34 Facts About Lowell Perry

Lowell Wesley Perry was an American football player and coach, government official, businessman, and broadcaster.

Lowell Perry was the first African-American assistant coach in the National Football League, the first African American to broadcast an NFL game to a national audience, and Chrysler's first African-American plant manager.

Lowell Perry was appointed as chairman of the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by President Gerald Ford, holding that position from 1975 to 1976.

Lowell Perry later served as the director of the Michigan Department of Labor from 1990 to 1996.

Lowell Perry's father, Lawrence C Perry, was a dentist who graduated from the University of Michigan in 1920.

Lowell Perry grew up in Ypsilanti, where his father maintained a dental practice and was a respected civic leader.

Lowell Perry attended Ypsilanti High School where he was a standout multi-sport athlete.

Lowell Perry lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track during his high school career.

Lowell Perry graduated from the University of Michigan where he studied history and played football for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1950 to 1952.

Lowell Perry was a two-way player who played end on offense and safety on defense and handled punt returns for the Wolverines.

Lowell Perry was considered as the best defensive back in college football during the 1951 season, and was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team All-Big Ten Player and by the United Press as a first-team player on its All-Midwest team.

In three seasons for Michigan, Lowell Perry had 71 receptions for 1,261 yards and nine touchdowns.

Lowell Perry had two additional touchdown catches against Indiana in 1952.

Lowell Perry returned 42 punts at Michigan for 351 yards, an average of 10.9 yards per return.

Lowell Perry was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the eighth round of the 1953 NFL draft.

Lowell Perry joined the United States Air Force, where he achieved the rank of second lieutenant.

Lowell Perry was named the outstanding football player in the military.

In 1956, Lowell Perry joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as an end.

On his first play for the Steelers, Lowell Perry ran 93 yards for a touchdown in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions.

Lowell Perry returned 11 punts for 127 yards and nine kickoffs for 219 yards.

Lowell Perry's pelvis was fractured, his hip dislocated and he never played pro football again.

Lowell Perry was hospitalized at Pittsburgh's Mercy Hospital for 13 weeks after the injury.

Lowell Perry worked as a scout for the Steelers in 1958.

Lowell Perry received a law degree from Detroit College of Law in 1960.

Lowell Perry was the first African-American to broadcast an NFL game to a national audience.

Lowell Perry was the first African American to hold the plant manager position at a US automobile company.

In 1975, Lowell Perry was appointed by President Gerald Ford to be chairman of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

At the ceremony in which Lowell Perry was sworn in, President Ford spoke and made the following comments:.

Lowell Perry first came to my attention when I saw his prowess on the gridiron at the University of Michigan.

Lowell Perry was really good and played not only exceptionally well at Ann Arbor but very well for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Lowell Perry resigned from the EEOC after one year and returned to Chrysler.

Lowell Perry returned to government service in 1990 as director of the Michigan Department of Labor, a position he held for six years.

Lowell Perry was married in January 1954 and had a daughter and two sons, one of whom is former New York Knicks basketball executive and former University of Michigan coach Scott Lowell Perry.

Lowell Perry died of cancer at a hospital in Southfield, Michigan, in January 2001.