Columbia, SC - Benedict College will hold a ceremony to retire the football jerseyworn by Dr. LeRoy T. Walker, Friday Otober 22, 1999 in David H. SwintonCampus Center at 12 noon.
Walker, who graduated in 1940, will have his number "11" retired as atribute to his athletic prowess on the football field and hisachievements later in life.
The former United States Olympic Committee President was a star athletein basketball and track. but didn't play football until his junior year,and only then on a dare.
He made the team as backup quarterback. When thestarter was injuried, Walker filled the breech and led the Tigers to theconference championship and was named a Pittsburgh CourierAll-American, the first such honor to be bestowed on a Benedict athlete.
Waker's accomplishments later in life are numerous. To name a few, hewas the first African American to coach a U.S. Olympic Track and Field team.He coached more than 100 All-Americans at North Carolina Central University and manyGold Medal Olympians.
He also coached the Ehtiopian, Israeli and Trinidad-Togago Olympicteams. Other accomplishments include Chancellor of North CarolinaCentral and founder and Commissioner of the Mid-Eastern AthleticConference.
