- Chet Grimsley
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Chet Grimsley, The White Golden Bull, Photo taken 2010
Chet L. Grimsley (born July 14, 1956) at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta Georgia is notably the first White American Student Athlete from the C.I.A.A. Chet Grimsley pledged, and subsequently became a member of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship from Johnson C. Smith University , a historically black university (HBCU). In 1976 Grimsley received the M.V.P. Award and the Pettis Norman Award for football. Grimsley was also named to the First Team all CIAA and received Eastern Airlines Most Valuable Player All American. Grimsley was also the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Athlete of the Month at an HBCU.
Contents
Biography
Early life
Chet Grimsley was born 14 July 1956 in Atlanta, GA.Grimsley follows in his father’s footsteps. Grimsley’s father, Chester Ramon Grimsley, was an All-State football player for State Champion Tift County High School and at 6 ft 8 inches and 270 lbs, went on to play for the University of Alabama on a football scholarship. The younger Grimsley was 6 ft 5.5 inches and 275 lbs, and recruited to Johnson C. Smith University by Coach Charlie Cox. He was not uncomfortable attending a black university because Grimsley grew up in Southwest Atlanta, Georgia where he was the only white student athlete on the Therrell High School Football Team in 1973 in a predominately black high school. He also participated in baseball and soccer.[1]
University
Upon arrival at JCSU in 1974, Grimsley was greeted and assisted by Grooves. Couple this positive experience with being a freshman away from home and meeting other Groove members on the football team, Grimsley was inspired to pledge Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc as a sophomore. Grimsley not only excelled in football, but was a consistent fixture on the Dean's List and popular on campus.[2] G Phi G is a social fellowship that's common at H.B.C.U. Mcmahand and Grimsley pledged in the 70s at Johnson C. Smith University and by the way Grimsley is white and was named to the first team CIAA and MVP award for the Golden Bulls of J.C.S.U and both are still friends to this day and by the way Macmahands son Wesley is a starting running back at West Point for Stan Brocks Army Black Knights football team.
Sports career
Grimsley had an impressive year in 1976, accumulating several accolades including Eastern Airlines Player of the Year, 1976 All-American, 1976 Mr. Football, All CIAA 1st Team. As a senior in 1977, Grimsley was Athlete of the Month and made the difficult decision not to pursue a professional careers as a football player due to his goals and size.[3] After graduating from JCSU, Grimsley was an assistant coach for JCSU in 1978 after graduation and then again in 1999-2000. Grimsley went on to make the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in August 1979. Grimsley joined the United States Army in December 1979 and became the first football player to graduate from the U.S. Military Intelligence School. He was also an All-Army wrestling champion. Grimsley served in the Army and Army Reserves until 1986. Additionally, Grimsley was a bodyguard who worked with Diana Ross, Jim & Tammy Faye Baker and Gary Coleman.A Gentle Giant Helps The Young And Old By Chris Starks The Rockdale Ga Citrzen News October 31, 1997 Grimsley then took a more traditional career approach by becoming a manager for Marshall’s and subsequently, Supervisor Retail Distribution for the same organization.[4]
After Retirement
Chet Big Hog now volunteers at Shriners Hospitals for Children.[5] Xulon Press will release the autobiography of The White Golden Bull By Chet Grimsley on his lifestory.[6] Fl Chet Grimsley has commissioned a book The White Golden Bull By Xulon Press by Edmond Davis who is a historian-author-motivational speaker and put in over 3 years work on the book which is released today February 6, 2009 by Xulon and Amazon.Com with IBN #9781607912552. Mr Davis is a teacher and Vice President of Groove Phi GrooveS.F.I in history where he is finishing another book on Milton Crenchaw who trained the Tuskegee Airmen and also is in the Arkansas Pilots Hall Of Fame. Mr Davis commissioned the biography on Fl Chet Grimsley about his life as a white student football player in the 1970s from Atlanta Georgia who went on a journey to The H.B.C.U Historically Black Colleges and Universities and was honored as Mr Football and the coveted All CIAA First Team as an Offensive Lineman and was on the deans list when a nation was still divided in black and white. The book The White Golden Bull takes you into the Journey of the changing diversity from the 1950s to 2009, and describes how team members, all J.C. Smith Groove Phi Groove men were inspirational mentors which led him on and off the field and into Pro Sports and Careers with Professionals.[7] Johnson C. Smith University is pleased to announce Class of 1978-Chet Grimsleys autobiography The Golden White Bull will be released IBN # 9781607912552 will be released on February 6, 2009 from xulon Press.[8] Chet Grimsley's book the White Golden Bull is captured on the cover and inside the magazine of his life of diversity and teamwork through God and Faith.[9] Too Smart Publishing announces the release of The White Golden Bull: How Faith in God Transcended Racial Barriers ( February 7, 2011 ) authored by Chet Grimsley.[10] Chet L Grimsley is a Hall Of Fame member and played football with CFL Hall of Fame Grover Covington and worked with Hall of Fame member and wrestler Sylvester Ritter aka WWE Hall of Famestar The Junkyard Dog. Grimsley resides in Blairsville, Georgia a city in North Georgia Union County, Georgia In the United States.[11]
- ^ Perry, Barbara Lynn (December 29, 2002). "Take a look at him now". The Cherokee, GA Tribune. http://apt.mywebpal.com/news_toolv2.cfm?pnpID=17&show=localnews&NewsID=26591.
- ^ http://www.thewhitegoldenbull.com/
- ^ Goode, Donvan (October 1977). "Athlete of the Month, sec. Sports: 10". The University Student News. JCSU. http://www.jcsu.edu/news/publications/2004footballmediaguide.pdf.
- ^ Hayes, Hal (May 3, 1995), "Body Guard Chet Grimsley Cherishes Sports Honors", The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
- ^ Jones, Jennfer (February 14, 2009). "Sports Star Has Big Heart". Cherokee Tribune Cherokee Ga.
- ^ "Chet L Grimsley". Authors Deb. http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorid=97758.
- ^ "Groove Phi Groove newsletter". Fall 2008. http://www.groove-phi-groove.org/files/pdf/SSFall08.pdf.
- ^ "Alumni Affairs eBulletin, Vol 8, Issue 4". JCSU. Nov 2008. http://www.jcsu.edu/PressReleases/enews/E-Bulletin/ebulletinvol7iss9.htm.
- ^ "Black Sports Magazine". Feb 2009. http://www.blacksportsthemagazine.com/Magazines/Feb09.pdf.
- ^ ~~~~http://www.thewhitegoldenbull.com/
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blairsville,_Georgia
Categories:- 1956 births
- American track and field athletes
- Johnson C. Smith University alumni
- Living people
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