World News – USA – Texas unveils statue of Julius Whittier, Longhorn’s first black football letterman

The University of Texas unveiled a statue on its campus on Friday in honor of the pioneering soccer player Julius Whittier:

Whittier’s statue stands in front of the Hall of Fame for the Frank Denius Family University of Texas Athletics, which officially opened last year in the North End Zone of Darrell K’s Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Whittier is one of the most significant figures in Longhorns football history as he was the first black athlete to write in football and receive a scholarship from the school.

After Texas formed the last all-white national team in college football history in 1969, Whittier made his debut for the team in 1970.

Whittier played both guard and tight end during his three seasons in Texas, leading the Longhorns to their second straight national title in 1970.

After that 1970 national championship win, the Longhorns wouldn’t win another national title for 35 years when Vince Young, a black quarterback, led them past USC in the National Championship Game.

In addition to the national title, Whittier’s Longhorns teams won three titles at the Southwest Conference and went 20-1 into the conference game during his tenure.

Whittier graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1980 and began a long career as a criminal defense attorney for the Dallas County Attorney’s Office.

Whittier was inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 2013 thanks to breaking the color barrier within the University of Texas football program and excelling on the field as well.

Whittier was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2012. He died at the age of 68 in 2018.

American Football, Texas Longhorns, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, College Football