People, Locations, Episodes

Audrey Patterson, Olympic Athlete born

*Audrey Patterson was born on this date in 1926.  She was a Black Olympic athlete and coach.  Audrey (“Mickey”) Patterson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Lionel Patterson and Josephine Nero Patterson.  She attended Danneel Elementary School and Gilbert Academy, where she developed a passion for running. She earned a Tennessee State University in […]

Chuck Cooper, Basketball Player born

On this date in 1926, Chuck Cooper was born. He was an African American basketball player and later a city official.

He was born in Pittsburgh, the son of Daniel and Emma Cooper. He played basketball and graduated from Westinghouse High School and attended West Virginia State before entering the Navy during World War II. After his service, the 6’5” Cooper attended Duquesne University and was one of the first Black All-Americans. On April 25, 1950 Cooper broke the color barrier in the National Basketball Association (NBA) when he was drafted by the Boston Celtics.

Marques Haynes, Basketball Player born

*Marques Haynes was born on this date in 1926.  He was a Black basketball player.   A native of Sand Springs, OK, Haynes’ basketball career began at Booker T. Washington High School, where he led the school to a high school national championship in 1941 and was named a Second Team scholastic All-America that season. Haynes […]

The Harlem Globetrotters Basketball Team Begins Playing

On this date in 1927, the Harlem Globetrotters played their first game in Hinckley, Illinois.

The team was formed a year earlier by Abe Saperstein, an English-born Jew from Chicago who had coached semi-pro basketball in that area. A year earlier he had taken over as coach of the African American team, the Savoy Big Five (formerly Giles Post American Legion). With an eye for the team being more successful with better marketing he focused on its racial composition and barnstorming, renaming the team the Harlem Globetrotters though they had no connection to New York.

Joe ‘The Jet’ Perry, Football Player born

*Joe Perry was born on was born on this date in1927. He was an African American professional football player.

Fletcher Joe Perry was born in Stephens, Ark., but moved with his family to the Los Angeles area as a youngster. His heroes were U.C.L.A.’s black football stars Kenny Washington, Woody Strode and Jackie Robinson, who would later break baseball’s color barrier. Perry played football at Compton Junior College in the Los Angeles area in 1944, and then joined the Navy. He was spotted by the 49ers while playing football for the Alameda Naval Air Station in the Bay Area.

Earl Bowman Jr., Educator born

*Earl Bowman, Jr was born on this date in 1927. He was a Black teacher, coach, and administrator.  Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Earl Wesley Bowman was the son of Earl W. Bowman and Edith Peery Bowman. He had one brother, Henry, and two sisters, Alice and Harriet. After graduating from Minneapolis Central High School, he […]

Nick Gabaldon, California Surfer born

*Nick Gabaldon was born on this date 1927. He was an African American Surfer and California’s first Black Surfing Legend.

Percy Zachary, Businessman born

*Percy Zachary was born on this date in 1927. He was an African American administrator, businessman and college athlete.

Althea Gibson, Tennis, and Golf Pioneer born

*Althea Gibson was born on this date in 1927. She was an African American tennis player.

Carlos Paula, Baseball Player born

*Carlos Paula was born on this date in 1927.  He was an Afro Cuban Major League Baseball right fielder.   A native of Havana, Cuba, Paula was acquired by Washington via a transaction with the Paris Indians Big State League before the 1954 season. He was sent to the Senators’ Charlotte, North Carolina affiliate, the […]

Earl Lloyd, Basketball Player born

*On this date we mark the birth of Earl Lloyd in 1928. He was an African American basketball player, the first Black man to play in a National Basketball Association (NBA) game.

Burl Toler, American Football Official and Teacher born.

*Burl Toler was born on May 9, 1928. He was a Black American football player, a National Football League (NFL) official, and a teacher. Burl Abron Toler Sr. was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Despite his physical gifts and strapping size, Toler never even played a down of prep football at Manassas High School in Memphis. […]

Robert Hughes Sr., Basketball Coach born

*Robert Hughes Sr. was born on this date in 1928. He is a retired Black high school basketball coach. From Tulsa, Oklahoma, Robert Hughes Sr. joined the Army after high school. At 6’6″, he was recruited for a unit that just played basketball; it was the first integrated team Hughes ever played on. When he […]

Paul ‘Tank’ Younger, Football Player born

Paul “Tank” Younger was born on this date in 1928. He was an African American football player and sports administrator.

Junior Gilliam, Baseball Player and Coach born.

*Junior Gilliam was born on this date in 1928.  He was a Black baseball player and coach. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, James William “Junior” Gilliam began playing on a local semi-pro team at age 14 and dropped out of high school in his senior year to pursue his baseball career. He joined the Negro National […]