This post was authored by JoRon Proctor, Unearthing Towson’s History Project student researcher, Summer 2024.

Towson University has a rich and complex history in collegiate athletics that has seen remarkable achievements made by pioneering athletes who have set the standard for excellence. From the early days of the institution, sports have played a centralized role in student life which contributed to fostering a sense of community, school spirit, and Tiger pride among all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The origin of organized sports at Towson University can be traced back to its days as the Maryland State Teachers College with the establishment of various athletic programs to be used as electives to its education curriculum. Over the past six decades, Towson’s teams have competed at the highest levels to earn notable achievements across a plethora of sports including basketball, lacrosse, and many more. Through my research into further information on sports, I found that there are not many testimonies on said achievements by student-athletes of color.

It has been my main goal this summer to find out more about unsung African American student-athletes who have made amazing sports contributions from 1950’s into the 1990’s. As a student researcher for Unearthing Towson’s History Project, I had decided to dedicate my focal point on collecting oral histories of experiences from Black student-athlete alumni. They have been an integral piece to Towson’s athletic history and are pioneers who have broken barriers, challenged negative stereotypes, and paved the way for generations of future Tigers. Their contributions have instrumentally shaped the university’s athletic culture and advanced the cause of inclusion within collegiate athletics.

One of the earliest trailblazers was Barbara Carter who became the first Black cheerleader at Towson University in 1957. Her achievement marked a significant milestone in the integration of sports at the university as Brown vs. the Board of Education was freshly passed in 1954. In the years that followed, other African American men and women made their mark across various sports. As I looked through various yearbooks of the 1960’s, I discovered that Melva Powell was the first Black woman pictured on the women’s basketball team in 1964, and by the early 1970s, athletes like C. Johnson, Jackye Lewis, and Carol Jones were representing Towson in field hockey, basketball, and gymnastics, respectively. Norma Kelly, a standout basketball player who graduated in 1984, became the first Black female athlete to be inducted into Towson’s Hall of Fame in 1996. Her legacy alone is a testament to the impact of Black athletes on the university’s sports programs.

I additionally was able to interview and learn about James Newton this summer to understand how much sports impacted student and campus life at that time. James Newton and his former teammate, Maceo Dailey (now deceased), were the first Black male basketball players at Towson University in 1965. Their courage and great performance on the court set a precedent for future athletes. During my recent interview with James Newton, he recalled some minor challenges during his time here, his shared camaraderie with Maceo Dailey, and the many triumphs of being a trailblazer in a predominantly white institution at that time. My research also led to me to find Wendell Thomas—an excellent lacrosse player in the 1970s who was the first Black male athlete inducted into Towson’s Hall of Fame in 1989.

My research to understand and further document the experiences of Black alumni who were student-athletes at Towson University is important for several reasons. First and foremost, it acknowledges and honors the contributions of these athletes to ensure that their stories are heard, preserved, and celebrated as an integral part of TU’s athletics history. These narratives highlight the resilience and determination of Black athletes who faced various challenges both on and off the courts or field. Second, this research also sheds light on the cultural and social dynamics at play within collegiate sports. By analyzing the experiences of Black student-athletes, administrators and incoming scholars can gain helpful insights into issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion to help identify where progress has been made or where future efforts may be needed next. Lastly, documenting the oral history of Towson’s student-athlete alumni provides role models and possible mentors for current and incoming students. These stories of progress and perseverance serve as powerful examples for aspiring athletes to pursue their own goals and to add their own mark the university’s legacy of athletic excellence.