University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis Athletics to Honor the School’s First African-American Student-Athletes
Sep 01, 2023 | Football, General
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In a yearlong celebration of Trailblazers at the University of Memphis, the athletics department will honor a selection of the first African-American student-athletes to compete for the Tigers in each sport at halftime of the football season opener Saturday against Bethune-Cookman. Kickoff for the "901 Game" is set for 6 p.m.
Future celebrations of the remaining Trailblazers will take place throughout the athletics season.
"Honoring these Trailblazers has been something we've wanted to do since the creation of our UMADE (University of Memphis Athletics for Diversity and Equality) committee in 2020," Senior Associate Athletics Director Marlon Dechausay said. "We are excited to be able to do so in conjunction with kicking off our 2023 football season, especially versus a Historically Black University."
It was in the fall of 1959 when the Memphis State Eight, the first eight African-American students admitted to the university, broke the color barrier at the school. Six years later, in 1965, Ozzie Binion (men's track) became the first African-American student-athlete admitted to MSU, blazing a trail for many others in the years to come.
Scheduled to be in attendance Saturday are: Stan Davis (football), LaVonne Hill (women's soccer), Leandra Hines (softball) and Glenn Rogers Sr. (football).
The list of Trailblazers to be honored throughout the year include:
Student-Athlete – Sport (First year to compete)
Ozzie Binion – Men's Track (1965)
Leo Somerset – Men's Tennis (1966)
Herb Hilliard – Men's Basketball (1967)
Richard Vernon – Men's Cross Country (1967)
Stan Davis – Football (1969)
Glenn Rogers Sr. – Football (1969)
Harvey Smith – Men's Tennis (1970)
Eva Bass – Volleyball (1973)
Lois McKay – Women's Gymnastics (1973)
Frankie Bunner – Women's Basketball (1974)
Mavis Werthing – Women's Basketball (1974)
Deborah Woodard – Women's Basketball (1974)
E.C. Cody – Baseball (1975)
Oretha Mitchell-Strickland – Women's Track (1975)
Anthony Wilson – Men's Gymnastics (1975)
Leona Payne – Women's Cross Country (1976)
Bo Melson – Men's Soccer (1982)
Vicky Brown – Women's Soccer (1995)
LaVonne Hill – Women's Soccer (1995)
Hateisha Williamson – Rifle (2001)
Brittany Gooch – Softball (2006)
Leandra Hines – Softball (2006)
Tiffany Welcher – Women's Tennis (2012)
Highlights On Those In Attendance:
Stan Davis – Football
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Athletics, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the department's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Future celebrations of the remaining Trailblazers will take place throughout the athletics season.
"Honoring these Trailblazers has been something we've wanted to do since the creation of our UMADE (University of Memphis Athletics for Diversity and Equality) committee in 2020," Senior Associate Athletics Director Marlon Dechausay said. "We are excited to be able to do so in conjunction with kicking off our 2023 football season, especially versus a Historically Black University."
It was in the fall of 1959 when the Memphis State Eight, the first eight African-American students admitted to the university, broke the color barrier at the school. Six years later, in 1965, Ozzie Binion (men's track) became the first African-American student-athlete admitted to MSU, blazing a trail for many others in the years to come.
Scheduled to be in attendance Saturday are: Stan Davis (football), LaVonne Hill (women's soccer), Leandra Hines (softball) and Glenn Rogers Sr. (football).
The list of Trailblazers to be honored throughout the year include:
Student-Athlete – Sport (First year to compete)
Ozzie Binion – Men's Track (1965)
Leo Somerset – Men's Tennis (1966)
Herb Hilliard – Men's Basketball (1967)
Richard Vernon – Men's Cross Country (1967)
Stan Davis – Football (1969)
Glenn Rogers Sr. – Football (1969)
Harvey Smith – Men's Tennis (1970)
Eva Bass – Volleyball (1973)
Lois McKay – Women's Gymnastics (1973)
Frankie Bunner – Women's Basketball (1974)
Mavis Werthing – Women's Basketball (1974)
Deborah Woodard – Women's Basketball (1974)
E.C. Cody – Baseball (1975)
Oretha Mitchell-Strickland – Women's Track (1975)
Anthony Wilson – Men's Gymnastics (1975)
Leona Payne – Women's Cross Country (1976)
Bo Melson – Men's Soccer (1982)
Vicky Brown – Women's Soccer (1995)
LaVonne Hill – Women's Soccer (1995)
Hateisha Williamson – Rifle (2001)
Brittany Gooch – Softball (2006)
Leandra Hines – Softball (2006)
Tiffany Welcher – Women's Tennis (2012)
Highlights On Those In Attendance:
Stan Davis – Football
- Selected to the M Club Hall of Fame in 1998
- Scored three receiving touchdowns versus Ole Miss in 1971, tied for the second-most ever in a single game in program history
- Led the team in receptions in 1971 (34) and 1972 (39)
- Earned second team All-Missouri Valley Conference in 1971 and was selected to play in the North-South All-Star game in 1972
- Drafted 315th overall in the 13th round by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1973 NFL Draft
- Member of the women's soccer program as a midfielder
- First African-American player in program history along with Vicky Brown
- Played on the men's varsity soccer team at Northeast (Clarksville) HS which won the district championship
- Member of the very first softball team in school history
- Ranks first all-time in program history in career sacrifice hits (47), fourth in games played (215) and fifth in games started (208) and stolen bases (57)
- Three-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Tiger 3.0 Club
- First black player to integrate the football team as a walk-on in the spring of 1968
- After initially joining the team as a tight end, he was moved to defensive back, and alongside Stan Davis, became the first black players to play in a Memphis football game against Ole Miss in 1969
- Was honored with the M Club Hall of Fame's Billy J. Murphy Award in 2000 for his post-playing career
- Coached 14 years at Southside High School and later became an administrator at both Hillcrest High School and Tunica Middle School after his Tiger career
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Athletics, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the department's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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