Frank Kinney Holbrook        

HIGH SCHOOL: Frank Kinney Holbrook attended Tipton High School and lived in or near Tipton, Iowa. He became the first black graduate at Tipton. In his senior year in 1895, he led the school to just the third ever Iowa High School State Track Meet, helping the team to a second-place finish, and winning the individual state championship in the 50-yard dash and the shot put events. He was also an excellent student, earning above average grades and particularly excelling in math. That fall, he enrolled in a few science courses at the nearby University of Iowa. He was steered to Iowa City by several Hawkeye supporters in Tipton, who provided a fund for his tuition and living expenses.

COLLEGE: He joined the Hawkeye football team in 1895, becoming the first African-American athlete in the history of the University of Iowa and the first documented black college athlete in the history of the state. He was also a letterwinner in track and field from 1896-97.

He was Iowa’s leading ball carrier in 1896, as well as its best defender, and a top sprinter in track. Being a black athlete at that time made Holbrook a target for opposing teams, including a famous racist incident against Missouri. His touchdown in that game helped Iowa clinch a share of the Western Interstate University Football Association Championship, the first conference title in school history. He led the Hawkeye football team with 12 touchdowns in 1896, led by his four rushing touchdown performance in a 32-0 win over Drake in the season opener.

OTHER: In University of Iowa publications and documents, Carleton (C.W.) Holbrok’s name is often used by mistake, and not that of Frank Kinney Holbrook. In July of 2010, Holbrook was elected into the Cedar County Sports Wall of Fame. His exact birthdate is unknown.

In late 2020, Quinn Early announced a new movie called "The Shoulder of Giants" was being made about Holbrook. He was voted into the U of Iowa Hall of Fame in 2021.

Born 1/1/1877 and died on 10/29/1916 at the age of 39.