JUNE 2025

KENNY WASHINGTON

- A Trailblazer for All Seasons - 

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

The National Football League (NFL) has truly become a sport that is avidly followed all year round, in large part due to the enormous if not insatiable worldwide fan interest by Baby Boomers.  Since this popularity has reached its zenith during what is termed the "Super Bowl" era (i.e., everything after January 1967 to date) there is a noticeable lack of fan awareness about the rich history of the NFL gridiron beforehand.  This month at Galaxy Nostalgia Network, we celebrate the inspired life of a truly great man -- Kenny Washington -- who is one of the most important trailblazers in the annals of American sports history.  Mr. Washington was the first African-American to sign a contract with an NFL team in the post-World War II era, thereby breaking the league's color barrier in 1946, one year before his fellow college teammate Jackie Robinson did the same in Major League Baseball!  Kenny Washington's life is a testament to strength of character, talent and resilience.  He overcame enormous adversity with grace, perseverance, dignity and honor.

A native Southern Californian who was born August 31, 1918, Mr. Washington played collegiate football at UCLA for three years from 1937-39 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1940.  As a left half-back -- which in the era of the single-wing offense required both prolific running and passing skills -- Mr. Washington achieved consensus All-American status by leading the nation in total offense while piloting the Bruins to an undefeated season in his senior year.  Institutional racial barriers initially kept Kenny Washington out of the NFL, so he played professionally for the Hollywood Bears, a minor league team, and then made history by signing with the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL where he played three years from 1946-48.  During his time with the Hollywood Bears, Washington was paid on par with the NFL players of the day and he also worked as a Los Angeles police officer on the side.  Two serious knee operations slowed him down (thereby shortening his professional gridiron career) and kept him out of World War II.  Beyond the gridiron, he worked in public relations and as a baseball scout (reflecting his equally outstanding collegiate baseball prowess).  Of historic note, Washington's signing with the LA Rams marked the reintegration of the NFL (after twelve years of segregation) and thus helped usher in a new era of integration in sports after World War II.

There is much, much more to Mr. Washington's life story -- especially during the World War II years -- including his playing for yet another minor league team (San Francisco Clippers) as well as serving as a sports ambassador playing exhibition games for the USO (United Service Organization) while visiting the troops!  His legacy both on-and-off the gridiron has been commemorated with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Court of Honor and since 1949 his alma mater (Abraham Lincoln High School) annually awarding the Kenny Washington Trophy to the school's best football player!  This is a testimony to resilience, integrity, skill, and commitment to excellence.  In sum, Kenny Washington, is/was a trailblazer for all seasons, paving the way for generations of future athletes.  He passed away June 24, 1971 and is interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California with the inscription "Our Loved One." (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91537146/kenny-washington)

To learn more about this remarkable man, here are some books about Kenny Washington:

> Walking Alone: The Untold Journey of Football Pioneer Kenny Washington.  By Dan Taylor.

> The Black Bruins: The Untold Lives of UCLA's Jackie Robinson, Woody Strode, Tom Bradley, Kenny Washington and Ray Bartlett.  By James W. Johnson.

> The Forgotten First: Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Marion Motley, Bill Willis, and the Breaking of the NFL Color Barrier.  By Keyshawn Johnson and Bob Glauber.

During this month of June, the anniversary of Kenny Washington's passing, please join us here at the Galaxy Nostalgia Network in saluting the life and legacy of this gridiron trailblazing pioneer.  Share your memories and thoughts by posting on the GNN FACEBOOK page or by writing to me directly at: Haloulakos@gmail.com

NOTES: (1) All photos are from the public domain.  (2) Special thanks to Dr. Herbert G. Ruffin III, History Professor at Syracuse University for his recommended reading list.