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2003 EZ Dist Booklet.Qxd DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS Wallace Triplett III ’49 To Wally Triplett for his trailblazing to after being on campus for a week. He Michigan was going to the Rose Bowl designed for transportation in Africa and career as an African American athlete also encountered and dealt with prejudices and the other bowls were all located in owned and operated a liquor store for in college and professional sports. common at the time. When Triplett sus- the South. Southern Methodist University many years. Triplett and his wife of more pected his English professor was grading prevailed on the state of Texas to set than 50 years, Lenore, raised four children his assignments lower than comparable aside its segregation rules to play Penn in Detroit and have eight grandchildren. students, he sought help from his State in the Cotton Bowl. Because Dallas- Cheltenham High School inducted Wally Triplett credits his “Gold Star” rooming house friend, a doctoral area hotels were still rigidly segregated, Triplett into its Hall of Fame in 1999. student in psychology. The professor was Penn State’s team was forced to stay and mother for his precedent–setting life. A He is a life member of the Penn State reported and censured by the University, practice at a nearby air base in order to great-grandson of an escaped slave from Alumni Association. Virginia’s Triplett Plantation, Triplett grew Triplett recalls. stay together. In the game, Triplett caught the tying touchdown pass in Penn up in historic LaMott, just north of the In football, there was one other African State’s 13-13 stalemate with SMU. Philadelphia city line, surrounded by the American—Dennie Hoggard—also estates of some of America’s wealthiest playing for Coach Bob Higgins. Another After earning his degree, Triplett had a families. The fifth of six boys, Triplett black player, Dave Alston, had died pioneering career in the NFL as the first first distinguished himself at Cheltenham unexpectedly after his freshman year. black player drafted to the Detroit Lions High School where he excelled at foot- Penn State’s acceptance of African in 1949. His single game kick-off return ball. College football scholarship offers American players affected the 1946 yardage record stood for 44 years and season. Ironically, Penn State’s final remains the second highest in NFL history. followed, including one from the then- regular–season game was scheduled at His football career was interrupted when segregated University of Miami. Inspired the University of Miami, which would he was the first NFL player drafted during by meeting Paul Robeson, Triplett “very not allow African American players in its the Korean War. Following his military pointedly” declined Miami’s offer, choosing stadium. Coach Higgins called a team service, he was traded to the Chicago to play for Penn State. A Senatorial meeting where a vote was taken. Triplett Cardinals. He retired from professional Scholarship and part-time dishwashing says he was “proudly surprised” by the football in 1953 and returned to Detroit. job helped pay the cost. decision: “Play all or none.” Miami Triplett followed his NFL years with success cancelled the game, but the incident At Penn State in the 1940s, Triplett in insurance sales and management, real prompted other schools to oppose remembers few other African American estate sales, teaching, management and segregation policies. students on campus. He switched from safety at Chrysler, and as Michigan’s first his higher level English class to be with A year later, Penn State’s unbeaten and black pari-mutuel clerk for horse racing. the one black girl he spotted and talked untied football team faced a similar issue. He also invested in making an automobile.
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