Alexandria Senior Living Gazette Packet Page 10 25 Cents Serving Alexandria for over 200 years • A Connection Newspaper April 8, 2021 Trailblazer broke the Earl Lloyd Statue Unveiled color barrier of the NBA. By Jeanne Theismann Gazette Packet nder the glare of a na- tional spotlight, Jackie Robinson broke the color Ubarrier for Major League Baseball in 1947. Three years lat- er, on a snowy evening in 1950, a similar but quieter revolution took place when a black man stepped onto a court in Rochester, N.Y., marking the first time an African American played for an NBA team. by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet Photos That man was Earl Lloyd and on April 3, what would have been Lloyd’s 93rd birthday, a statue of the basketball trailblazer was un- veiled at a virtual dedication cere- mony at the Charles Houston Rec- reation Center. “Earl Lloyd’s legacy goes much deeper than his success as a play- er on the court or coaching on the sidelines,” said Ted Leonsis, own- er of the Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics professional basketball teams. “Earl’s persever- ance paved the way for countless young African American men and Alexandria African American Hall of Fame committee members Karen Lloyd and Cornelius Lloyd, the niece and nephew of Earl women across the country to see Julian “Butch” Haley Jr., Robert Dawkins and Jimmy Lewis stand in Lloyd, unveil the statue of their uncle at the April 3 dedication at the for the first time that they, too, front of the Earl Lloyd statue April 3 at the Charles Houston Recre- Charles Houston Recreation Center. Earl Lloyd was the first African could play professionally. This stat- ation Center. American to play in the NBA, breaking the color barrier in 1950. ue will help ensure that all of his life lessons will never be forgotten bench coach. In 1971, he became scholastic Conference twice. Fol- Championships in 1948 and 1949. and those who see it will be re- the NBA’s fourth black head coach. lowing his graduation from Park- Lloyd was named All-Conference minded of what they can accom- Tony Dungy, the first African er-Gray, the 6’6” Lloyd attended three times and was All-American plish.” American head coach to win a Su- West Virginia State College, where twice. Lloyd’s NBA debut passed with- per Bowl, grew up Following his col- out fanfare. The Rochester Demo- in the Detroit area lege graduation in crat and Chronicle didn’t mention when Lloyd was “This statue will help ensure 1950, Lloyd was Lloyd, playing for the Washington named head coach drafted into the NBA Capitols, in its game story of the of the Pistons. that all of [Earl’s] life lessons by the Washington Caps’ 78-70 loss to the Rochester “Earl was a pi- Capitols. After seven Royals. But it was a watershed mo- oneer and a trail- will never be forgotten and those games, he was drafted ment in American history. blazer and had an into the Army during Just four years earlier, in 1946, impact on so many who see it will be reminded of the Korean War. the Alexandria native had grad- lives, including He returned to bas- uated from the segregated Park- mine,” Dungy said. what they can accomplish.” ketball in 1952 with er-Gray High School, now the site “When Earl became —Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Wizards the Syracuse Nation- of the Charles Houston Rec Center, head coach of the and Washington Mystics als. where athletic teams had to travel Pistons, that was a basketball teams In 1958, Lloyd to cities such as Roanoke, Charlot- landmark occasion moved to Detroit, tesville or Petersburg in an open- that told me as a where he played two bed canvas truck filled with hay young athlete I could strive not he led the school to two Central seasons with the Pistons before because there were no hotels or only to be a player but someday Intercollegiate Athletic Associa- retiring as a player and moving eating establishments available to to be a coach. And as I sat there tion Conference and Tournament See Earl Lloyd, on Page 3 African Americans. in Super Bowl 41 as the first Afri- Earl Lloyd made history as the Nicknamed “Big Cat,” Lloyd can American coach to win a Super first African American to play would go on to become the first Af- Bowl, I thought back to Earl Lloyd City Council Palooza in the NBA when he took to rican American to play on an NBA and what he did to blaze the trail Meet the 13 candidates for six slots on the court for the Washington championship team when his Syr- for us.” Capitols on Oct. 31, 1950, in Alexandria City Council. acuse Nationals defeated the Fort As a high school basketball star, Rochester, N.Y. Primary is June 6; early voting begins April 23. Wayne Pistons in 1955. In 1960, Lloyd was named to the All-South the Detroit Pistons took him on as and, later, he would be hired as Atlantic Conference three times See pages 4-5 the NBA’s first black assistant coach the league’s first African American and the All-State Virginia Inter- Babs Beckwith Specializing in Old Town Properties for 25+ Years The Patton-Fowle House 711 Prince Street ~ $4,995,000 Circa 1800, this distinctive 6-bedroom, 5.5-bath home offers grand style with comfortable living featuring exquisite formal rooms with high ceilings, 8 working fireplaces with original mantels, a chef’s kitchen with elongated island opening to a sun-drenched breakfast room plus a first floor family room with wet bar. The elevator transports you to various floors including the luxurious owner’s suite, lower level exercise room, and wine room. Outdoors is perfection for hosting with towering oak anchoring the beautifully maintained yard and wide terrace. Off-street parking for multiple cars with electric gated entrance. Call Babs for a private tour and put her expertise to work for you! Babs Beckwith 703.627.5421 | [email protected] www.BabsBeckwith.com 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 | 703.549.9292 | Equal Housing Opportunity 2 v Alexandria Gazette Packet v April 8-14, 2021 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Black History Museum Alexandria Courtesy Earl Lloyd Statue Unveiled FROM PAGE 1 into coaching. In 2003, he was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Lloyd was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the CIAA Hall of fame Packet Krafft/Gazette Louise in 1998. In 2001, Alexandria cele- Earl Lloyd, front row center, graduated from the segregated Park- brated Earl Lloyd Day and in 2007, er-Gray High School in 1946. With him in front: Coach Louis John- the new basketball court at T.C. son, William “Red” Jackson, Rozier Ware, Horace Burton, Oliver Williams High School was named Ellis and Henry Brooks. Back: Lee McCoy, Albert Burts, Robert “Tex” in his honor. Matthews, Francis McGee, Louis Napper and Willie Rice. Additional speakers for the cere- mony featured sports and political notables, including CBS broadcast- er James Brown, NBA Commission- er Adam Silver, NBA Hall of Famers Dave Bing and Sonny Hill, Detroit Pistons coach Ray Scott, Sen. Mark Earl Lloyd, serving as the 2006 George Washington Birthday Parade Warner, Gov. Ralph Northam, May- grand marshal, talks with members of the T.C. Williams JROTC pro- or Justin Wilson and Lloyd’s sons gram before the start of the parade. Kenneth, Kevin and David. Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet Dr. Frank Enty was a teammate The 8-foot statue of Lloyd, who of Lloyd’s in college. died in 2015, was crafted by Brian contributed Photo “This means more than just a Hanlon, the official sculptor for the statue,” Enty said. “It shows that NBA’s Naismith Memorial Basketball someone coming from humble be- Hall of Fame. It is on display as part ginnings, from a segregated school of the Alexandria African American in Alexandria, could rise and be- Hall of Fame located at the Charles come a notable figure in the his- Houston Recreation Center. tory of athletics. It means that any Said NBA Commissioner Silver: youngster who has the ambition, “More than 70 years after his de- Playing for the Syracuse Nationals, Earl Lloyd (11), battles Fort the determination, the stick-to-itive- but, Earl Lloyd’s impact is still be- The West Virginia State College Wayne’s Mel Hutchins (9) for a rebound during an NBA cham- ness can also rise to great heights. ing felt around the league.” collegiate letter sweater of Earl pionship game on April 5, 1955. With the series victory, Lloyd That is what the statue really rep- www.alexandriaafricanameri- Lloyd on display at the Charles and teammate Jim Tucker became the first African Americans to resents.” canhalloffame.org Houston Recreation Center. become NBA champions. Hop to It Lee-Fendall holds annual Easter Egg Hunt. he Lee-Fendall House held its annual Easter TEgg Hunt March 27 on the grounds of the historic building complete with a social- ly distanced visit from the Eas- by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet Photos ter Bunny. With warm tempera- tures and sunny skies, families and children gathered to search for the hidden treasures. An additional day of Easter Egg Hunts was held April 3 in The Prakob family, with daughters Kyra Lisa and Brandon Wheeler with twins the Lee-Fendall garden. and Karyn, enjoy their found Easter eggs Brynn and Blake at the Lee-Fendall Eas- www.leefendallhouse.org. at the March 27 Lee-Fendall House Easter ter egg hunt March 27.