A thank you letter to great athletes
There are many historical black figures to celebrate and remember during this and all times of the year. These people have broken down many different barriers that have held the black communities from getting ahead in life.
Flo Hyman was the first female African-American Volleyball player. Flora ‘Flo’ Hyman was born on July 31, 1954 in Inglewood California. Hyman attended the College of Houston where she was named a collegiate All-American three times. In 1980, the U.S. boycotted the games that were being held in Moscow but in 1984, Hyman captained the silver medal-winning team. International achievements included playing in the World Champions in 1978 and 1982 (Bronze), the World Cup in 1977 and 1981, when she was named the Best Attacker, Pan-Am games in 1975, 1979, and 1983, the NORCECA Champs in 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983, and the World University Games in 1973 and 1977. In 1985, she was named one of the All-Time Great Volleyball Players. Unfortunately, the world prematurely lost Hyman in January of 1986 when she collapsed during a match in the Japanese league. She was a victim of Marfan Syndrome, which she never knew she had.
Including the original Harlem Globetrotters, Earl Lloyd was the first African-American male basketball player and Winthrop’s own women’s basketball coach Lynette Woodard was the first African-American female Harlem Globetrotter. Earl Francis Lloyd was born on April 3, 1928. Lloyd grew up in Jim Crow, Virginia and attended college at West Virginia State where he was the star of the school’s team. The Capitals picked him in the 9th draft.
Two other African-Americans players had joined the NBA that season: Charles ‘Chuck’ Henry Cooper, a second round pick to the Celtics, and Nat ‘Sweetwater’ Clifton, a first round to the New York Knicks, from the Harlem Globetrotters because the Celtics and the Knicks didn’t start their season until that November. Earl Lloyd is known as the 1st African American to debut in the NBA. After 7 games with the Capitals, Lloyd was drafted into the military and sent to Korea for 2 years. Upon his return, the Capitals were no longer a team, so he played for the Syracuse Nationals who later became the Philadelphia 76ers. In 1970, Lloyd broke another record becoming the first African-American Head Basketball Coach. He coached the Detroit Pistons for a year then went to work for the city of Detroit in the Police Department and a school administrator. Lloyd was later inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.
Lynette Woodard became the first ever female African-American Harlem Globetrotter. Lynette Woodard was born August 12, 1959 in Wichita, Kansas. Woodard enrolled at the University of Kansas where she graduated in 1981 with a B.A. in speech communications and human resources. During her time at the University of Kansas she set about 7 school records; most points during a NCAA women’s basketball game (3649), most field goals made (1572), field goals attempted (2994), she also set records (1714), free throws made (505), steals (522), and games played (139). After her many college, international, and US Pro years, Woodard retired and currently serves as the Head Coach of the Winthrop University women’s basketball team.
Jackie Robinson and Toni Stone became the First African-American male and female to becoming major league baseball players. Toni Stone, originally known as Marcenia Lyle Stone, was born on July 17, 1921 in Alameda, California. In 1953, Toni ‘Tomboy’ Stone made history where she was signed to play second base for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro leagues, making her the first woman to ever play a ‘man’s sport’. In 1953, she caught her big break when the Indianapolis Clowns signed her to its roster. The club, which had at one time developed a reputation as a showy kind of team, not unlike what basketball’s Harlem Globetrotters would become, was in need of a boost. Since Jackie Robinson’s first appearance in the Majors in 1947, the Negro Leagues had seen attendance and talent drop considerably. In 1993 she was inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in Long Island, New York.
Jackie Robinson was born on Jan. 31, 1919. In 1944, he was discharged from the Army and began to play baseball professionally. At the time, the sport was segregated, and African-Americans and whites played in separate leagues. Robinson began playing in the Negro Leagues, but he was soon chosen by Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, to help integrate Major League Baseball. He joined the all-white Montreal Royals, a farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1946. Robinson later moved to Florida to begin spring training with the Royals. Despite the racial abuse, particularly at away games, Robinson had an outstanding start with the Royals, leading the International League with a .349 batting average and .985 fielding percentage. His successful year led to his promotion to join the Dodgers. In the 20th century when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
