12 Facts About Jerry Harkness

Jerald B Harkness was an American professional basketball player.

Jerry Harkness played for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association and the Indiana Pacers of the American Basketball Association.

Jerry Harkness was enshrined in history as he shook hands with Joe Dan Gold, the white captain of Mississippi State, prior to tip-off.

Jerry Harkness spent three seasons with the Twin Cities Sailors of the NABL; in his third NABL season, he was named All-League.

Jerry Harkness then played two seasons with the ABA's Indiana Pacers.

In 1970, Jerry Harkness became the first African-American fundraiser in Indianapolis, working for the United Way of Greater Indianapolis.

Jerry Harkness was Indianapolis' first African-American sportscaster at WTHR in the mid to late 1970s.

Jerry Harkness devoted much of his time to civil rights issues.

Jerry Harkness worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the early 1970s, and he served as executive director of the Indianapolis chapter of 100 Black Men, a national organization dedicated to supporting and training young African American males.

Jerry Harkness died in Indianapolis on August 24,2021, at the age of 81.

In June 2013, Jerry Harkness was awarded the Muhammad Ali Athlete Award.

Jerry Harkness is a member of the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame and the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame.