instead of the first and was omitted from the East-West Shrine Game that year.
After graduation, he couldn't join the NFL as blacks were not allowed, so he played semi-professional football for a few years. In 1946 when the Cleveland Rams moved to Los Angeles, the commissioners of the Los Angeles Coliseum stipulated as part of the agreement that the team be integrated. As a result, the team signed Washington and fellow UCLA teammate Strode. His NFL stint only lasted three years, but the impact he had on the league was enormous. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956 and his number 13 jersey was the first to be retired at UCLA.
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