Preserving History & Legacies
Celebrations
THIS MONTH IN BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS HISTORY...August 14, 1876 Prairie View A&M became the first state-supported Black College in the State of Texas…August 28, 1971 First Televised Black College Football Game aired on ABC-TV…the Whitney M. Young Classic, Yankee Stadium…Morgan State vs. Grambling State…
The Quiet Assasin
Emmitt Thomas
June 3, 1943 –
Bishop College
In pro football, making the Hall of Fame can be the epitome of success for a player or coach..
Emmitt Thomas is an example of class and determination. He played college football at the now defunct Bishop College in Dallas, Texas. Undrafted in 1966, he impressed the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League who signed him to a free agent contract. Two years later, he became an AFL All-Star. In 1969, he led all pro football with 9 interceptions, which he returned for 146 yards and a touchdown, and played a big part in helping the Chiefs win the AFL championship and the fourth and last AFL-NFL World Championship Game, which the Chiefs won 23-7 over the NFL champion Vikings.
Thomas recorded an interception in the Kansas City victory.
He made the NFL’s AFL-NFC Pro Bowl four times from 1971-75 after the Chiefs joined the NFL in 1970.
Thomas still owns the Chiefs all-time interception record with 58, which is ninth on pro football’s all-time list.
In 1974, he led the NFL with 12 interceptions, return yards (214), and return touchdowns.
He was also selected All-Pro three times. Thomas became an assistant coach in the NFL in 1981 with the Atanta Falcons. He was the Falcons
Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary Coach before taking over as interim head coach on December 12, 2007 head coach Bobby Petrino suddenly resigned after a bad start to the season. Thomas led the Falcons to a season-ending victory over the Seattle Seahawks. In January 2008, new Falcons head coach Mike Smith retained Thomas as assistant head coach. Thomas was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
He is currently the defensive backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL).
Ledger
5-time Pro Bowl (1968, 1971-72, 1974-75)
2-time First-team All-Pro (1974-75)
2-time Second-team All-Pro (1969, 1971)
NFL interceptions leader (1974)
AFL interceptions leader (1969)
3-time Super Bowl champion (IV, XXII, XXVI)
2-time AFL champion (1966, 1969)
Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
Kansas City Chiefs No. 18 retired
Interceptions: 58
Interception yards: 937
Touchdowns: 5
In Memoriam ...
Coach Louie Bing
Dec. 16, 1938 – June 16, 2018
“Don’t count our youth out. They too will find a way to succeed.”
Louie Bing lived a lifestyle that exemplified the best of community service, dedicated leader and family man. And the legendary track and field coach of Miami Northwestern High School was one of the State of Florida’s most iconic figures in sports.
One of the largest track & field competitions in Florida bares his name as his legacy lives on through the annual Louie Bing Classic Track & Field Meet.
The Louie Bing Athletic Scholarship Fund serves youth, and recognizes individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping young men and women through athletics for more than 30 years.
Born in Princeton, Florida, he was educated in Miami-Dade County Public School at Mays Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools.
He earned a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Chemistry and Physical Education from Morris Brown College, and a Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Northern Colorado. He also completed postgraduate studies at Florida A&M University, Tuskegee Institute, Bradley University, the University of Puerto Rico, and Howard University.
While at Morris Brown, he was named to the All-SIAC team, an All-American and the 100% Wrong Club Athlete of the Year.
His coaching achievements at Miami Northwestern High School include:
– FIAA Coach of the Year
– 3-time FACA Coach of the Year, 1968, 1969, 1970
– National Coach of Year Award
– 8-time Dade County Coach of the Year
-10 GMAC Conference Track Championships
-13 District Track Championships
– 9 Regional Track Championships
– 4 State Championship (1-FIAA)
– 4 indoor track championships
– 44 Invitational Meet Track Championships
Coaching record: 303-21
Among his many accomplishments, Coach Bing was inducted into the:
– Florida Track & Field Hall of Fame, 1982
– Morris Brown Hall of Fame
– FACA Hall of Fame
– Florida Track Hall of Fame
– FACA Meritorious Service Award
– the Jimmy Carnes Lifetime Achievement Award, 2001
His professional affiliations include:
– 10 terms, the GMAC County Track Chairman
– 23 terms, the FACA District Track Chairman
– 3 years, NHSAC Regional Representative
– Former vice-president, FACA Broad of Directors, Dade County Science Teachers Association
– United Teacher of Dade County, National Science Teachers Association, the Florida State Science Teachers Association.
(Thanks to Alonza Hardy, Contributor)
Black College Football Hall of Fame
Class of 2018
Players: Harold Carmichael (Southern), Raymond Chester (Morgan State), Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson (Langston University), Leo “Lincoln Locomotive” Lewis (Lincoln), Greg Lloyd (Fort Valley State), Everson Walls (Grambling State) Coach: Bill Hayes (Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T.