Latest news with #TennesseeA&I
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Civil Rights plaintiff Rita Geier receives honorary doctorate from UT College of Law
Retired attorney Rita Geier, center, accepts an honorary doctorate from Lonnie Brown, Jr., left, dean of the Frank Winston College of Law at the University of Tennessee, and Donde Plowman, chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (Photo: Emily Siner for the Tennessee Lookout) When former attorney and civil rights pioneer Rita Geier received an honorary doctorate degree last week from the University of Tennessee, it was an odd sort of full-circle moment: The award recognized, in part, her role in suing the university more than half a century ago. 'Her courageous legal efforts not only transformed Tennessee's educational system, but also paved the way for a better society,' said Donde Plowman, chancellor of UT-Knoxville. 'She has left a lasting mark on our state and our country's history.' Geier was the lead plaintiff in a 1968 class action lawsuit against Tennessee's governor and university systems, which alleged that the state was upholding an unconstitutional segregated system of public higher education. At the time, she was both a law student at Nashville's Vanderbilt University and a part-time history instructor at Tennessee State University, then called Tennessee A&I. The university had been founded to provide higher education for Black students at a time when they weren't allowed into any other public universities. Technically, by the late 1960s, the University of Tennessee and other previously all-white universities had eliminated race-based admissions requirements. But they were still almost entirely white, and Tennessee A&I was still entirely Black. Geier says the disparities were obvious in other ways, too: the dilapidated buildings, the low pay for professors. 'TSU was the stepchild of the state higher education system. There's no denying that,' Geier said. She began clerking for a local white attorney, George Barrett, who was seen as a 'troublemaker' in Tennessee for his willingness to take on 'issues that made people uncomfortable,' Geier said. Together, Barrett and Geier crafted a legal theory that the state had an obligation to integrate its public universities. 'I was learning all about civil rights and the legal remedies that were possible. It didn't take long for us to see that there was a tool that could be used,' Geier said. 'And I was the perfect plaintiff.' Similar lawsuits were already in the works over segregated K-12 education, but the state's obligation in desegregating higher education, where enrollment was voluntary, was largely untested legal ground. In their original complaint, Geier and Barrett argued that Tennessee failed to provide appropriate funding to TSU because of its predominantly Black enrollment. It also argued that the state was 'seeking to perpetuate a policy of racial segregation' by expanding a UT extension in downtown Nashville. In the late 1970s, the lawsuit led to the merger of UT-Nashville with TSU — one of the only examples in the nation's history of a historically Black university acquiring a predominantly white campus. State rep balks at sale of Tennessee State University properties But the state's obligation to desegregate public universities continued to be debated in the courts for the next several decades. The final consent decree, in 2001, involved improving TSU's facilities and increasing scholarship programs for Black students across the state. When the Geier case officially ended in 2006 — capping off 38 years of litigation — a judge declared that 'any remaining vestiges of segregation have been removed from the Tennessee system of public higher education.' But conversations over the state's treatment and funding of TSU are ongoing. In 2021, a state report estimated that Tennessee failed to pay TSU at least $544 million in federally required funding in the decades following the end of segregation. Meanwhile, Geier went on to pursue a legal career in government: She became a regional director for the Legal Services Corporation, general counsel for the Appalachian Regional Commission and associate commissioner for the Social Security Administration. After her retirement, she took a position at UT-Knoxville as an associate to the chancellor and a senior fellow at the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA legend and HBCU trailblazer dies at 88
'Fallback, Baby.' To generations of HBCU sports fans, those two words weren't just a nickname — they were a declaration. A call to greatness. A legacy in motion. And now, that legacy says goodbye. Dr. Dick Barnett, Tennessee A&I icon and New York Knicks champion, passed away in his sleep on April 26, 2025, in Largo, Florida, at the age of 88. With his passing, HBCU basketball loses one of its most enduring legends — a player whose path broke barriers and lifted communities far beyond the hardwood. Advertisement A Titan at Tennessee A&I Before the glitz of Madison Square Garden, Barnett carved out one of the most dominant collegiate careers in HBCU history. Under Hall of Famer John McLendon, Barnett led Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) to three straight NAIA national championships from 1957–1959 — a feat no HBCU has matched since. Named All-American three times and tournament MVP twice, his scoring brilliance and fearless play made him the face of a program that helped put Black college basketball on the national map. His No. 35 jersey remains the only one ever retired by the university. Champion and Clutch in the NBA After stints with the Syracuse Nationals and L.A. Lakers, Barnett joined the Knicks in 1965 and helped lead the team to titles in 1970 and 1973. While the world remembers Willis Reed's dramatic Game 7 entrance in the '70 Finals, it was Barnett who poured in 21 points and guarded Jerry West in the Knicks' first-ever championship win. He averaged over 18 points per game in that series and was a top-10 scorer leaguewide in multiple seasons. Known for his unorthodox jumper — a high-arching shot with a signature mid-air 'fallback' — he gave defenders nightmares and fans memories. New York Knicks guard Dick Barnett versus the Atlanta Hawks© Manny Rubio-Imagn Images A Doctor, Educator, and Advocate Advertisement Barnett wasn't just a baller — he was a scholar. He earned a doctorate in education from Fordham, taught at St. John's, and used his platform to mentor and uplift. In 2024, he received basketball's highest honor with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. But for many HBCU students, his biggest impact came through words, mentorship, and proof that greatness didn't require compromise. Dick Barnett showed what was possible — on the court, in the classroom, and in life. HBCU fans: Let's not just remember him. Let's follow him. Fall back. Rise up. Related: Alabama A&M's Carson Vinson drafted by Baltimore Ravens Related: What Alabama A&M's Carson Vinson said after being drafted by Baltimore Ravens
NBC Sports
28-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Hall of Famer Dick Barnett, champion with Knicks and NCAA legend, dies at 88
NEW YORK (AP) — Dick Barnett, a basketball Hall of Famer who played on both New York Knicks NBA championship teams after being part of a historic college powerhouse at Tennessee A&I, has died. He was 88. The Knicks announced the death of the former guard Sunday. There were no details provided about his death. 'Throughout his illustrious career, Dick Barnett embodied everything it meant to be a New York Knick, both on and off the court,' the Knicks said in a statement. 'He left a positive impact on everyone he encountered and this organization is incredibly fortunate to have him be such an integral part of its history. His jersey will forever hang in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, and his play throughout his career will forever be a part of Knicks fans memories.' Barnett played on the Knicks' title teams in 1970 and 1973 and reached the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and as a member of his college teams at Tennessee A&I (later Tennessee State), the first HBCU to win a national championship in basketball. A native of Gary, Indiana, Barnett went on to star for the Tennessee A&I teams that made up one of college basketball's first dynasties. The Tigers won three straight NAIA championships starting in 1957, with Barnett being chosen an All-American each season and twice being selected the MVP of the NAIA Tournament. He was taken by the Syracuse Nationals with the No. 5 pick in the 1959 draft and also played for the Los Angeles Lakers before coming to the Knicks in 1965. He spent nine years with the Knicks, averaging 15.6 points and playing on their championship teams in 1970 and 1973. Barnett is ninth on the Knicks' career scoring list and his No. 12 jersey was retired in 1990. Barnett led a long quest for recognition for his college team. The Tigers were eventually enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2019, represented on stage by Barnett, and in 2024 visited the White House to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris. Barnett, who was selected for one NBA All-Star Game, was inducted in the Hall of Fame as a player in 2024.
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS New York Knicks legend Dick Barnett dies at 88 one year after NBA champ was inducted into Hall of Fame
Dick Barnett, the gritty NBA guard who won two titles with the New York Knicks, has died at 88, the team announced Sunday following a controversial playoff win over the Detroit Pistons. There were no details provided about his death. 'Throughout his illustrious career, Dick Barnett embodied everything it meant to be a New York Knick, both on and off the court,' the Knicks said in a statement. 'He left a positive impact on everyone he encountered and this organization is incredibly fortunate to have him be such an integral part of its history. His jersey will forever hang in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, and his play throughout his career will forever be a part of Knicks fans memories.' Barnett played on the Knicks' title teams in 1970 and 1973 and reached the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and as a member of his college teams at Tennessee A&I (later Tennessee State), the first HBCU to win a national championship in basketball. A native of Gary, Indiana, Barnett went on to star for the Tennessee A&I teams that made up one of college basketball's first dynasties. The Tigers won three straight NAIA championships starting in 1957, with Barnett being chosen an All-American each season and twice being selected the MVP of the NAIA Tournament. He was taken by the Syracuse Nationals with the No. 5 pick in the 1959 draft and also played for the Los Angeles Lakers before coming to the Knicks in 1965. He spent nine years with the Knicks, averaging 15.6 points and playing on their championship teams in 1970 and 1973. Barnett is ninth on the Knicks' career scoring list and his No. 12 jersey was retired in 1990. Barnett led a long quest for recognition for his college team. The Tigers were eventually enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2019, represented on stage by Barnett, and in 2024 visited the White House to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris. Barnett, who was selected for one NBA All-Star Game, was inducted in the Hall of Fame as a player in 2024. Knicks fans, who were only just celebrating a playoff win, quickly began mourning on Sunday evening. 'We all tied to copy the Dick Barnett jumper,' one fan wrote online, referring to the Indiana native's signature shot.
Fox Sports
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Dick Barnett, champion with Knicks and college powerhouse Tennessee A&I teams, dies at 88
Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Dick Barnett, a basketball Hall of Famer who played on both New York Knicks NBA championship teams after being part of a historic college powerhouse at Tennessee A&I, has died. He was 88. The Knicks announced the death of the former guard Sunday. There were no details provided about his death. 'Throughout his illustrious career, Dick Barnett embodied everything it meant to be a New York Knick, both on and off the court," the Knicks said in a statement. "He left a positive impact on everyone he encountered and this organization is incredibly fortunate to have him be such an integral part of its history. His jersey will forever hang in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, and his play throughout his career will forever be a part of Knicks fans memories.' Barnett played on the Knicks' title teams in 1970 and 1973 and reached the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and as a member of his college teams at Tennessee A&I (later Tennessee State), the first HBCU to win a national championship in basketball. A native of Gary, Indiana, Barnett went on to star for the Tennessee A&I teams that made up one of college basketball's first dynasties. The Tigers won three straight NAIA championships starting in 1957, with Barnett being chosen an All-American each season and twice being selected the MVP of the NAIA Tournament. He was taken by the Syracuse Nationals with the No. 5 pick in the 1959 draft and also played for the Los Angeles Lakers before coming to the Knicks in 1965. He spent nine years with the Knicks, averaging 15.6 points and playing on their championship teams in 1970 and 1973. Barnett is ninth on the Knicks' career scoring list and his No. 12 jersey was retired in 1990. Barnett led a long quest for recognition for his college team. The Tigers were eventually enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2019, represented on stage by Barnett, and in 2024 visited the White House to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris. Barnett, who was selected for one NBA All-Star Game, was inducted in the Hall of Fame as a player in 2024. ___ AP NBA: recommended
