HONORS
? ? p? ^ ? ? ? ?
Nineteen inducted into SWAC Hall Of Fame
1 1 Legendary coach
It comas at no surprise to any
one that Grambling football
coach Eddie Robinson was
among the first group of
inductees for the SWAC Hall Of
BCSR Photo
No discussion of black college sports would be complete
without including the accomplishments of athletes, coaches and
administrators at schools in the Southwestern Athletic Confer
ence. And now the league has come full circle with its own Hall
Of Fame, which inducted 19 members in the Hall's inaugural
enshrinement ceremonies last month in New Orleans. Here's a
synopsis of this year's inductees.
Chart? Johnson Dunn, Alabama Stata
Although Dunn is remembered as Alabama State's longtime
basketball coach, he should be remembered for so much more.
During his tenure, Dunn served as athletics director, dean of
students, dean of the ASU junior college, dean of the senior col
lege, principal of the laboratory school and assistant professor of
social science and economics.
Although Dunn didn't apply for a coaching position at
ASU, then-president H. Council Trenholm named Dunn head
baseball coach in his first year as the school's chief executive
officer. In 34, Dunn became the Hornets' head basketball coach.
For 29 years and 507 games, the basketball fortunes of
Alabama State were in the hands of Dunn. He won two SlAC
tournament titles in his first two years as the Hornets' head coach.
Dunn's legacy continues in the form of C J. Dunn Arena, the sto
ried home court of Alabama State basketball teams for decades.
Savama nrtar, Alabama Stata
Frazier was an AD-SIAC halfback in the early 30s, reaping
Pittsburgh Courier and Chicago Defender All-America honors *
in 32 and 33.
As an ASU student, Frazier won varsity letters in basket
ball, Kfiflntllt track aid football. He may have been one of the
first prep players to participate collegiately before graduation.
In '45, Frazier returned to ASU as an assistant football and
track coach. His duties also moved him to classroom where he
devised the major and minor piugiaiiis in the ASU physical edu
cation department
Athletically, he also became an official and served a stint as
president of the Mid-Central Alabama Officials Association with
the task of supervising the training of black officials in the sports
of football and basketball.
Marino Caaam, Alcorn Stat*
Casern was a force at Alcorn State for more than two
decades, becoming the school's first all-time wmningest football
coach and a legendary figure as athletics director.
Casern's first stint at ASU was as an assistant football coach
in '59. In '63, he left to become head football coach at Alabama
State where he stayed until returning to Alcorn as head football
coach in '64. It was a year later that he achieved dual status as
head football coach and athletics director, positions he hekl until '
leaving in '86 to become the AD at Southern University.
During Casern's era as athletics director, Alcorn teams won
a total of 23 regular season championships and eight tournament
titles. As a head football coach, his Braves teams won seven
SWAC crowns. In the process, he was named National Black
College Coach Of The Year and SWAC Coach Of The Year on
seven different occasions.
The Xsvier University (La.) graduate's influence has tran
scended the boundaries of the SWAC. He's served on numerous
NCAA committees which have developed the current rules
which govern college athletics.
Johnny Sptnka, Alcorn Stat*
Although Jack "the Ripper" Spinks played football almost
before there were rules, he was, nevertheless, an outstanding
football talent for Alcorn.
& J
S pinks was a two-way performer as a Braves back from '49
? '52. For three of those years, he was selected as a Pittsburgh
Courier All-America, the first player to garner such honors for
three consecutive seasons.
Following his unparalleled career at Alcorn, Spinks was
drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in '52, becoming the first black
athlete from Mississippi to be drafted by and play for an NFL
team. He was also the first black to play for the Steelers. The
next six years saw him play fofNthe Chicago Cardinals, Green
Bay Packers and New York Giants.^
Buck Buchanan, Grambling
Buck starred for Grambling in the late '60s and was called
Nthe finest linemen I've ever seen" by his legendaqr coach, Eddie
Robinson.
While at Grambling, Buchanan earned AH- America and
All-SWAC honors. He was the first player picked in the *63
American Football League Draft when he was picked by the
Kansas City Chiefs.
He went on to play 12 seasons with the Chiefs. During that
span, his team upset the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl
IV. In addition, he played in five AFL All-Star games C64-*69),
was in the first two American Conference-National Conference
Pro Bowls (*70 and 71) and was an All-AFC selection for four
straight years f 66 . '69).
Buchanan has been inducted into the NFL Hall Of Fame,
Alabama Hall Of Fame and the Louisiana Hall Of Fame.
Ralph Waldo Emaraon Jonaa, Grambling
Jones defied all the odds that are attributed to the longevity
of college presidents. He served 41 yean as Grambting's presi
Pfease see page 12