Beyond the Field

John Richard Behee (Ph.D. Ed., U-M, 1970) is an athletic historian who interviewed 28 African American U-M athletes between 1969 and 1974 as part of the research for his book, Hail to the Victors. Published in 1974, Victors was a pioneering study of race and athletics in its day, and remains the starting point for research on the topic at U-M.

Behee’s interviews cover athletes from 1922 (William DeHart Hubbard) to 1971 (Godfrey Murray). The stories he captured showcase a University struggling with integration as well as athletes persevering in their sports in spite of great obstacles. For example, tennis player Henry Graham couldn’t gain entrance to the same Minneapolis hotel as his teammates in 1928. Willis Ward discusses his experience and the notorious Georgia Tech game of 1934, when Georgia Tech refused to play U-M if Ward took the field. (Click here to listen to a clip of Ward discussing the game.)

The Bentley Historical Library has made these oral histories available digitally as part of its new Digital Media Library.

Click the slideshow below for a sampling of the interviews. Following the slideshow is a full list of interviewees and links to their powerful and newly digitized audio histories.

KENNETH BURNLEY

Kenneth Burnley competed in track for U-M from 1961-1964. "I ended up being the first black coach ever at the University of Michigan, period, in any sport. This, at the time, I did not particularly care for, it made me feel sick that this was 1968 and [that] this should have to occur in 1968, I felt was ridiculous. In other words, I did not feel it was an honor, personally.”

RICHARD A. CEPHAS

Richard Cephas competed in track for U-M from 1958-1961. “Our fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, had a few parties, but the absence of black students in general and females in particular was really discouraging. Fortunately, Eastern Michigan University in nearby Ypsilanti had some black coeds and Detroit was only 45 miles away if you had a car.”

JOHN CODWELL

John Codwell competed in basketball for U-M from 1951-1954 and baseball in 1951. “We wrote to the University of Michigan indicating my interest in participating in athletics, particularly basketball, and suggested to the university that we were aware of the fact that black athletes, especially in basketball, had not participated to any extent, and that we would hope that every opportunity would be extended to me to participate.”

HENRY GRAHAM

Henry Graham played tennis for U-M in 1928. “We arrived at night and were to play the University of Minnesota the next day. The captain of the team was told by the night clerk that Negroes could not stay in the hotel. If I stayed, all the guests would walk out. The captain came to me and said, ‘Graham, we’ve got a problem.’”

WILLIAM DeHART HUBBARD

William DeHart Hubbard competed in track for U-M from 1923-1925. “It wasn’t very fashionable for blacks to attend college. Very few of my boyhood playmates and chums went past high school. I was the only black on the Michigan track team for those four years and rarely competed against others, even in national meets.”

WILLIS WARD

Willis Ward competed in football for U-M from 1932 to 1934, and track from 1933 to 1935. “On several occasions, [coach Harry] Kipke took off his coat and was prepared to fight those who bitterly opposed having a Negro play for Michigan.”

G. ANDERSON WHITE

G. Anderson White competed in diving for U-M from 1953-1955. “[Gymnastics captain Bill Winkler] invited me to the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club to work out. I’ll never forget it. His mother called to apologize saying it was private club and they hadn’t made the preparations for a permit. It was always the same old story.”

Interviews are listed chronologically by date of each athlete’s U-M career.

Willliam DeHart Hubbard, track, 1922-1925, Cincinnati, OH
Sept. 26, 1970 (tape no. 16)
Interviewed in Cleveland, Ohio, by John Behee, William DeHart Hubbard discusses his high school experience in Cincinnati and how he came to U-M, his track accomplishments at U-M and at the 1924 Olympics, setting the world record in long jump, and discusses failure to be elected team captain in 1925, and black social life on campus.
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Henry Graham, tennis, 1928, Cleveland, OH
Sept. 26, 1970 (tape no. 14)
Interviewed at his Cleveland, Ohio home by John Behee, Henry Graham, Michigan’s first black varsity tennis player, discusses his decision to attend to U-M, making the varsity tennis squad, discrimination on team trips, housing discrimination in Ann Arbor, his educational experience, quota system in the Medical School, social life for black students, and reaction to the Black Action Movement (BAM).
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Daniel Kean, tennis, 1934, Louisville, KY
Dec. 18, 1970 (tape no. 19)
Interviewed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by John Behee, Daniel Kean discusses how he spent two years at Fisk University in Nashville before coming to U-M, was invited to try out for the varsity tennis team by coach John Johnstone after winning a campus tournament. He discusses his motivations for coming to U-M, family background, the African American tennis circuit, other black Big Ten tennis players from the 1920s and 1930s. He also talks about intramural basketball and the conference ban on black varsity basketball and generally on the nature of prejudice, discusses his perspectives on BAM and militant protest, relations with his tennis teammates and the taboo against discussion of race.
Side 1

Dec. 18, 1971 (tape no. 20)
John Behee summarizes some of Kean’s comments that were lost due to a tape malfunction.
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Willis Ward, football, 1931-1934; track, 1933-1935, Detroit, MI
Sept. 19, 1970 (tape no. 27)
Willis Ward discusses his experiences after the University of Michigan, as well as the circumstances of his recruitment, relationship with coach Harry Kipke and Fielding Yost, the notorious 1934 Georgia Tech game controversy, in which he was held out of the game at Tech’s insistence, competing against Jesse Owens and failure to make the 1936 Olympic team, in addition to his experiences in World War II and his career at the Ford Motor Company.
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Sept. 19, 1970 (tape no. 27)
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Julian W. Witherspoon, track, 1944-1945, Detroit, MI
Nov. 28, 1970 (tape no. 29)
Interviewed by John Behee in Detroit, Michigan, Julian Witherspoon discusses his motivations to go to the University of Michigan, his family’s encouragement, and his experiences at the University including dealing with discriminatory accommodations and a refusal to use a backdoor at a Chicago hotel, and conflicts with faculty members over his outspoken attitudes.
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Horace (Hap) Coleman, football, 1945; track, 1946, Hamtramck, MI
Dec. 19, 1970 (tape no. 6)
Interviewed in Detroit, Michigan by John Behee, Horace “Hap” Coleman came to U-M as a grad student with one year of eligibility after competing at Western Michigan University. He played football but quit the team when it became clear that Coach Fritz Crisler would not give him much playing time. He won a varsity letter in track. Coleman discusses his high school experience as a three-sport athlete at Hamtramck, playing at Western Michigan, talks about Len Ford’s first year at U-M, discusses his track experience at U-M and his work as an educator and counselor.
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Charles Fonville, track, 1944, 1946-1948, Detroit, MI
Sept. 18, 1970 (tape no. 11)
Interviewed by John Behee in Detroit, Michigan, Charles Fonville, a world-record holder in the shot put and top Olympic prospect in 1948 until sidelined by injury, discusses his motivations to attend college and experiences at the University of Michigan, including his relationship with coach Ken Doherty, problems with accommodations on the road and discrimination he faced at the 1948 Kansas Relays where he broke the word record.
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Joseph Hayden, track, 1948, Normal, AL
Dec. 19, 1970 (tape no. 15)
John Behee interviewed Joseph Hayden Jr. in Detroit, Michigan. Hayden discusses his decision to attend U-M, high school career at Alabama A&M Lab School in Normal, Alabama, time in the military, decision not to play football at U-M, relations with tack coaches Ken Doherty and Don Canham, election of track captains, social life and interracial dating, and prejudice against hiring black high school coaches in Detroit.

Side 1

Lowell Perry, football, 1949-1952; track, 1950, 1952, Ypsilanti, MI
Sept. 18, 1970 (tape no. 23)
Lowell Perry was an All-American football end at Michigan. With Behee, Lowell Perry discusses his high school career in Ypsilanti and decision to attend U-M, and black athletes at Michigan.
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Tom Johnson, football, 1948-1951; track, 1949, 1950, 1952, Muskegon Heights, MI
Sept. 19, 1970 (tape no. 18)
Interviewed in Ann Arbor, Michigan by John Behee, Tom Johnson discusses his experiences attending the University of Michigan and his motivations and experiences at U-M, his relationship with coach Jack Blott, changes in recruiting of black athletes in the 1950s, and the influence of Martin Luther King Jr.
Side 1

John E. Codwell, basketball, 1951-1954; baseball, 1951, Houston, TX
December 14, 1970 (tape no. 5)
Interviewed by John Behee in Detroit, Michigan, Codwell discusses his decision to attend U-M and help break an informal “gentleman’s agreement” among Big Ten basketball coaches barring black players until 1948. He comments on his athletic and educational experience, relations with coaches Bill Perigo and Dave Strack, discusses his positive reaction to the BAM, and his admiration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership.
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G. Anderson White, diving, 1953-1955, Ferndale, MI
Dec. 14, 1970 (tape no. 25)
Interviewed in Detroit, Michigan by John Behee, G. Anderson White discusses his athletic and musical experiences in high school in Ferndale, Michigan and the racism he experienced during his collegiate athletic career. He talks about coaches Matt Mann and Bruce Harlan, the difficulty in finding a place to train in metro Detroit in the summer, and being the first black to perform in the Michigan Union Opera, as well as his post-Michigan diving career in the military and competing in the 1956 Olympic trials. He comments on the social life of black students, interracial dating, pairing of black students in the dorms, housing discrimination in Ann Arbor, and seeking a job after graduation.
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Lovell Farris, basketball, 1957-1960, Cleveland, OH
Dec. 23, 1970 (tape no. 10)
Interviewed in Detroit, Michigan by John Behee, Lovell Farris discusses growing up in Batesville, Mississippi, and moving to Cleveland, Ohio, his role as the first person in his family to attend college, decision to attend U-M, high school athletic career, relationship with coach Bill Perigo. He also discusses football players Willie Smith and Al Groce who were allegedly discriminated against because of interracial dating, housing discrimination in Ann Arbor, selection of M.C. Burton as the first black basketball captain, educational experience at U-M, and comments on lack of support services for minority students.
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Cephas, Richard A., track, 1958-1961, Wilmington, DE
Dec. 23, 1970 (tape no. 4)
John Behee interviewed Richard A. Cephas, who comments on his high school track experience, decision to come to Michigan, track accomplishments, coach Don Canham, experiences on team trip to Texas, social life and dating, his reaction to the BAM strike and the university’s response, and his educational experience at U-M.
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Marshall Dickerson, track, 1958-1961, Wilmington, DE
Nov. 28, 1970 (tape no.9)
Interviewed in Detroit, Michigan by John Behee, Marshall Dickerson, a high school teammate of Richard Cephas, discusses his motivations to attend U-M, recruitment by Don Canham, social life and academic experience at U-M, and comments on the importance of black consciousness in Civil Rights Movement.
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Guy Curtis, football, 1959-1961; wrestling, 1958, 1960, 1962, South Bend, IN
Sept. 19, 1970 (tape no. 8)
Guy Curtis was interviewed in Detroit, Michigan by John Behee about his motivations to attend college and his experiences at Michigan. Curtis was Michigan’s first black wrestler and a Big Ten champion, as well as a football player at the U-M. Curtis describes his decision to come to Michigan, his high school experience in South Bend, Indiana, how he walked on to the football team and how Cliff Keen recruited him to the wrestling team, why there had been no black wrestlers at Michigan and few at other colleges, discrimination in housing in Ann Arbor, why he did not accept an athletic scholarship, and how athletics aided his career in grad school and medical school. He comments on the BAM strike, but criticizes setting of 10 percent enrollment goal for minorities as a quota system.
Side 1

Ken Burnley, track, 1961-1964, Detroit, MI
Oct. 26, 1970 (tape no. 3)
Interviewed in Ann Arbor, Michigan by John Behee, Ken Burnley played varsity track in 1961-1964. He became the first black assistant coach at Michigan. He discusses his motivations and experience at Michigan, housing discrimination in Ann Arbor, his hiring as first black coach, and support for the BAM strike.
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Mike Willie, football 1963-1964, 1966, (did not earn varsity letter), New York, NY
April 24, 1972 (tape no. 26)
Interviewed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mike Willie, a high school all-American halfback from New York City whose playing career was cut short by injuries, became an assistant trainer under Jim Hunt. He discusses his experiences at U-M, notably a 1965 trip to North Carolina where a KKK rally was held near the stadium the day before the game, and the challenges of living in Ann Arbor.
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Keith Cooley, gymnastics, 1966, Detroit, MI 
Aug. 27, 1970 (tape no. 7)
Keith Cooley was Michigan’s first African American gymnast. Cooley discusses his motivations to go to Michigan and his experiences there, his relationship with coach Newt Loken, an effort to become a football cheerleader, his experience in the engineering school, and reactions to the BAM and the university’s response.
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Ronald A. Johnson, football, 1966-1968, Detroit, MI

March 24, 1971 (tape no. 17)
Interviewed in Ann Arbor, Michigan by John Behee, Ron Johnson discusses his early life and family life in Detroit, his motivations in coming to U-M, athletic experience, being elected first black football captain, fraternities and social life.
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Tom Goss, football, 1966-1968, Knoxville, TN
May 3, 1974, with C.D. Henry
Behee interviewed Tom Goss, football player who later became U-M Athletic Director; discusses Big 10 rule changes on course content and athletes’ progress toward a degree and African-Americans in sports in the Big 10. Phone interview with C.D. Henry about Affirmative Action in the Big 10.

Side 1

May 8, 1974, and Dave Voight, North American Society for Sports History (tape no. 13)

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Ken Maxey, Basketball, 1966-1969, Chicago, IL

March 25, 1971 (tape no. 21)
Interviewed in Ann Arbor, Michigan by John Behee, Ken Maxey was the 1969 basketball team captain. He discusses adjustment from an all-black high school to a mostly white university, relations with coaches and teammates, and academic experience.
Side 1

Morris Abrahams, football, 1968-1969, Ann Arbor, MI
Feb. 1969 (tape no. 1)
Morris Abrahams was interviewed by John Behee discussing his experiences playing football and baseball in high school (Ann Arbor Pioneer), racism he experienced both in sports and outside of sports.
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March 23, 1971 (tape no. 2)
Morris Abraham is interviewed discussing his experiences in fraternities, other black athletes he knew, and his academic performance at U-M.
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Rodney Ford, basketball, 1968-1971, Hammond, IN
April 24, 1972 (tape no. 12)
Interviewed by John Behee in Detroit, Michigan, Rodney Ford discusses his family and experiences which motivated him to attend college, decision to attend U-M and study engineering, black fraternities/sororities and social life, hiring of assistant coach Richard Carter, and comments on BAM.
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Jesse Rawls, wrestling, 1969-1970, Guyton, GA/Harrisburg, PA
March 24, 1971 (tape no. 24)
Interviewed in Ann Arbor, Michigan by John Behee, Jesse Rawls discusses growing up in Guyton, Georgia, and moving to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at age seventeen. He talks of his high school athletic experiences and the motivation and circumstances that got him to Trinidad Junior College in Colorado and to Michigan, his relationship with coach Cliff Keen and wrestling experience at U-M, reasons for so few black wrestlers at collegiate levels, relations with his teammates, comments on bias keeping Jim Betts from playing quarterback, the role of back coaches, cites Nat Turner as a hero as well as Martin Luther King Jr.
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Godfrey Murray, track, 1970-1971, Kingston, Jamaica
March 24, 1971 (tape no. 22)
Interviewed by John Behee in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Godfrey Murray discusses academic and athletic background while a sophomore at U-M, relations with coach Ken Burnley, his academic program at U-M, and participation in BAM activities.
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Audio note: The interviews range from approximately 40-80 minutes in length. They follow a fairly consistent pattern of questions and topics:

• Motivation and circumstances that brought the athlete to Michigan;
• High school experience and honors;
• Athletic experience/accomplishments at U-M;
• Relations with coaches and fellow players;
• Any particular experience of discrimination or prejudice, in particular with regard to lodging and travel,
  any notable positive experience with coaches, teammates or others;
• Election of blacks as team captains;
• Campus social life, including fraternities and interracial dating;
• Housing discrimination in Ann Arbor;
• Educational and work experience;
• Response to the Black Action Movement (BAM) and the larger civil rights movement.

The sound level on some recordings is fairly low and you many need to raise the volume on your speaker.