Walter Beach, III was born on January 31,1933 and is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back in the American Football League and National Football League.
16 Facts About Walter Beach
1.
2.
Walter Beach played college football for the Central Michigan Chippewas.
3.
Walter Beach encountered much racism in his hometown and in the Air Force.
4.
Walter Beach played college football for four years there, as a member of the offense.
5.
Walter Beach led the team in both rushing and pass reception in his sophomore and junior years, the 1957 and 1958 seasons.
6.
Walter Beach was inducted into the university's Hall of Fame in 1985.
7.
Walter Beach later praised the team's coach, Kenneth Kelly, as "a man" for refusing to accept racism aimed at Beach.
8.
Walter Beach was selected by the National Football League's New York Giants in the 15th round of the 1960 NFL draft, but was released in training camp.
9.
Walter Beach then signed with the Boston Patriots of the American Football League, and played professionally with them in 1960 and 1961.
10.
Walter Beach did not play football during the 1962 season; instead, he returned to his hometown of Pontiac to teach elementary school students.
11.
Walter Beach started the game, covered future Hall of Fame wide receiver Raymond Berry, held him to three receptions for 38 yards, made one interception on Johnny Unitas, and returned it for nine yards.
12.
Browns owner Art Modell asked him not to read that book and Walter Beach responded to the effect that Modell employed him, but did not own him, and could not dictate what he could read.
13.
Walter Beach said that at the start of the 1967 season the Browns put him on waivers, which would allow any other team to hire him, but twice when other teams were interested, the Browns retracted Beach's name from the waiver list, preventing them from hiring him.
14.
Walter Beach said he had been "blackballed" from the NFL.
15.
The lawsuit was settled in 1975, with Walter Beach receiving back pay and his pension.
16.
Walter Beach is the CEO of Amer-I-Can of New York, a life skills management program founded by his friend and teammate Jim Brown.