Burl Toler dies at 81; first African American game official in NFL history

[Blue_Tires]

Burl Toler, the first African American game official in NFL history, has died. He was 81.

Toler died Sunday at a hospital in Castro Valley, Calif., according to the University of San Francisco. He was a star lineman and linebacker on the Dons' 1951 football team that was denied a bowl bid despite a 9-0 record because it refused to leave its two black players -- Toler and Ollie Matson -- behind.

"We were disappointed at the time, sure," Toler told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2001. "But we were not going to accept any old thing; it was not what the team, our coach or the university stood for. We were very fortunate and blessed to have had a group like that."

Toler was drafted by the Cleveland Browns but suffered a career-ending knee injury in a 1952 college all-star game against the Rams. He was hired by the NFL in 1965.

"Burl Toler was a pioneer as the first African American game official in pro sports," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "He was a great athlete who then became a great official. The NFL will always be proud of his contributions to football and his unique place in NFL history."
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-burl-toler18-2009aug18,0,7624192.story

[firedupdem]

1. Wow, was Cleveland the only team that would allow black players?

I just watched "The Express" for the 55th time and I noticed that Cleveland was the team that didn't have a problem hiring a black athlete.

[Blue_Tires]

2. they were definitely one of the forerunners

but then again Paul Brown was FAR ahead of his time on integration and the evolution of football offenses...

[firedupdem]

3. There were a few teams my father never supported because of

their "no blacks" stance. The Bears was one of them. I used to feel embarrassed that he didn't support the hometown team. We were too young to understand how life had been much different for him.

[Fire1]

4. Interesting. Thanks, Blue Tires. n/t