Star Athletes Form National Body to Aid Rights Movement

Press Release
January 23, 1967

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Press Releases, Volume 4. Star Athletes Form National Body to Aid Rights Movement, 1967. f56c747b-b792-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/4a394307-ef35-47fa-86b1-2a673bbe2169/star-athletes-form-national-body-to-aid-rights-movement. Accessed October 11, 2025.

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President 

: Hon. Francis E, Rivers 
PRESS RELEASE Director: Counsel 

egal ‘efense und Jack Greenhere 
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC, oe Devore he ‘ : Jesse DeVore, Jr. 
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 * JUdson 68397 Eon peT EASE ea anor, 

MONDAY 
January 23, 1967 

STAR ATHLETES FORM NATIONAL 
BODY TO AID RIGHTS MOVEMENT 

First of its Kind in Sports History 

NEW YORK---Formation of the National Sports Committee in support of the 
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) was announced here 
today by the three co-chairmen, Bill Russell, Gale Sayers, and Bill 
White. 

The Committee is the first to deal with a crucial domestic issue 
such as civil rights in sports annals. 

The goal of $100,000, as set by the three co-chairmen, reflects 
the personal resources and outreach of a large and steadily growing 
number of Negro professional athletes. These men are in a position to 
make and influence responsible personal contributions, said Gustav 
Heningburg, assistant to the president of the LDF. 

Mr. Russell is playercoach of the Boston Celtics; Mr. Sayers is 
star of the Chicago Bears and top back of this year's East-\lest Pro 
Bowl game; lir. White is a long-time standout for the Philadelphia 
Phillies. 

"These three co-chairmen," Mr. Heningburg added, “have all shown 
previous concerns about the problems of civil rights. 

"They all possess leadership capacity above and beyond their 
athletic abilities," he continued, and “they all enjoy wide prestige 
among their colleagues throughout the sports professions." 

The new role of Negro athletes was constantly stressed during the 
luncheon. Claude "Buddy" Young, former star of the football Yankees, 
now an executive with the National Football League, said: 

"Professional athletes by their very nature are leaders. As 
leaders, they ought to be used whenever and wherever possible.” 

Mr. Young serves as chief consultant to the Committee and played 
a crucial role in its early organization. 

Said Gale Sayers: 

“My professional football career with the Chicago Bears has 
allowed me opportunities which most people can only dream about." He 
added that “professional athletes are in a unique position to influence 
the attitudes of the public, particularly the young." 

Maury Wills, standing in for the ailing Bill White, said: 

"Baseball has been good to me in terms of providing financial 
security, a degree of personal recognition, and the opportunity to 
meet people and do things which otherwise I would surely have been 
denied in life. It occurred to me that perhaps I had some obligation 
to utilize some of my benefits in order to assist others. 

Mr. Vills also read a wire from Mir. “Ihite which said: 

"Sorry I cannot be with you. I hope that this luncheon and the 
campaign which will follow will reflect our commitment to justice for 
all people." 

(more) 

5 



STAR ATHLETES FORI{ NATIONAL 
BODY TO AID RIGHTS iMOVEMENT -2- January 23, 1967 

The National Committee of Sponsors, which will assist the Co= 
chairmen in this unprecedented effort, is in the process of formation. 

To date, the following stars have been enlisted to serve: 

Gale Sayers Bill Russell Bill White 
Chicago Bears Boston Celtics Philadelphia Phillie 

Vada Pinson, Cincinnati Reds Rommie Loudd, Boston Patriots 
Willie Horton, Detroit Lions Matt Snell, New York Jets 
Maury Wills, Pittsburgh Pirates Verlon Biggs, New York Jets 
Henry Aaron, Atlanta Braves Buddy Young, NFL 
Ernie Banks, Chicago White Sox Charlie Frazier, Houston Oilers 
Mike Garrett, Kansas City Chiefs Butch Byrd, Buffalo Bills 
Herb Adderly, Green Bay Packers Jim Warren, Miami Dolphins 
Bob Brown, Philadelphia Eagles Houston Antwine, Boston Patriots 
Willie Wood, Green Bay Packers Jim Hunt, Boston Patriots 
Jackie Robinson Willie Davis, Green Bay Packers 
Monte Irvin 

The LDF serves as the legal arm of the entire civil rights move- 
ment in that its 20 New York based attorneys, plus another 250 coopera- 
ting lawyers, represent all the major civil rights groups. 

LDF attorneys also represent individuals with bonafide civil 
rights claims. /t present, more than 13,000 individuals are being 
represented through 400 separate precedent-making court cases. 

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Star Athletes Form National Body to Aid Rights Movement

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