An Ivy League Pioneer

Dartmouth's first African-American football player made his mark on and off the field.

IN THE PHOTO OF THE 1901 DARTMOUTH football team, one face stands out. It is the face of Matthew Bullock, class of 1904, the first African American to play football at Dartmouth. Not only did he excel as a college athlete, but Bullock also went on to distinguish himself as a remarkable lawyer, coach, humanitarianand loyal alum. His many successes were marked by a simple refusal to allow obstacles to remain in his path.

Born on September 11,1881, in Dabney, North Carolina, Bullock was one of seven children of former slaves Jesse and Amanda Bullock. In 1889 the Bullocks moved to Everett, Massachusetts, to seek a better life with all they had: ten dollars.

Bullock attended public schools in Boston and Everett before graduating from Everett High School in 1900. There he excelled both in the classroom and on the athletic fields. His senior year he was elected captain of the baseball, football and track teams.

At Dartmouth Bullock again enjoyed academic and extracurricular success. He played football and ran track. As only the second African American to play football in the Ivy League, he earned honorable mention All-America status for the 1902 season. But Bullock, an end, saw his football career cut short the next year when a Princeton tackier made a crushing hit, breaking Bullocks collarbone. Some speculated the hit was intended to injure Bullock and that Princeton players had targeted him because of his race. A Princeton player later admitted that the hit had indeed been intended to knock Bullock out of the game—not because of his color but because he was the best player on the field.

Bullock also earned laurels for his singing voice. An advertisement for one concert read: "Bullock, the famous colored Baritone of Dartmouth, will be the chief attraction with new selections. He is the finest singer in the college." To make extra money during summers, Bullock traveled with Ned Estes, class of 1905, performing concerts at various hotels and resorts around New England.

Bullocks academic record earned him admission to Harvard Law School. To help finance his studies there, he took a job as the head football coach at Massa-chusetts Agricultural College, later the University of Massachusetts, where he is thought to be the first African-American head football coach at a predominantly white school. He coached the M.A.C. team to a 5-2-1 record during the 1904 season. The editor of the M.A.C. CollegeSignal gave much of the credit to the new coach: "For this success a large share of the praise is due to our coach, Matthew W. Bullock, the former Dartmouth star. A student of football and a fine conditioner of men, he put his heart and soul into the task and throughout the season had the team coming.'"

During the 1905 and 1906 seasons Bullock left M.A.C. to coach at Maiden High School. In his absence the M.A.C. team's record plunged to 3-7 in 1905 and 1-7-1 in 1906. Naturally, his return to M.A.C. as coach for the 1907 season was viewed with great anticipation. As the treasurer of the athletic board wrote to alumni: "Mr. Bullock, who was our coach two years ago, is the famous Dartmouth 'end' of several years ago and is one of the best football coaches in this part of the country. He is a gentleman of excellent character and 'knows his business.' The college authorities and the student body and the members of the team are satisfied and pleased that he has been secured." Bullock restored the M.A.C. team's winning ways in the 1907 season, leading them to a 5-3-1 record.

After the 1908 season Bullock headed south to accept a position as athletic director and professor at Atlanta Baptist College, later Morehouse College. There he met and married Katherine H.Wright, with whom he raised two children. In 1914 he accepted a position as dean of the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Normal, Alabama, where he stayed for two years before returning to the Northeast.

Back in Boston, Bullock practiced law privately and served under nine different governors as a member of the parole board, leaving a lasting mark with a petition that called for the consideration of clemency in cases where prisoners were sentenced to life in prison. He'd seen too many cases of undeserving prisoners with influential friends being extended clemency while others who were more deserving but without such supporters remained in prison.

Throughout his career Bullock remained loyal to his alma mater. As a community leader in and around Boston, Bullock encouraged many young people to think about college, particularly about Dartmouth. H. Carl McCall '58, former New York State comptroller and deputy UN ambassador, was among Bullocks students when Bullock taught a Sunday school class. McCall says Bullock was a mentor who always encouraged him to think about continuing his education after high school. If not for Bullocks encouragement and example, McCall, who came from a family that once had to go on welfare to stay afloat, says he might have never considered college as an option. Bullock promised McCall that if he were admitted to Dartmouth, he wouldn't have to worry about finances. True to his word, Bullock paid for the portion of McCall's tuition that wasn't covered by scholarships and continued to provide financial assistance when McCall pursued graduate work at the University of Edinburgh. Although Bullock was a man of considerable status in the community, McCall says, "He never made a big thing out of it."

Dartmouth recognized Bullocks service and achievements in 1971, a year before his death at age 91, by presenting him with an honorary degree. His honorary degree citation read, in part: "You believe very deeply that the establishment of universal justice and freedom requires the spiritual and moral awakening of all people. Dartmouth is proud today to honor a son...by awarding you the honorary doctorate of laws."

Matthew Bullock