CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — When Lane Tech students head to class Monday, they’ll see a new name on their football field.
Over the weekend the North Side school dedicated the field to Fritz Pollard, a trailblazing former player.
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, who graduated from Lane Tech in 1983, read a proclamation at the newly named Fritz Pollard Field.
“While this moment is long overdue, we are confident that the legacy of Fritz Pollard will continue to inspire generations to strive for greatness,” Miller said.
The school’s alumni association has been pushing for the dedication for years and streamed the Saturday morning event.
Pollard graduated in 1912 from Lane, where he earned the nickname Mercury for his speed on the track, basketball court and football field.
Football took him to Brown University, where he led the team to the Rose Bowl in 1915 and was named All-American twice.
The running back signed with the Akron Pros the year Jackie Robinson was born and became the first Black head coach and one of the first two Black players in pro football.
Class of ’74 alum Lewis Carr called Pollard “one of the most influential, courageous and skillful athletes and individuals of our time.”
“When you think about what he did at the time that he did it, remember this was before civil rights, this was before Black people had the right to vote,” Carr said.
Dr. Stephen Towns thanked organizers for honoring his late grandfather.
Plaques on the stadium detailed how Pollard was posthumously inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, but it also highlighted his entrepreneurial spirit. Pollard founded the first Black-owned tabloid newspaper, a talent agency and an investment firm.
Lane Tech Principal Edwina Thompson said Pollard paved the way for her to lead the school.
“That legacy is filled with countless firsts, which speak to his fearlessness,” Thompson said. “His fights for civil rights, which testify to his boldness. His courage to believe that he could accomplish unprecedented feats.”
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