SWAC Hall Of Fame
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Trez", as Jones was affectionately called, also served
QramMing in a host of other capacities, including mathematics
teacher, band director, dean of men and head baseball coach.
Those positions included, his entire tenure as an employee at
Grambiing spanned some SI years .
Jones nurtured a student body of 120 students and 17 facul
- ty members with a $55,000 budget at die Louisiana Negro Nor
mal and Industrial Institute. His leadership and inijfrrl saw the
institute rise to prominence as Grambiing State University with a
student body of 5,000 and a faculty/staff of over 300.
Etktta Robinson, GfatnbHng
Robinson became Grambling's head football coach in '41
and has since reached nearly every attainable plateau imaginable
in his profession as dean of coaches in the "Super Eight.**
Robinson's teams have won 16 conference championships
and four national black college crowns. His overall record with
49 teams is 372-132-15, the most wins by a single coach in the
histoiy of college football.
hi the process of becoming the winningest college coach,
Robinson had to break the records of such legends as Amos
Alonzo Stagg (3 14) and Paul "Bear" Bryant (322).
In addition to his all-time record, Robinson has won more
honors than he or anyone else can remember. Included among
his countless numbers of honors are several hall of fame honors
and numerous citations. The annual NCAA Division 1-AA
Coach Of The Year Award is named in his honor. Grambling's
football stadium also bears his name.
Lmi Barney, Jackson Stat*
There's no question that Lem Barney was born to be one of
the best defensive backs to ever play the game collegiately and
as a professional.
As a cornerback at Jackson State from '63 to '66, Barney
was the personification of a coach's player. In his four years at
JSU, Barney played for three different head coaches (Edward
Clemons, Roderick Paige and Ulysses McPherson) and was
named All-SWAC under each
Barney's first year as a member of the Tigers secondary was
outstanding. This was the season that he set a school record for
'interceptions (11). He concluded his college career with 26 inter
ceptions, which is still a school record 25 years after the fact
Another JSU record that has stood die test of time, and
which indicated the immense skills of Barney, is his all-time
career punting average of 42.1 yards. He reaped All-America
and All-SWAC honors as a collegian and was recently inducted
into the NFL Hall Of Fame.
Tatlls Blls, Jackson Slats
Ellis' career and the development of intercollegiate athletics
at Jackson State are inextricably joined. Ellis' start as a coach
(39) pre-dates his appointment ss Jackson's AD in '46. From that
year until his retirement in 77, the growth of athletics at JSU
reflected the knowledgeable leadership of Ellis.
When Ellis became Jackson's AD, the school had only two
full-time athletic coaches (football and basketball). A third was
added in '54 and head coaches in track, golf and tennis were
added in 70. By 77, there were 15 full-time coaches in the
? Tigers program.
As a head coach, Ellis won a South Central Athletic Con
ference track championship in '49, the same year that he was
tabbed SCAC football Coach Of The Year after JSU finished 7
3. He surrendered the football duties to John Merritt in '52 and
was then instrun>ental in hiring every JSU head football coach
over a 30-year period.
Ellis initiated JSlTs memberships into the Midwestern Ath
letic Conference 051), the NAIA ('54), the NCAA 057) and the
SWAC 057). During his 38-year administration, JSU won a total
of 25 championships in the sports of baseball, football, golf and
track as well as five NAIA track titles. Moreover, the school cap
tured the SWAC all-sports trophy twice.
Psmall Dickinson, Mississippi VaUayStata
Dickinson is a four-time AD-SWAC quarterback who held
several SWAC and school passing records during his days as a
Delta DeviL Reaping honors was socnthing that he did on a regu
lar basis. For example: Mutual Black Network Player Of The
Year, NAIA, Pittsburgh Courier , Kodak, Jet and Ebony All
America. He also participated in the Senior Bowl snd Blue-Gray
Classic all-star games.
Dickinson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 76
and he played in every game during hit initial NFL aeaaon. in
his final season as a pro (78\ he played for the New England
Patriots.
Following his pro career, Dickinson served ss an assists*
football coach at Tampa Cathobc High School from TO to *90
before turning to the corporate world. He now owns the Thmpe
based Psmell Dickinton Insurance Agency.
Ufyasas Sliyxson McPtmraon Jk, Alnto|pp/
McPherson coached at several current snd former SWAC
universities. Schools he coached at include: Mississippi Voca
tional College (now Mississippi Valley Stale) from '54 to *58;
Arkansas AM AN from *60 to '68; Jackson Stale from '69 to 71;
and Alabama State from 71 to 75.
McPherson graduated from Tennessee State in *48 after
gaining all-conference honors on the gridiron. Following a three
year career as a junior college head football coach (Morristown,
Term.), he became Valley's head mentor.
At Valley, McPherson's 28-8-1 record in four years remains
a source of pride among the Delta Devils' faithful. What's also
remembered of his years were his back-to-back wins over
Alcorn State, an 80-0 defeat of Tougaloo and the 101-0 devasta
tion of Rust College.
In '69, McPherson became Jackson State's head coach. In
his first year as coach of the Tigers, his new team defeated Mis
sissippi Valley State, 51-2.
Edward Evan a Sfc, Prakta VkwA&M
A career that covered 58 years of service to Prairie View,
embodies the life and times of Evans. The development of
Prairie View, as folk view it today, began when he arrived in '18
after receiving a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine the
same year from Iowa State. ,
Evans served PVU in die following capacities: vice-princi
pal, acting principle, active registrar, dean of the college and
director of the agriculture division.
Evans was elected as Prairie View's principle in September
of '46. A little over two years later; he was inaugurated as the
university's first president His interest in athletics wss evident.
He wss one of the founding fathers of the SWAC m *20 and he
served as president of the league in '40.
In 35, Evens joined with other officials of black colleges in
the southwest to form the Coaches And Officials Association,
serving as secretary-treasurer from 36 to '44.
rs&nny noumion , rimmm vmw mcum
Houston is no stranger to athletic excellence. The NFL Hall
Of Famer and SWAC All-American has had an ilhutriout cmwr
that spans over 20 years.
As a freshman at PVU, Houston played center. His adept
ness at executing the long map along with speed and quickness
helped guide the Psnthers to the National Black College Cham
pionship and the SWAC title in '63.
As a sophomore, Houston excelled as a linebacker and was
a starter on the '64 team that repeated as black college and
SWAC champions. As a senior, he reaped All-America and all
conference honors for die second consecutive year. He was also
a standout performer in track aid field.
When he graduated, Houston was drafted in the ninth round
of the *67 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. He spent six years in
Houston and seven with the Washington Redskins. By the time
he retired in '80, Houston had played in 12 Pro Bowls and held
several NFL interception records.
WUIIam Nick* Pralrb VbwA&M
"Billy" Nicks fashioned a winning tradition during his stay
at PVU. He served the university as a professor, as a head coach
and as athletic director for 28 years, . ~~~
As head football coach in Panther land, Nicks won SWAC
championships in '31, '52, '53, *54, '58, '60, '63 and '64.
Panthers faithful have fond memories of Nicks-coached
teams. They were treated to the exploits of former players Otis
Taylor, Jim Keariney, Seith Cartwright, Kenny Houston, Alvin
Reed, Charles Bracklins, George Hunt, Bo Fsnrington, Charles
7?* ? a. ^ a na- ra m t AamIumm
wngnt rod uoorgc l/evDorn.
PVU teams lost every once in a while at Blackshesr Field.
In 18 football seasons, Nicks' teams lost only five home games.
In post-season bowls, his teams won 10 of 11 games.
A!*/ Blount. Southern L/nZvws/fv
Noted as one of the finest cornwbacks to ever play pro ball,
Blount started his NFL career in 70 when he was drafted by the
Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the NFL Draft He
enjoyed an ilhistrioue 14-year cmr m a prime member of the
famed "Steel Curtain" defense.
Blount's accomplishments are well documented. In 75, he
led the NFL with 11 interceptions and was named the NFL
Defensive Player Of The Yesr by the Associated Press. He was
also a member of the fabled Steelers teams that won four Super
Bowls (DCJC, Xm and XIV) nd is still the club's all-time inter
ception leader (57).
Following his letiiement in *83, Blount was inchirted into
the Pro FootbeD Hall Of Fame. Recently, he was singled out for
another accomplishment when President George Bush named
Blount as the 524th "Point Of Light" for his efforts in aiding
Pennsylvania's troubled children through the Mel Blount Youth
Home, located in Claysville, Pa. and Vidalia, Oa., his home
town.
RodrmyMHbum, Southern Unlvmtty
After getting his high school diploma, Milbum became sn
All- American hurdler as a collegian and won nearly every possi
ble award.
Milbum was All-SWAC for four years (70-73 ) and he set a
new world record in the 120 high hurdles in 71 (13.0). In 73, he
ran 7.0 in the 55-meter high hurdles to establish a new world
indoor mark. Milbum put his personal stamp on world suprema
cy when he won the gold medal in die 72 Olympics with a 13.24
clocking in the 110 meter high hurdles.
Milbum's achievements are endless. He shares the world
record in the indoor 60-yird high hurdles. He is the only athlete
to win four major track titles ? NAIA, NCAA Divisions 1 and II
and AAU. In 71, he was voted the most oustanding athlete in the
world and was also chosen the most outstanding athlete in
Louisiana in 71, 72 and 73. In 71 and 73, Milbum won the
Sugar Bowl's presitigious James Corbett Award.
Amott Mum ford, Southern University
The legend of "Ace" Mumford began in 36 when the foot
ball coach arrived at Southern. For the next 25 years, he coached
die Jaguars to 169 victories in 226 games, si though his 2-5-2 and
4-4-1 records in his first two seasons give little indication of his
mastery as a football coach.
While chairing the physical education department from 36
until his death in '62, Mumford won at a 773 percent rale (169
57-14). The apex of his coaching career occured from *47 to '50,
a time when the Jags dkkt'tlose a single game (42-<K3).
In '48, SU went 12-0-0, including a win over then 18-0 San
Francisco Stale, bi 36 years of coaching, Mumford compiled a
record of 235-82-25, including four national black college titles
and 11 SWA C championships.
Audrey Ford, Texee Southern
When Ford appeared on the TSU campus in *50, the
school's football fortunes changed dramatically. By the time he
graduated, the Tigers quarterback held a number of school
records.
Ford wss the first Texas Southern football player to win
All-America honors 052). He was also TSlTs first two-time All
America C 52 and *55). He is the only quarterback to lead the
Tigers to a national championship after an undefeated season in
'52. He was the first and only TSU quarterback to pass for 21
touchdowns in a single season ('51) and for two seasons ('51 and
?52).
Fovd, TSlTs present volleyball coach, was also the school's
first athlete to letter in three sports ? football, basketball snd
baseball ? for three consecutive years f50, '51 and '52).
Abxender Durley, Texee Southern
In '48, Durley became TSlTs second head football coach
and athletic director. With him at the helm, the Tigers established
themselves as a collegiate football power.
A year after joining the Midwestern Athletic Coofegggp,
Texas Southern ]compiled a 10-0-1 record. This undefeated team
was led by Ail-American quarterback Audrey Ford and halfback
Edward Smith. Ford passed for 21 TDs while Smith rushed for
1,087 yards. In '52, TSU won the National Negro Championship
after beating Prairie View 13-12 in the annual Prairie View
BowL The Tigers joined the SWAC in '58 and finished the year
as SWAC co-champions with Wiley College.
In 16 seasons, Durley posted a 101-55-7 record. He was
always active in the Big Brothers organization snd the Houston
Business snd Professional Men's Club. The Alexander Durley
Sports Complex (track stadium) located on the TSU campus, is a
permanent reminder of coach Durtey's contributions.