Sports/Outdoors

Explorers, athletes, astronauts, organizations, events, and people working in the lifestyles that require mental and physical exertion.

Joe Lillard was a stellar athlete


Joe Lillard

*Joe Lillard was born on this date in 1905. He was an African-American professional athlete (primarily) football player.

From Tulsa, OK, Lillard came to Mason City, Iowa in 1915, following the death of his parents at the age of ten. He was adopted by a Mrs. Walter White, but during high school lived with two relatives, Herbert and Horace Spencer, brothers who owned a sidewalk paving company in Mason City. Joseph Lillard graduated from Mason City High School in 1927.

An NFL first, Raymond Kemp


Raymond Kemp

*Ray Kemp was born on this date in 1907. He was an African American football player and coach.

Raymond Howard Kemp was from Cecil, Pa., a region of coal mines and farms where his parents had migrated from Virginia. He played fullback and the baritone saxophone at Cecil Township High School, and participated in the oratorical society. ''In that area at that time, it was assumed that blacks wouldn't go to high school,'' he recalled. ''I had brothers and sisters who were smarter than I was, but none of them went to school.''

The NFL's hardest runner, John Henry Johnson


John Henry Johnson

*John Henry Johnson was born on this date in 1929. He was an African American prfessional football player.

An NFL pioneer, Joe 'the Jet' Perry


Joe Perry

*Joe Perry was born on was born on this date in1927. He was an African American professional football player.

Fletcher Joe Perry was born in Stephens, Ark., but moved with his family to the Los Angeles area as a youngster. His heroes were U.C.L.A.’s black football stars Kenny Washington, Woody Strode and Jackie Robinson, who would later break baseball’s color barrier. Perry played football at Compton Junior College in the Los Angeles area in 1944, and then joined the Navy. He was spotted by the 49ers while playing football for the Alameda Naval Air Station in the Bay Area.

A Lady of the Links, Ann Moore-Gregory

*Ann Moore-Gregory was born on this date in 1912. She was an African-American golfer and community activist.

A first for Pro Golf, Pete Brown


Pete Brown

*Pete Brown was born on this date in 1935. He is an African-American golfer.

From Jackson, Mississippi Brown got his PGA Tour Card in 1963. One year later Brown became the first African American to Win a PGA event the Waco Turner Open in 1964. He married Margaret Brown with whom he had Six Girls. Brown spent 17 years on PGA Tour and a number of wins tow of which were PGA Victories. Browns tournament Victories include: Four Time USG (Negro) National Open Champion. Brown was a four time Long Star Open Champion, and a three Time North & South Champion.

Jean Louis, a Fencing legend


Jean Louis

*The birth of Jean Louis in 1785 is celebrated on this date. He was a Fencer and teacher of French and African descent.

From Haiti, Louis was alleged the finest fencer who ever lived. In his youth, Jean Louis took part in a winner take all tournament to the death. In the final Jean-Louis, a short, around 5' 2", dueled for 1 hour with a Spanish opponent who was 6 ft tall. Then as the Spaniard lost concentration Jean-Louis finished him. Louis served as a soldier in the French army under Napoleon.

Walt Hazzard, a true UCLA Bruin!


Walt Hazzard

*Walt Hazzard was born on this date in 1942. He was an African American basketball player, player scout and coach.

Joe Frazier, one of the hardest punchers ever


Joe Frazier

*Joe Frazier was born on this date in 1944. He was an African American boxer.  Joseph William Frazier was born to Rubin and Dolly Frazier in Laurel Bay, Beaufort, South Carolina. He was always close to his father, who carried him when he was a toddler over the 10 acres of farmland the family owned. In the early '50s, Joe's father got a black and white television. His father, his mother, her brothers and other people from the neighborhood would come to watch boxing matches on it.

One of boxings best, Roy Jones Jr.


Roy Jones Jr.

*Roy Jones Jr. was born on this date in 1969. He is an African-American professional boxer.