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History: African-Americans in Pro-Football (1920-1946)
There have been many articles written about the first (13) African-American pro-football players that were in the league between 1920 - 1946. We have the list below with two major differences from the other sources, an addition and a subtraction.
* We believe James Alfonso 'Buddy' Turner, who was an African American halfback at
Northwestern University in 1922 and that most sources list as one of the "13" black players
in the APFA/NFL from 1920 - 1946 and who is listed as playing for the 1923 Milwaukee
Badgers was actually Howard Turner from Lombard College, who was white.
To read more, click on his name above.
Also, Walt Jean. a player on various teams from 1922 - 1927, should be added to this
list of early African-American professional football players. To understand why we
have added him, click on his name above.
1. Fritz Pollard: Born 01/27/1894 - Died 05/11/1986 (92 years old) NFL HOF
2. Bobby 'Rube' Marshall: Born 03/12/1880 - Died 08/27/1958 (78 years old)
3. Joe Lillard: Born 06/15/1905 - Died 09/18/1978 (73 years old)
4. Ray Kemp: Born 04/07/1907 - Died 03/26/2002 (94 years old)
5. Paul Robeson: Born 04/09/1898 - Died 01/23/1976 (77 years old)
6. Jay 'Inky' Williams: Born 07/25/1894 - Died 01/02/1980 (85 years old)
7. Duke Slater: Born 12/09/1898 - Died 08/14/1966 (67 years old)
8. John Shelburne: Born 09/26/1894 - Died 01/29/1978 (83 years old)
9. Sol Butler: Born 07/26/1897 - Died 12/01/1954 (57 years old)
10. Harold Bradley Sr.: Born 09/27/1905 - Died 11/30/1973 (68 years old)
11. David Myers: Born 08/06/1906 - Died 03/05/1997 (90 years old)
12. Walter LeArmand LeJean: Born 01/12/1896 - Died 03/28/1961 (65 years old)
13. Dick Hudson: Born unknown - Died unknown
Oldest Living Pro-Football Players Over the Years
Here are the players that, at the time of their death, were the Oldest Living Pro-Football Players.
Bill Glassford - 11/07/2013 to 9/19/2016
Clarence 'Ace' Parker - 10/07/2010 to 11/06/2013
Ralph Kercheval - 07/28/2009 to 10/06/2010
Larry Siemering - 05/19/2008 to 07/27/2009
Jack Norris - 10/30/2007 to 05/18/2008
Sam Salemi (Dana) - 06/31/2003 to 10/29/2007
Joe Marhefka - 03/28/2001 to 06/30/2003
Jim Ailinger - 10/30/1999 to 03/27/2001
Tom Dickinson - 05/27/1997 to 10/29/1999
Ralph Horween - 03/11/1995 to 05/26/1997
Ernest Watson - 02/30/1992 to 03/10/1995
George Roudebush - 03/10/1989 to 02/29/1992
Charles Jonasen - 09/12/1981 to 03/09/1989
Alex Bobidosh - 09/20/1980 to 09/11/1981
Ralph Capron - 08/22/1979 to 09/19/1980
James Cook - 09/09/1975 to 08/21/1979
Horatio Jones - 05/08/1971 to 09/08/1975
John Kellison - 06/16/1965 to 05/07/1971
William 'Birdie' Gardner - 05/10/1959 to 06/15/1965
Phil Nesser - 08/28/1958 to 05/09/1959
Bobby Marshall - 01/20/1958 to 08/27/1958
Louis Fritsch - 07/30/1931 to 01/19/1958
John Nesser - 08/20/1920 to 07/29/1931
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This site is dedicated to:
Michael J. Cleary
April 4, 1981 - December 20, 2005
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