- Jack Trice
Infobox NCAA Athlete
name = Jack Trice
nickname =
caption =
college = Iowa State
conference = Missouri Valley
sport = Football
position = Tackle
height_ft =
height_in =
weight_lb = 215
jersey =
status =
class =
career_start = 1923
career_end = 1923
nationality = United States
birth_date = 1902
birth_place =Hiram, Ohio
death_date = death date|1923|10|8
death_place =Ames, Iowa
highschool =East Technical High School , Cleveland
career_highlights = y
honors =Jack Trice Stadium
awards =
records =
tournaments =
tournament_list =Johnny (Jack) Trice (1902 –
October 8 ,1923 ) was anAfrican American football player from Iowa State College (nowIowa State University ), who died due to injuries suffered during acollege football game against theUniversity of Minnesota onOctober 6 ,1923 .Background
Trice was born in
Hiram, Ohio in 1902, the son of a formerslave andBuffalo Soldier . As a child, Trice was active in sports and demonstrated outstanding athletic skills. In 1918, Trice’s mother sent him toCleveland, Ohio to live with an uncle. Trice attendedEast Technical High School where he played football. In 1922, Trice followed five of his teammates, as well as his former high school coach,Sam Willaman , to Iowa State College (nowIowa State University ), inAmes, Iowa .Trice became the first
African-American athlete at Iowa State, participating in track and football (primarily as a tackle). He majored inanimal husbandry , with the desire to go to the South after graduation, and use his knowledge to helpAfrican-American farmers. In the summer after his freshman year, Trice marriedCora Mae Starland . They both found jobs in order to support themselves through school.On
October 5 ,1923 , the night before his firstcollege football game, Trice wrote the following in a letter on stationery at a racially segregated hotel inMinneapolis /St. Paul (the letter was later found in Trice's suit just before his funeral):The Game, Trice's Death, and Aftermath
On
October 6 ,1923 , Trice and his Iowa State College teammates played against theUniversity of Minnesota inMinneapolis ,Minnesota . It was ISU's third game that season; St. Louis and Nebraska refused to play against a black player. On the night of the game, Trice had to stay at a different Minneapolis hotel than his teammates.During the second play of the game, Trice's
collarbone was broken. Trice insisted he was all right and returned to the game. In the third quarter, while attempting to tackle aUniversity of Minnesota ball carrier by throwing a roll block, Trice was trampled by three Minnesota players. Although he claimed to be fine, Trice was removed from the game and sent to aMinneapolis hospital. The doctors declared him fit to travel and he returned by train to Ames with his teammates. OnOctober 8 ,1923 , Trice died from hemorrhaged lungs andinternal bleeding as a result of the injuries sustained during the game.Trice's funeral was held at the Iowa State College's central campus in Ames on
October 16 ,1923 , with 4,000 students and faculty members in attendance.Trice's Legacy
In 1973, Jack Trice’s legacy was renewed and a promotion began to name Iowa State’s new stadium after him. In 1974,
Iowa State University 's student body government voted unanimously to endorse this effort. In addition, the Jack Trice Stadium Committee compiled more than 3,000 signatures from supporters. However, anIowa State University ad hoc committee voted to advise then-Iowa State University PresidentW. Robert Parks to name the stadium “Cyclone Stadium.” In 1984, the stadium was named Cyclone Stadium and the playing field was named “Jack Trice Field.” The ISU student body government , wanting to do more to honor Trice, raised money to erect a statue of Trice in 1987. Due to the persistence of the student body government, students, alumni, faculty and staff, and other supporters (including public figures such asPaul Newman ,Hubert Humphrey , andNikki Giovanni ), the football stadium atIowa State University was finally namedJack Trice Stadium in 1997.Further reading
*cite book |title=Football's Fallen Hero: The Jack Trice Story |last=Jones |first=Steven L. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2000 |publisher=Perfection Learning |location=Logan, Iowa |isbn=078079043X |pages=
References
External links
* [http://www.lib.iastate.edu/arch/rgrp/21-7-23.html Iowa State University's Special Collections Department - Jack Trice Papers & Biographical Notes] iastate.edu
* [http://www.cyclones.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=46691&SPID=4256&DB_OEM_ID=10700&ATCLID=324018 Iowa State University's Jack Trice Stadium] cyclones.com
* [http://www.isualum.org/en/traditions/traditions_of_iowa_state/faces_and_places/jack_trice.cfm Jack Trice] at www.isualum.org
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.