Duke Washington
Encyclopedia
Carl Talmage "Duke" Washington (born October 3, 1933) is a former American football
running back
from Pasco
, Washington, famous for his play for Washington State University
.
He is thought of by many as the greatest running back in Pasco High School
history. His accomplishments at PHS and later with the Washington State Cougars
in the early and middle 1950’s compare to other great backs of his day. Still, Duke Washington is best known as the first black man to ever play in the University of Texas’ Memorial Stadium.http://washingtonstate.scout.com/2/211958.html
Washington, a captain on the 1954 WSU squad, was given the option to not play against the Longhorns in their home stadium, which had an “unofficial” rule that forbid blacks from playing either for or against Texas. Washington said “no” and, despite having to stay at a private home instead of with the team in the hotel the night before http://wsucougars.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102706aaa.html, played well in the Cougar loss. In addition to becoming the first black athlete to play football in Memorial Stadium, Washington also became the first black athlete to score a touchdown in Memorial Stadium, torching the Longhorn defense for a 73-yard touchdown – much to the delight of the Texas crowd.
Duke Washington’s momentous color-breaking game and touchdown run are just one of many accomplishments he achieved on the gridiron. He played in the 1954 East West Shrine Game, helped the Cougars beat the University of Washington
in the Apple Cup
three out of four times, and ran for 115 yards in a win at Oregon State University
despite suiting up as a fullback
. Duke’s career at Washington State was good enough to attract the attention of the National Football League
and the Philadelphia Eagles
, who drafted Washington in 1955. After a year there, he was released and eventually found employment as a Seattle
-area art teacher.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
from Pasco
Pasco, Washington
Pasco is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Washington, United States.Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities region of the state of Washington...
, Washington, famous for his play for Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
.
He is thought of by many as the greatest running back in Pasco High School
Pasco High School
Pasco Senior High School, located at 1108 N. 10th Avenue in Pasco, Washington, is the largest high school in the Tri-Cities of Washington. Its mascot is the Bulldog and its colors are purple and white. Pasco High has a very diverse student body and a strong football program...
history. His accomplishments at PHS and later with the Washington State Cougars
Washington State Cougars
The Washington State Cougars are the athletic teams at Washington State University; the term applies to any of the school's varsity teams. Washington State University is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, which participates in the NCAA Division I...
in the early and middle 1950’s compare to other great backs of his day. Still, Duke Washington is best known as the first black man to ever play in the University of Texas’ Memorial Stadium.http://washingtonstate.scout.com/2/211958.html
Washington, a captain on the 1954 WSU squad, was given the option to not play against the Longhorns in their home stadium, which had an “unofficial” rule that forbid blacks from playing either for or against Texas. Washington said “no” and, despite having to stay at a private home instead of with the team in the hotel the night before http://wsucougars.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102706aaa.html, played well in the Cougar loss. In addition to becoming the first black athlete to play football in Memorial Stadium, Washington also became the first black athlete to score a touchdown in Memorial Stadium, torching the Longhorn defense for a 73-yard touchdown – much to the delight of the Texas crowd.
Duke Washington’s momentous color-breaking game and touchdown run are just one of many accomplishments he achieved on the gridiron. He played in the 1954 East West Shrine Game, helped the Cougars beat the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in the Apple Cup
Apple Cup
The Apple Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of an American college football rivalry game played annually by the teams of the two largest universities in the U.S. state of Washington: the University of Washington Huskies and the Washington State University Cougars...
three out of four times, and ran for 115 yards in a win at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
despite suiting up as a fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
. Duke’s career at Washington State was good enough to attract the attention of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who drafted Washington in 1955. After a year there, he was released and eventually found employment as a Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
-area art teacher.