Rice to Celebrate Six Trailblazing Student-Athletes
9/7/2022 12:30:00 PM | Football, General, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball
First Black Student-Athletes Celebration Set for September 16
Rice will commemorate the transformational role six student-athletes played in the university's history at the First Black Student-Athletes Celebration on Sept. 16 at The Ion (4201 Main St.).
The event opens with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by a recognition ceremony at 7:30. Tickets are $50 per person or $25 for Rice young alumni. Register here.
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Rice's Class of 1972, which included the first four Black student-athletes to compete for the Owls -- Rodrigo Barnes '73, LeRoy Marion '72, Mike Tyler '72 and Stahlé Vincent '72 -- and also the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which created the opportunity for Denise Bostick '80 and Leila Freeman '79 to become the first Black female student-athletes at Rice.
Barnes, Tyler and Vincent each earned three letters in football and earned at least one All-Southwest Conference honor during their careers. Barnes (Dallas Cowboys, 7th round), Vincent (Pittsburgh Steelers, 8th round) and Tyler (Detroit Lions 17th round) were each drafted after their Rice career. Vincent was presented the Bob Quin Award in 1972 as Rice's top student-athlete.
Marion overcame injuries early in his career to earn two letters while playing for coach Don Knodel, leading the team in scoring in SWC games as a senior. He won the Billy Wohn Award in 1972 as the team MVP, joining Vincent (1971) as being named his sport's most valuable player.
Bostick earned three letters in volleyball and one in basketball from 1978-81 when women's athletics were administered by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). Freeman was a sprinter for the Owls in 1979, running the 100- and 200-meter dashes and leading off the Owls' 4x100 relay.
"The era when these students attended Rice was a vibrant time for social change throughout the nation and especially for inclusiveness in organized sports," said Rice President Reginald DesRoches. "It is fitting that we celebrate the transformational impact these six distinguished alumni had on Rice and the opportunities created for those who follow. I'm looking forward to the weekend and to hearing more about their experiences during their time at Rice."
"This celebration is a fitting tribute to the courage, faith and confidence displayed by the six young men and women who became the first Black student-athletes at Rice. They not only paved the way for future student-athletes, they profoundly impacted our University and community during a time of great social change in our country," said Joe Karlgaard, Rice Director of Athletics, Recreation and Lifetime Fitness. "These alumni hold a special place in Rice's history, and we are proud to formally recognize their contributions to Rice University."
"The ties between equity in sports, and justice in the larger society have always been important and compelling" Rice Vice Provost – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dr. Alexander Byrd stated. "All of us are especially indebted to the young people who leaned into the work of breaking racial and gender barriers in athletics as they simultaneously took up the particular demands of gaining a college education. Their achievements and the burdens they embraced were remarkable, and worthy of celebration. What a great opportunity it is to honor the choices they made in coming to Rice and what they accomplished here and beyond."
"I am so proud that Rice is recognizing the contributions and honoring our first Black student-athletes in such a meaningful and impactful way," said Jamila Mensah, President of The Association of Rice University Black Alumni (ARUBA) and a former track student-athlete at Rice. "Nothing reflects the storied history of Rice University and our recollection of special moments in time like the stories of our alumni. This will be a special evening, and an opportunity to not only celebrate, but to learn and reflect on Rice's place during a time of great change in our country."
In addition to the celebration at The Ion, all six honorees will be recognized the following night at the Rice-Louisiana football game.
The event opens with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by a recognition ceremony at 7:30. Tickets are $50 per person or $25 for Rice young alumni. Register here.
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Rice's Class of 1972, which included the first four Black student-athletes to compete for the Owls -- Rodrigo Barnes '73, LeRoy Marion '72, Mike Tyler '72 and Stahlé Vincent '72 -- and also the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which created the opportunity for Denise Bostick '80 and Leila Freeman '79 to become the first Black female student-athletes at Rice.
Barnes, Tyler and Vincent each earned three letters in football and earned at least one All-Southwest Conference honor during their careers. Barnes (Dallas Cowboys, 7th round), Vincent (Pittsburgh Steelers, 8th round) and Tyler (Detroit Lions 17th round) were each drafted after their Rice career. Vincent was presented the Bob Quin Award in 1972 as Rice's top student-athlete.
Marion overcame injuries early in his career to earn two letters while playing for coach Don Knodel, leading the team in scoring in SWC games as a senior. He won the Billy Wohn Award in 1972 as the team MVP, joining Vincent (1971) as being named his sport's most valuable player.
Bostick earned three letters in volleyball and one in basketball from 1978-81 when women's athletics were administered by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). Freeman was a sprinter for the Owls in 1979, running the 100- and 200-meter dashes and leading off the Owls' 4x100 relay.
"The era when these students attended Rice was a vibrant time for social change throughout the nation and especially for inclusiveness in organized sports," said Rice President Reginald DesRoches. "It is fitting that we celebrate the transformational impact these six distinguished alumni had on Rice and the opportunities created for those who follow. I'm looking forward to the weekend and to hearing more about their experiences during their time at Rice."
"This celebration is a fitting tribute to the courage, faith and confidence displayed by the six young men and women who became the first Black student-athletes at Rice. They not only paved the way for future student-athletes, they profoundly impacted our University and community during a time of great social change in our country," said Joe Karlgaard, Rice Director of Athletics, Recreation and Lifetime Fitness. "These alumni hold a special place in Rice's history, and we are proud to formally recognize their contributions to Rice University."
"The ties between equity in sports, and justice in the larger society have always been important and compelling" Rice Vice Provost – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dr. Alexander Byrd stated. "All of us are especially indebted to the young people who leaned into the work of breaking racial and gender barriers in athletics as they simultaneously took up the particular demands of gaining a college education. Their achievements and the burdens they embraced were remarkable, and worthy of celebration. What a great opportunity it is to honor the choices they made in coming to Rice and what they accomplished here and beyond."
"I am so proud that Rice is recognizing the contributions and honoring our first Black student-athletes in such a meaningful and impactful way," said Jamila Mensah, President of The Association of Rice University Black Alumni (ARUBA) and a former track student-athlete at Rice. "Nothing reflects the storied history of Rice University and our recollection of special moments in time like the stories of our alumni. This will be a special evening, and an opportunity to not only celebrate, but to learn and reflect on Rice's place during a time of great change in our country."
In addition to the celebration at The Ion, all six honorees will be recognized the following night at the Rice-Louisiana football game.
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