Junius Kellogg

Junius Kellogg (March 16, 1927-September 16, 1998) was the first African-American basketball player for Manhattan College.

In 1951, Kellogg is noted for refusing a $1,000 bribe to shave points during basketball games; he contacted the authorities and touched off the largest college betting sandal in American history. Ultimately, the investigation involved 32 players from seven colleges and encompassed 86 games between 1947 and 1950.

Kellogg left college for a stint on the Army; he then returned to Manhattan College where he doubled-up on courses. He graduated in 1953 and went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1954, he sustained a cervical spinal cord injury in an automobile accident and was paralyzed. Three fellow Globetrotters were unscathed during the accident.

Kellogg received treatment at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Bronx, NY. He became an ardent supporter of wheelchair athletics. He coached the Pan Am Jets as well as the Brooklyn Whirlaways. He was Head Coach of the USA Stoke Mandeville Games team as well as the Head Coach of the 1964 US Paralympic Basketball Team. He was inducted into the National Wheelchair Basketball Association's hall of fame in 1981. [http://www.nwbahof.org/hofmembersDetails.cfm?ID=29 Hall of Fame]

Kellogg served for many years on the Board of Directors of Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association (later the United Spinal Association and worked for the New York City from 1966 until his death in 1998. He served at the first deputy commissioner and director of strategic planning for the Community Development Agency. He received his honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Manhattan College in 1997.

References