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The inspiring story of Chuck Ealey
The inspiring story of Chuck Ealey
African-American football player Chuck Ealey grew up in a segregated neighborhood of Portsmouth, Ohio. Against all odds, he became an incredible quarterback. But despite his unbeaten record in high school and university, he would never play professional football in the United States.
Chuck Ealey grew up poor in a racially segregated community, but his mother assured him that he wouldn’t stay in Portsmouth forever. Education was the way out, and a football scholarship was the way to pay for that education. So despite the racist taunts he faced at all the games he played in high school, Chuck maintained a remarkable level of dedication and determination. And when discrimination followed him to university and beyond, Chuck Ealey remained undefeated.
Charles “Chuck” Ealey is a former American Canadian football player for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
He became the first black quarterback to win the Grey Cup when he led Hamilton to the title in 1972.
Back in the USA, he played high school football for Notre Dame High School in Portsmouth, Ohio. The author of this book is his daughter!
Destination/location: Portsmouth, Ohio, Canada Author/guide: Jael Ealey Richardson Departure Time: 1940s onwards
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