LOWELL W. PERRY

'Lowell Perry' (December 5, 1931 - January 7, 2001) was the NFL's first African American assistant coach, the first African American NFL broadcaster, and Chrysler's first African American plant manager. He was appointed EEOC Commissioner by President Ford, served as the director of Michigan's Department of Labor, and served on the board of the NFL Board of Charities.
Perry was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan and attended college at the University of Michigan. He was an all-American receiver for the Michigan Wolverines,^[1][2] and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 8th round in the 1953 NFL Draft.^[3] In 1956 After fulfilling his ROTC obligations for the Air Force (where he achieved 2nd Lieutenant) Perry began his short career for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played only six games with the Steelers before serious injury forced his retirement. In 1957, the Steelers hired Perry to be their receiver's coach, making him the NFL's first African American coach.^[4]
After a single season as a receiver's coach (1957) and a talent scout (1958), Perry left the Steelers organization to earn his law degree from Detroit College of Law which he received in 1960.^[5]
In 1966 Lowell Perry became the first African American color analyst for CBS Television when they hired him to broadcast Steelers games alongside Joe Tucker.^[6]
In 1973 Perry was appointed the plant manager of Chrysler Corporation's Detroit Universal Division - the first African American to hold the plant manager position at a U.S. automobile company.^[7]
In 1975, Perry was appointed by President Ford to be commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.^[8] He served as EEOC commissioner until 1976.
Perry continued his career as a public servant in 1990 as director of Michigan's Department of Labor for six years, and director of Office of Urban Programs until his retirement in 1999.^[9]

Contents

References

External links

References

1. Lowell Perry 2001 Deaths
2. University of Michigan Athletic History
3. databaseFootball.com
4. Pro Football Hall of Fame
5. EEOC
6.
7.

8.
The American Presidency Project
9.

External links

★ http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/pioneering_perry_070204.html

★ http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/perry.html

★ http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/boc/agenda/bd/year_1999/1999-03-24bd/index_html/bc_99-3-24bd3.pdf

★ http://www.coachwyatt.com/JAN01.html

★ http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07034/759130-66.stm

★ http://www.answers.com/topic/lowell-perry

★ http://www.footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=perryl

★ http://www.ypsd.org/ypsdroot/Schools/yhs/Athletics/Football/prghis.html (high school)