Earl Lloyd

Earl Francis Lloyd was an American professional basketball player. He was the first black person to play in the National Basketball Association, in the 195051 NBA season. Three other African Americans played in the same season Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel Clifton, and Hank DeZonie.

Earl Lloyd was born in Alexandria, Virginia on April 3, 1928. His parents were Theodore Lloyd, Sr. and Daisy Lloyd. His father worked in the coal industry and his mother was a stayathome mom. Being a high school standout, Lloyd was named to the AllSouth Atlantic Conference three times and the AllState Virginia Interscholastic Conference twice. Lloyd did attend a segregated school, but gives gratitude to his family and educators for helping him through the tough times and his success after school. Lloyd was a 1946 graduate of ParkerGrey High School and received a scholarship to play basketball at West Virginia State, home of the Yellow Jackets. In school he was nicknamed Moon Fixer because of his size and was known as a defensive specialist.

Source: Wikipedia