In “Part 1” we looked at an amazing photograph of all five Black Bruins from the 1939 undefeated squad. The players appear to be dressed up with jackets and/or ties as if at some special event. And indeed they are!
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The photo itself was taken on November 9, 1939, and appeared in the November 16, 1939, edition of the California Daily Eagle, a newspaper serving California’s Black community. The paper’s tagline is particularly apt as it pertains not only to the photo itself, which appeared nowhere else, but to Johnny Wynne’s very existence on the team.
As for the photo’s occasion and context, I’ll provide here in full the photo’s caption and two accompanying articles.
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PHOTO CAPTION
UCLA’s FIVE football stars, who have been making the nation’s sports headlines, and their coach, Edwin “Babe” Horrell, got together like this when they were guests last Thursday evening at a banquet tendered in their honor (see story). From left to right: Woodrow Wilson Strode, end; Jackie Robinson, halfback; coach Horrell; Kenny Washington, halfback; Ray Bartlett, end and halfback. Kneeling in center is fullback Johnny Wynne. This is the first time that all five of the Bruin aces have appeared together on one picture. –Adair Photo.
Regarding that last point, I’ll elaborate a bit further. To my knowledge this is the only published photo showing all five Black Bruins. Even the official team photo is missing Wynne, likely due to its being taken during his two weeks away from the team.
And with that, here’s the story referred to by the caption. Yet another way this team was decades ahead of its time!
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UCLA GRID STARS AND COACHES ENTERTAINED BY BUSINESS LEADERS
Unprecedented Affair Given to Show Appreciation of Boys, Coaches
By J. CULLEN FENTRESS
Effectively bridging the breach between school—its varied activities and high hopes and ambitions—and the world of reality, seven local business, professional and civic leaders were hosts last Thursday evening to six University of California at Los Angeles athletes and two of their coaches at an unprecedented get-together banquet.
“We have arranged this affair,” stated toastmaster Paul R. Williams, “in order that we may show our appreciation to coaches “Babe” Horrell and Jim Blewett for their work at UCLA and to these boys, Kenny Washington, Woodrow Strode, Jackie Robinson, Ray Bartlett, Johnny Wynne and [track athlete] Tom Bradley, for what they are doing on the athletic field and in the school room.
“We want these boys to know that we are not only interested in their current achievements but want them to know that when they shall have completed their stay at the university we are prepared to offer encouragement and assistance, financial and moral, in seeing that they get off on the right foot in pursuing their life’s work,” the famous architect concluded as he outlined the purpose behind the gathering.
Preceding Mr. Williams’ remarks, he played a recording of a football sermon delivered the previous Sunday by the Rev. Clayton D. Russell, young pastor of the People’s Independent Church of Christ.
NO IDLE TALK
As if to prove his was no idle talk, toastmaster Williams pointed to Norman O. Houston, secretary-treasurer of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance company; J.L. Hill, manager of the Angelus Funeral Home; L.G. Robinson, county official and president of the Angelus; Rev. Russell, Dr. F.R. Whiteman, and Frank Harvey of Harvey Bros.’ Sand and Gravel company.
A sporting gesture of the highest type, several of the guests and athletes prepared for what was to follow by indulging in a bit of badminton and ping pong on the spacious lawn in the rear of Mr. Williams’ home on West 35th street before sitting down in the Pine House to one of caterer Roy L. Loggins’ delicious and thoroughly palatable dinners.
Steaks and venison were suited to the he-man appetites of the athletes, most of whom had just finished practice sessions out on the Westwood field in preparation for the game next Saturday between the Bruins and the Santa Clara Broncos. Just as it suited the appetite of the athlete, so did the food satisfy the gastronomical urge of the hosts, sports writers and other guests in attendance.
Spellbinders all, to use the expression of Guy Harris of the university’s Y.M.C.A., Messrs. Houston, Robinson, Russell and Whiteman, reiterated in effect what toastmaster Williams said in his opening remarks.
COACHES SPEAK
Speakers among the guests included Dr. Charles Satchell Morris, professor of English and director of publicity at Tennessee State college, Nashville; Herman Hill of the sports writing fraternity, Mr. Harris, and Ben Persons, UCLA director of publicity.
Coaches Horrell and Blewett both spoke, lauding the spirit and praising the ability of the UCLA stars present, and expressed the hope that all of them would complete their courses of study, for as Horrell said, only about six percent of the athletes, otherwise eligible, are able to come up to U.C.L.A.’s scholastic requirements.
The Bruin’s great backfield star, Kenny Washington, who incidentally is a candidate for the 1939 All-American, spoke for his mates.
“There is so much to be said I hardly know where to begin but I am certain I express the sentiments of the rest of the fellows when I say that we certainly appreciate this manifestation of interest in us. We want action and the opportunity to ‘put our foot in the door’. We will do the rest,” Kenny stated.
Guests, other than those named heretofore, were Melvin Nickerson, Leon H. Washington, John Riddle and the writer. Ray Richards, UCLA line coach, and Bill Ackerman, graduate manager, were unable to be present because of other duties.
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In my months of research on Johnny Wynne, this was my favorite find. Beyond the photo, I particularly loved the way the Black community stepped up to make sure the Bruin athletes had paths forward even once their college days were over. (In a better world, the white community would have stepped up also.)
Would the NCAA I grew up with have lauded such a gathering? Sadly, I think it would have been even more likely to impose sanctions! “What?! Are these amateur student-athletes being offered benefits? Steak, venison, and business cards?!”
The other thing that struck me was the kinds of careers the men in attendance had to offer: insurance; funeral home services; and sand and gravel! One can only imagine then how bleak the job situation might have been without community support. (Or look no further than Jackie’s brother, who won Olympic silver in 1936 and resorted to sweeping sidewalks.)
Certainly nobody would have guessed these futures for the six athletes honored that evening:
- Tom Bradley – Mayor of Los Angeles
- Kenny Washington – VP, Seagram’s
- Jackie Robinson – VP, Chock Full o’ Nuts
- Woody Strode – world famous actor
- Johnny Wynne – Research director for first Black-owned brokerage in the United States
- Ray Bartlett – Deputy supervisor, Los Angeles county
We’ll call it the sand and gravel industry’s loss and the world’s gain.
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As if this one page of the Eagle didn’t already have enough gold, sports editor Fentress (who also wrote the article) made the banquet the subject of his column as well.
The column is pure gold, and you can read it in Part 3.
1939 Bruins: Tribute to a Legendary Team 
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