First African American Sooner Dies
Greadbreaking Sooner Dies at 67
Prentice Gautt, who displayed quiet dignity in the face of racial discrimination and became the first black football player at the University of Oklahoma, died Thursday.
Gautt, 67, died in Lawrence, Kan., after being hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, his wife, Sandra Gautt, said from their home in Lawrence.
Gautt worked as a special assistant to the commissioner of the Big 12 Conference.
''Prentice Gautt was truly a great person and he will be remembered as one of the most outstanding graduates in the history of the University of Oklahoma,'' OU President David Boren said. ''His moral courage helped to bring racial justice, not only to our state and to intercollegiate athletics, but also to our entire nation.''
Gautt ushered in a new and integrated era for OU football when he landed a spot on the 1956 team.
Former OU coach Bud Wilkinson was pressured against giving Gautt a scholarship. A group of black doctors and pharmacists gave money for Gautt to attend OU. Within a year, Gautt was given an OU scholarship and the donated amounts were given to another black student.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prentice Gautt, who displayed quiet dignity in the face of racial discrimination and became the first black football player at the University of Oklahoma, died Thursday.
Gautt, 67, died in Lawrence, Kan., after being hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, his wife, Sandra Gautt, said from their home in Lawrence.
Gautt worked as a special assistant to the commissioner of the Big 12 Conference.
''Prentice Gautt was truly a great person and he will be remembered as one of the most outstanding graduates in the history of the University of Oklahoma,'' OU President David Boren said. ''His moral courage helped to bring racial justice, not only to our state and to intercollegiate athletics, but also to our entire nation.''
Gautt ushered in a new and integrated era for OU football when he landed a spot on the 1956 team.
Former OU coach Bud Wilkinson was pressured against giving Gautt a scholarship. A group of black doctors and pharmacists gave money for Gautt to attend OU. Within a year, Gautt was given an OU scholarship and the donated amounts were given to another black student.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
posted by Oklahoma Sooner at
9:41 AM
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