The photographs capturing the brutal assault on Johnny Bright during a 1951 football game against Oklahoma A&M ignited national outrage and brought the pervasive racism faced by Black athletes into sharp focus. These impactful images, documenting the egregious on-field attack, were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in 1952, recognizing the exceptional work of Des Moines Register photographers John Robinson and Don Ultang.
In the wake of the violent incident against Bright during the Oklahoma A&M game, Drake University made a decisive move, withdrawing from the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) in protest of the conference’s inaction against Oklahoma A&M. Bradley University stood in solidarity with Drake, also leaving the MVC. Decades later, in 2005, Oklahoma State University President David Schmidly issued a formal letter of apology to Drake University, acknowledging his institution’s team’s conduct as “an ugly mark on Oklahoma State University and college football.”
Despite the racial prejudice he encountered, Johnny Bright’s exceptional football talent led to his selection by the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles as the fifth overall pick in the 1952 draft. Bright was poised to break barriers as the Eagles’ first Black player. However, facing credible threats of racist retaliation, Bright made the difficult decision to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL). This move proved pivotal, as Bright flourished in the CFL, becoming one of the most celebrated and accomplished professional football players in Canadian history. His legendary career was honored with induction into the CFL Hall of Fame in 1970.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Johnny Bright was a dedicated educator. Utilizing his bachelor’s degree in education from Drake University, he dedicated himself to teaching, coaching, and school administration within Edmonton Public Schools, both during and after his illustrious football career. For a significant part of the 1960s, he coached football at Bonnie Doon High School. At the time of his passing, he held the esteemed position of junior high school principal. His commitment to education is further memorialized by the Johnny Bright School, a kindergarten through grade-nine institution in Edmonton that proudly bears his name.
To commemorate his enduring athletic legacy, Drake University officially named the football field at Drake Stadium as Johnny Bright Field in 2006. Further solidifying his profound impact, Drake University established Bright College in his memory, honoring Johnny Bright’s remarkable legacy as an accomplished and deeply committed educator – an aspect of his life’s work he held in the highest regard.
