Burl Toler (First
Black NFL Referee)
Burl Toler
was the first African American to referee in the NFL. He was an outstanding
football player at University of San Francisco (A book published by Griffin
Publishing Group titled Undefeated, Untied, and Uninvited is a must read
regarding this incredible team). He was an All American player in Junior
College and All Coast Football, All American Honorable Mention in 19561,
College All Star Game in 1952, drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1952. He
has received numerous awards. Among the: The Isaac Hayes Achievement in
Sports Award, Spirit of Kezar Stadium, Hall of Fame, City College of San
Francisco, University of San Francisco Alumnus of the Year, President’s
Award, Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, San Francisco, Burl A. Toler, Sr.
Scholarship, endowed by a private donor for an African American student
chosen annually to attend St. Ignatius College Preparatory, now in its sixth
year. He serves as a mentor to the selected students, a member of the
National Football League Professional Referees Association. Burl resides in
San Francisco and is a motivational speaker and enjoys watching his grandson
play football for the University of California, Berkeley.
Grandmaster Tae Yun
Kim (Martial Arts)
9th
degree Grandmaster in the martial art of Jun SuWon, certified 9th
degree black belt, founder of martial art of Jun SuWon, which means “body,
mind, Spirit”, Chairman & CEO, World Jung SuWon Federation, International
Coach & Referee, Highest Ranked Female Grandmaster in the Martial Arts,
“Mother of Tae Kwon Do”, first female Master & Grandmaster in the martial
arts, Created the first US women’s taekwondo team in Seoul, Korea in 1978,
created and established the first martial arts competition for women in the
US in 1978, coached the first US women’s taekwondo team at the Pre World
Games in Seoul, Korea, first woman to be on the cover of Tae Kwon Do Times
magazine, Taekwondo Hall of Fame Instructor of the Year in ’93, World
Martial Arts Master’s Union, Korea Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan Association,
Award of Merit for exceptional Achievement in Martial Arts. Author and
bestseller of six books. Grandmaster Kim resides in Santa Clara Valley of
California and is the Chairman & CEO of her company, TYK Group.
Willye White (Track)
Willye was
the first woman from Mississippi to compete in the Olympic Games and medal,
the first American woman to medal in the long jump, the only American to
have ever competed in five consecutive Olympiads in track and field 1956
Melbourne, Australia (silver medal), 1960 Rome Italy, 1964 Tokyo, Japan
(silver medal 4x100 relay, 1968 Mexico City Mexico, 1972 Munich, Germany.
Member and Medalist on 4 Pan American Teams, member of 5 world Record Relay
Teams, member of 12 Sports Halls of Fame, the first American to win the
world’s highest sportsmanship award, the United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), member Illinois Governor’s
Council of Health and Physical Fitness, chosen by Sports Illustrated in
1999999 for Women as 1 of 100 greatest athletes of the century. Willy
resides in Chicago and is currently a candidate for Alderman for the 6th
Ward in Chicago.
Martha Watson (Track)
Martha graduated
Tennessee State University-Nashville, Tennessee. Olympic Games participant
in track and field, 1964, 168, 1972, 176-long jump 4x100 meter relay. Pan
American Games 1967 and 1975. International Tours, USA vs. Germany
1969,1977, USA vs. Italy 1070-1977, USA vs. Russia 1964-1974, USA vs.
British Commonwealth 1964-1970, USA vs. The People Republic of China 1975.
Martha has
received the Los Angeles Times Woman of the Year Award in 1976, Long Beach
Century Club Athlete of the Year in 1966, All American Female Athlete of the
Year-Southern California Track Writers in 1975, Sullivan Award in 1973, Miss
Senior-Tennessee State University, Team Captain U.S.A. vs. The Peoples
Republic of China, Medal of Honor from the City of Las Vegas, Track & Field
Hall of Fame-Indianapolis, IN. Matha currently resides in Las Vegas and is
21 dealer at Caesars Palace.
Walt Hazzard (NBA)
During Walt Hazzard’s four years as UCLA’s head basketball coach, the Bruins compiled a
record of 77-47, won the 1987 Pacitic-10 Conference regular-season and
post-season tournament titles and advanced to the second round of the 1987
NCAA Tournament. In addition, the Bruins also won the 1985 NIT and
participated in the 1986 NIT.
Hazzard is
best remembered as one of the top guards in UCLA history and captain on the
school’s first of 10 NCAA championship teams. Hazzard was chosen as a member
of the 1964 U.S. Olympic team and helped the United States win a gold medal
in Tokyo, Japan. Walt was a first round pick for the Lakers averaging 12.6
points a game during his 10-year career with the Lakers, Atlanta, Seattle,
Buffalo and Golden State. Six times during those 10 seasons, he ranked among
the NBA’s top ten assist leaders. Walt was once traded for Lenny Wilkens. He
is currently the President of the Los Angeles Sports Academy and a special
assistance for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ollie Matson (NFL)
Ollie gradated
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Twenty-three years
experience in athletics-as Coach and Professional player, Member of the
Professional Football Hall of Fame (1972) and Helms Football Hall of Fame
(1971), recognized for ability to work with, and develop players; motivating
them to achieve and surpass all goals. Instilled team and personal pride
through his efforts, installed winning spirit and increased wins.
Ollie was the
Administrative Chairman for Vice-President Huber Humphrey’ “Operation
Champ”, in ten major cities. NFL Runner-Up Comeback Player of the Year
(1964), Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland 1952, Bronze Medal
Winner 400 meters,
Silver Medal Winner 1,600 Relay Team, College All-Star Team member against
the Los Angles Rams, Named Runner-Up player of the Game (1952), set Catholic
All-American Collegiate Rushing Record at USF 1949-52, set all-time Football
Record 102 points in one season (1947), 2nd leading rusher in the
league as a Los Angles Ram in 1959-1966, held all records for the St. Louis
Cardinals, still holds the longest kick-off record (105 yards for a
touchdown). Ollie currently resides in Los Angeles and plays in NFL golf
tournaments throughout the United States.
Raymond Chester (NFL)
Raymond
graduated Morgan State and has the rare distinction of enjoying two tours of
duty with the Oakland Raiders, in 78-81. In 1983, he played one season with
the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League. He was name USFL
Man of the Year and was an all-league tight end. In 1973, he was traded to
the Baltimore Colts after three years and returned to the Raiders again in
1978. He was the # 1 Draft Choice in 1970 and NFL Rookie of the Year, All
Pro Player ’70, ’71, ‘72, ’80, and ’83. Bay Area Pro Athlete of the Year in
’79, member of the World Champion Football team 1980, ’83, Chrysler Plymouth
“Man of the Year”, inducted into the State of Maryland Athlete Hall of Fame
in ’88, ’92 AT&T National Pro Am Invitational Player, Pebble Beach, CA,
Senior Golf Rush Pro-Am Player, Rancho Murietta, CA. Raymond is currently
General Manager/Senior Partner of Lake Chabot Golf Course, Oakland, CA and
has received many awards for his civic responsibilities and contributions.
Dr. Jose Sulaiman
(World Boxing Council)
Dr. Sulaiman is the Founder and President of the World Boxing Council since
1975, now in more than 161 countries. Mr. Sulaiman was a baseball player,
including being on the Mexican National Team for the First Pan-American
Games. He has been the President of the Mexican Council of Museum for
Professional Sports since 1986.
Mr. Sulaiman has demonstrated a “clear” sense of community locally and
throughout the world. All of Mr. Sulaiman’s awards are too numerous to
mention here but we will acknowledge a few: Awarded by the Untied Nations in
New York, for his 19 years of leadership against Apartheid and racial
discrimination in the world in 1988, Humanitarian award, granted by the King
of Spain, Juan Carlos II in 1977. Awarded the Latin American of the Year
Award during the 44th Edition of the Latin American Sports Award
Institution in 1999.
He has
humanized the sport of boxing and has been a leader in safety rules and
procedures to protect boxers. He has done more to humanize the sport in the
last 20 years, than any other body in the entire history of boxing. He has
established the First World Medical Congress with the attendance of 83
countries and 300 chief ringside doctors, Donated about 1 million dollars
for the Brain Injury Medical Research Program at UCLA, provided
hospitalization, as well as life insurance for $200,000, for each boxer in BWC title bout since 1980, Founder of the Hall of Fame of the World boxing
Council and has spent over 20 years in the struggle against apartheid for
human dignity.
Dr. Sulaiman received “Honoris Causa”, in Social Sciences and Philosophy by the
London Institute of Technology and Research in 1998. Dr. Sulaiman resides in
Mexico and continues as the President of the World Boxing Council.
Don King (Boxing)
Don King coined the
phrase, “Only in America.” He lives it. He breathes it. It’s part of his
soul. Indeed the odds have always been long for King. A product of the
hard-core Cleveland ghetto, he beat the system to become the world’s
greatest promoter. He has been feature on the covers of Time, Sports
Illustrated, Ebony Jet, and countless other magazines. He has appeared in
movies, television shows and on numerous television and radio talk shows.
His life has been
devoted to staging the best in world-championship boxing as well as always
giving something back to the people. He has made more people of color
millionaires than any one in history. Inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame
in 1997, King was the only boxing promoter named to sports Illustrated list
of the “40 Most Influential Sports Figures of the Past 40 Years”. The New
York Times published a list that included Don King among 100 African
Americans who have helped shape this country’s history during the last
century.
When asked about what he
would like on his epitaph, King quickly responded, “he worked for the day
when all people would be clothed in dignity.” This statement belies the
belief that King is merely a boxing promoter. At heart, he is foremost, a
civil rights activist. “Nothing makes me happier than to promote a fight
card with boxers from 10 different countries: the fighters, the corner men,
the media, the business people-all of them, “ King said.
Mamie “Peanut”
Johnson (Negro Major League)
While
practicing baseball with the boys, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson never imagined
that one day she would become a female baseball legend. And that she did!
She actually became the first and only female to pitch baseball in the Negro
major League.
At the
time, amateur and professional baseball teams were segregated. When she was
17 years old, the White female baseball league (All-America Girls
Professional League) rejected Ms. Johnson as a team member. While pitching
her first game with the Clowns of the Negro major League, a batter on the
opposing team yelled to her, “What makes you think you can strike a batter
out? Why, you aren’t any larger than a peanut.” Mamie never said a word, but
the batter soon found out what she could do. 1-2-3- OUT! From that day, the
100-pound baseball player had the nickname, Mamie “Peanut Johnson.
Johnson
played professional baseball for three seasons, from 1953 to 1955, with the
Indianapolis Clowns. During her tenure, she won 33 games and lost 8. Her
batting average ranged from .262 to .284. Of this opportunity, she
exclaimed, “just to know that you were among some of the best male ball
players that ever picked up the bat, make all of my baseball moment great
moments”. Mamie resides in Washington, D.C. where she is preparing for the
release of another book she authored.
Althea Gibson
(Tennis)
Althea Gibson first
contact with tennis was through the game of paddleball, which is similar to
conventional tennis, but uses wooden paddles instead of rackets. Her prowess
brought her to the attention of musician Buddy Walker, a part-time city
recreation department employee. Walker encouraged her to switch to regular
tennis and introduced Gibson to the members of the interracial New York
Cosmopolitan Club. Some of them were also impressed with Gibson’s natural
talents, and they sponsored her for junior membership and private lessons
with a professional named Red Johnson.
In 1956,
Gibson made history by becoming the first Black to win a major tennis title
when she won the women’s singles title in the French Open on May 22, 1956.
The next year, she made more history by winning the Wimbledon Champions on
July 6, 1957. She repeated the accomplishments in 1958 while also winning
and defending the doubles Championships. Gibson also became the first black
to win a major United States national championship on September 8, 1957,
when she defeated Louise Brough at Forest Hills to win the U.S. women’s
singles title. In 1968, Althea Gibson had the honor of being the first Black
inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Calvin Peete (Golf)
“Outstanding” is the best way to describe his play in mid-80’s. Calvin won
11 tournaments during a five-year span (12 titles overall). During that
period he was regarded as one of the game’s truly great ball-strikers. Most
prestigious victory came in 1985 during the Tournament Players Championship,
when his final-round 66 provided a three-stroke edge over D.A. Weibring at
14-under par 274 and 10-year PGA Tour exemption.
First tour win came in 1979 in the Greater
Milwaukee Open. Repeated GMO success in 1982, when he won four times. Last
triumphs were in 1986 at the MONY-Tournament of Champions and USF&G Classic.
He won driving accuracy title 10 straight years (1981-1990), led Tour three
times in hitting greens in regulation, won Vardon Trupy for low stroke
average in 1984, and the Hogan Award, which goes to the person who overcame
physical handicap or illness to play golf. As a youngster Calvin suffered a
broken elbow, and to this day cannot extend that arm. Calvin resides in
Florida with his wife, Elaine and still enjoys the game.
Huel Washington
(Wendell Smith Media Award)
This Michigan State
University graduate in Microbiology turned journalist begin his journey into
the world of sports more than 35 years ago after being coaxed by the late
Sam Skinner that his knowledge of syntax and the English language could be a
beacon for others to find their way into the sports boxes in this country.
So, the
Toledo, Ohio native, forsook his first love, science and began a sojourn
during the past few decades around the nation sprinkled intermittently with
football games, basketball games, baseball games, track meets, and boxing
matches repeating what he observed hoping to give his readers some insight
into today’s complex sports world.
He has made many friends
among the athletes he has covered and is pleased to see more and more
minorities become members of the nation’s media since he made his entrance.
He is happy to be
the second recipient of the professional Wendell Smith Media Award. He
resides in Las Vegas with his wife.
