Eugene 'Homer' Harris        

HIGH SCHOOL: Eugene 'Homer' Harris attended Garfield High School and lived in or near Seattle, Washington. He became the first Black captain of his high school football team in 1933, and was named an all-league end. Because of perceived racist attitudes toward Black athletes, he chose to attend Iowa instead of Washington.

COLLEGE: He was a three-year starter, playing end and tackle. He was the MVP of the 1936 Iowa team, and was the first black captain at Iowa in any sport (1937). He was also the first black football captain in the Big Ten Conference. He was a three-time all-Big Ten Conference selection (1935-1937).

PROFESSIONAL: He wanted to play professional football after he graduated, but Black players were banned from the National Football League. Instead, he headed to A&T College in Greensboro, North Carolina, to coach football for two seasons.

OTHER:

He spent almost 50 years in Seattle practicing dermatology, and he had a local Seattle park named after him, Homer Harris Park at 2401 E Howell St.

He was elected to the UI Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.

Born 3/4/1916 and died on 3/17/2007 at the age of 91.