(1895-1925) We form our own hockey league ,because many believed blacks could not endure cold, possessed ankles too weak to effectively skate, and lacked the intelligence for this organized sport, these men defied the defined myths
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Willie O'Ree
Willie O'Ree, ONB (born October 15, 1935, in Fredericton, New Brunswick) is a retired professional ice hockey player, known best known for being the first black player in the National Hockey League. He played as a winger for the Boston Bruins.
Jim Brown
First African-American to be named the NFL's mvp. He was chosen as the mvp twice , in 1958 and 1965, also played in nine straight pro bowls.
Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard
As a freshman in 1915, Pollard led Brown to the Rose Bowl against Washington State, becoming the first African-American to play in the Rose Bowl ... In 1916, he led Brown to an 8-1 record with 12 touchdowns ... Against Yale, Pollard gained 144 yards rushing, 74 on kickoff returns, and 76 on punt returns (1 TD) ... Versus Harvard, he gained 148 yards rushing, 44 on punt returns, and 51 as a pass receiver in Brown’s first victory over the Crimson (2 TDs) ... Brown was first college to defeat Yale and Harvard in the same season ... Pollard was named to Walter Camp’s All- American first team, the first African- American in the backfield ... In the 1930s he was named to Grantland Rice’s “Dream Team.”
Professional Football CareerInvolved in the American Professional Football Association for seven years (1919-26) ... Pollard began with Akron Pros, which became part of the APFA in 1920 ... Akron won the first professional football national championship in 1920 (unbeaten) ... One of the first three African American players in early pro football; Pollard and Jim Thorpe were the major gate attractions ... As a player/coach at Akron, he introduced formations used at Brown under E.N. Robinson ... Pollard was the first African- American head coach in NFL – Hammond, Ind., Pros ... In 1923, he was the first African- American quarterback in NFL ... He recruited prominent black players for APFA and NFL ... Pollard organized the first interracial all-star game in Chicago to showcase African American players; Pollard pressed for integrated competition in professional football ... He was the first African American to play in Pennsylvania Coal League ... Pollard was hired as a gate attraction for the Providence Steamrollers-Chicago Bears exhibition game at Braves Field, Boston, in December 1925 (Pollard -vs- Red Grange) ... He organized an All-Star African American team (Chicago Black Hawks) to promote interracial football, hired aspiring young players and NFL veterans ... Pollard coached all-black team in New York (Brown Bombers) from 1935 to 1938.
Business Ventures Fritz Pollard founded first black investment firm, F.D. Pollard and Co. ... He established first weekly black tabloid (N.Y. Independent News) ... Pollard managed Suntan Movie Studio in Harlem ... He founded coal delivery companies in Chicago and New York ... As a theatrical agent, Pollard booked black talent in white clubs in New York ... He served as a tax consultant.
Died: May 11, 1986For more about Fritz Pollard:Daniel Coyle, “Invisible Men.” Sports Illustrated, December 15, 2003 John M. Carroll, Fritz Pollard: Pioneer in Racial Advancement. (University of Illinois Press; 1992)
Professional Football CareerInvolved in the American Professional Football Association for seven years (1919-26) ... Pollard began with Akron Pros, which became part of the APFA in 1920 ... Akron won the first professional football national championship in 1920 (unbeaten) ... One of the first three African American players in early pro football; Pollard and Jim Thorpe were the major gate attractions ... As a player/coach at Akron, he introduced formations used at Brown under E.N. Robinson ... Pollard was the first African- American head coach in NFL – Hammond, Ind., Pros ... In 1923, he was the first African- American quarterback in NFL ... He recruited prominent black players for APFA and NFL ... Pollard organized the first interracial all-star game in Chicago to showcase African American players; Pollard pressed for integrated competition in professional football ... He was the first African American to play in Pennsylvania Coal League ... Pollard was hired as a gate attraction for the Providence Steamrollers-Chicago Bears exhibition game at Braves Field, Boston, in December 1925 (Pollard -vs- Red Grange) ... He organized an All-Star African American team (Chicago Black Hawks) to promote interracial football, hired aspiring young players and NFL veterans ... Pollard coached all-black team in New York (Brown Bombers) from 1935 to 1938.
Business Ventures Fritz Pollard founded first black investment firm, F.D. Pollard and Co. ... He established first weekly black tabloid (N.Y. Independent News) ... Pollard managed Suntan Movie Studio in Harlem ... He founded coal delivery companies in Chicago and New York ... As a theatrical agent, Pollard booked black talent in white clubs in New York ... He served as a tax consultant.
Died: May 11, 1986For more about Fritz Pollard:Daniel Coyle, “Invisible Men.” Sports Illustrated, December 15, 2003 John M. Carroll, Fritz Pollard: Pioneer in Racial Advancement. (University of Illinois Press; 1992)
Kenneth S. "Kingfish" Washington
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.
Debi Thomas
When many people hear the name Debi Thomas, they think of the African American woman who won a bronze medal during the 1988 Winter Olympics in the figure skating competition. But did you know that she was the first and only African American to do so? Ms. Thomas was also the only recent skater to pursue a full time college degree program while seeking national and world skating titles.
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