55 years later, UGA’s first Black football players empower off the field

Chuck Kinnebrew did not think about making history playing college football 55 years ago.

The Rome, Georgia, native was recruited to play defensive lineman at the University of Georgia but wasn’t convinced attending college in Athens was a good fit. The University of Tennessee was his first choice because he saw they had Black student-athletes.

“They had (wide receiver) Lester McClain, and the last thing I wanted to do was go through a situation where I was going to be the first by myself. I had experiences like that in junior high school, and I didn’t want to go through that again,” Kinnebrew told UATL.

Kinnebrew changed his tune after he got a phone call from Larry West, a Georgia prospect from Albany whose first choice was the University of Southern California. West’s parents wanted him close to home.

“I wanted to go out where (fullback) Sam ‘Bam’ Cunningham was, but Mom said that was too far and she needed me to be in a place where she could get to me at the spur of the moment,” West, a defensive back, said.

In 1971, Kinnebrew and West listened to their families and enrolled at UGA, joining Horace King, Clarence Pope and Richard Appleby to become The Bulldogs Original Five, UGA’s first Black football players.

They hope their courage, unity and commitment to excellence resonate with students on — and off — the gridiron.

On Sunday, The Bulldogs Original Five is having their world premiere of “The First Five: Legacy in Motion,” a candid documentary chronicling how they broke UGA’s color barrier in sports, at The Gathering Spot. Told using archival footage, interviews and the players’ backstories, it tells how their brotherhood, determination and resilience overcame racism and doubt to change college sports and diversity on campus.

“When one of us was challenged, we held each other accountable and chose not to make a spectacle of that. If action was taken, it happened on the football field to make certain people respect us. From that, we developed a family,” West said.

Cornerback Larry West was part of the Bulldogs Original Five, the first Black football players at the University of Georgia in 1971. (Courtesy of The Bulldogs Original Five)

At the premiere, The Bulldogs Original Five is launching The Bulldogs Original Five Enrichment and Scholarship Funds under its nonprofit organization, The Bulldogs Original Five Foundation. The charity provides education, mentorship and leadership development to UGA students.

The need-based scholarship is awarded to a first-generation student from an underserved or rural area. The enrichment fund supports programs that foster student engagement.

Wide receiver Richard Appleby is part of The Bulldogs Original Five. (Courtesy of The Bulldogs Original Five)

According to The Bulldogs Original Five, they are the first student-athlete group from UGA to commit to an endowment and scholarship program.

“We wanted to do something other than have statues. It gives us a chance to set a precedent, provide some guidance, hope the students take it upon themselves to come together, and do the same thing that exists well beyond our years,” Kinnebrew said.

Linebacker Clarence Pope is part of The Bulldogs Original Five. (Courtesy of The Bulldogs Original Five)

In 2021, The Bulldogs Original Five reunited in Athens to celebrate their 50th anniversary of integrating UGA’s football team. They meet every Wednesday to strategize how to preserve their story and promote school spirit.

The documentary premieres during the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. Kinnebrew said it’s a formal introduction to the public.

“We try to meet people firsthand, tell this story as often as we can, allow them to see who, what and how we are,” Kinnebrew said.

Running back Horace King is part of The Bulldogs Original Five. (Courtesy of The Bulldogs Original Five)

The Bulldogs Original Five’s documentary and scholarship program is also arriving at a time when cultural institutions are removing exhibits celebrating cultural diversity and universities are cutting inclusion programs.

“We’re helping students navigate some of the landmines their other colleagues were able to get the right type of guidance and direction than they did,” Kinnebrew said.

Kinnebrew, who held executive positions at The Home Depot and Floor & Decor, hopes the Bulldog Five’s story and efforts empower students to become change agents.

“We’re just trying to close that gap and put kids in a position to accelerate their development,” he said.

The other four men held successful careers in sports, business and ministry after UGA. Appleby was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Canadian Football League. After leaving the league, he opened a business in Hawaii, where he still resides.

King played for the Detroit Lions before retiring from General Motors’ engineering department. Pope and West became pastors.