Mr. Frederick Douglass “Fritz” Pollard is a class of 1912 alumnus who was also a three- sport athlete- football, baseball, and track. He attended Brown University where he was the first Black quarterback. He later became the first Black quarterback and first Black head coach in the NFL which contributed to his posthumous induction into the NFL Hall of fame in 2005. He also started his own football team- The Brown Bombers. In Addition to his noteworthy athletic feats, Mr. Pollard was a producer, writer, entrepreneur, and most importantly, an advocate for equal treatment. The Lane Tech Alumni Association is currently sponsoring an tremendous effort to name the field at Lane Stadium after Mr. Pollard. The Lane Tech Alumni Association has created a presentation outlining this effort and more importantly, the life of Mr. Pollard. Please contact them at https://lanetechalumni.org/ to offer support towards this notable endeavor. We honor the life and legacy of Mr. Pollard!

For a more detailed overview of Mr.Pollard’s life and accomplishments please click here to view an article presented by the Lane Tech Alumni Association.