Lowell W. Perry

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Lowell W. Perry

Born December 5, 1931(1931-12-05)
Flag of the United States Ypsilanti, Michigan
Died January 7, 2001 (aged 69)
Flag of the United States Southfield, Michigan
Occupation athlete, executive, public servant

Lowell Perry (December 5, 1931 - January 7, 2001) was the National Football League's (NFL) first African American assistant coach, the first African American NFL broadcaster, and Chrysler's first African American plant manager. He was appointed EEOC Commissioner by President Gerald Ford, served as the director of Michigan's Department of Labor, and served on the board of the NFL Board of Charities.

Perry was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan and attended college at the University of Michigan. He was an all-American receiver for the Michigan Wolverines,[1][2] and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 8th round in the 1953 NFL Draft.[3] In 1956 After fulfilling his ROTC obligations for the Air Force (where he achieved 2nd Lieutenant) Perry began his short career for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played only six games with the Steelers before serious injury forced his retirement. In 1957, the Steelers hired Perry to be their receiver's coach, making him the NFL's first African American coach.[4]

After a single season as a receiver's coach (1957) and a talent scout (1958), Perry left the Steelers organization to earn his law degree from Detroit College of Law which he received in 1960.[5]

In 1966 Lowell Perry became the first African American color analyst for CBS Television when they hired him to broadcast Steelers games alongside Joe Tucker.[6]

In 1973 Perry was appointed the plant manager of Chrysler Corporation's Detroit Universal Division - the first African American to hold the plant manager position at a U.S. automobile company.[7]

In 1975, Perry was appointed by President Ford to be commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.[8] He served as EEOC commissioner until 1976.

Perry continued his career as a public servant in 1990 as director of Michigan's Department of Labor for six years, and director of Office of Urban Programs until his retirement in 1999.[9]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lowell Perry 2001 Deaths. Retrieved on 2007-02-19.
  2. ^ University of Michigan Athletic History. Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
  3. ^ databaseFootball.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-19.
  4. ^ Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2007-02-19.
  5. ^ EEOC. Retrieved on 2007-02-19.
  6. ^ Eisenberg, Jeff (January, 31), “A Dream Deferred”, The Press-Enterprise, <http://www.pe.com/sports/football/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_sbowl_perry_31.264b35b.html> 
  7. ^ “50 years of progress in corporate America”, Ebony (magazine), April 1995, <http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n6_v50/ai_16749590/print> 
  8. ^ The American Presidency Project. Santa Barbara, CA: University of California. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
  9. ^ Michigan Office of the Governor (April 2, 1999). "Lowell Perry Announces Retirement". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.

[edit] External links


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