Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier
On June 5, 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy Was Leaving His Victory Rally After Defeating Eugene McCarthy In The California Democratic Primary When He Was Assassinated By Sirhan Sirhan. Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier Immediately Disarmed The Gunman By Banging His Hand Repeatedly On A Table Until The Gun Fell.
Grier, A Former Defensive Tackle For The New York Giants And The Los Angeles Rams, Was One Of Three Black Bodyguards That Protected Kennedy. The Others Were Olympic Decathlon Champion, Rafer Johnson And Another Former Los Angeles Rams Player And Teammate, Deacon Jones.
After Playing On The Defensive Line On The Penn State University Football Team, Grier Was Drafted As The 31st Overall Pick In The Third Round Of The 1955 NFL Draft, By The New York Giants. He Played With The Giants From 1955 - 1962, During Which Time He Led Them To An NFL Championship In 1956 And The Eastern Conference Championship In 1958, 1959, 1961 And 1962. Grier Was Selected For The Pro Bowl In 1956 And 1960, And Was Named All-Pro Defensive Tackle In 1956, 1958 And 1962.
He Was Traded, July 1963, To The Los Angeles Rams, Where He Became Part Of The Legendary, "Fearsome Foursome" Defensive Line That Included Lamar Lundy, Merlin Olsen And Deacon Jones. In 1967, He Suffered A Torn Achilles Tendon That Ended His Professional Football Career. After Retirement From The NFL, He Had Stints As A Singer And Television And Film Actor.
Today, Grier Is A Christian Minister And Prominent Member Of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He's Also On the Milken Family Foundation Board Of Trustees -- Serving As its Program Administrator Of Community Affairs.
Rosey Grier Has Been Honored By Penn State As Recipient Of The Distinguished Alumni Award in 1974, And The Alumni Fellow Award In 1991. He Was Named To The NCAA's "List Of The 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes,” Published To Commemorate The NCAA's 100th Anniversary. In 1997, He Was Inducted Into The New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame.
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
Grier, A Former Defensive Tackle For The New York Giants And The Los Angeles Rams, Was One Of Three Black Bodyguards That Protected Kennedy. The Others Were Olympic Decathlon Champion, Rafer Johnson And Another Former Los Angeles Rams Player And Teammate, Deacon Jones.
After Playing On The Defensive Line On The Penn State University Football Team, Grier Was Drafted As The 31st Overall Pick In The Third Round Of The 1955 NFL Draft, By The New York Giants. He Played With The Giants From 1955 - 1962, During Which Time He Led Them To An NFL Championship In 1956 And The Eastern Conference Championship In 1958, 1959, 1961 And 1962. Grier Was Selected For The Pro Bowl In 1956 And 1960, And Was Named All-Pro Defensive Tackle In 1956, 1958 And 1962.
He Was Traded, July 1963, To The Los Angeles Rams, Where He Became Part Of The Legendary, "Fearsome Foursome" Defensive Line That Included Lamar Lundy, Merlin Olsen And Deacon Jones. In 1967, He Suffered A Torn Achilles Tendon That Ended His Professional Football Career. After Retirement From The NFL, He Had Stints As A Singer And Television And Film Actor.
Today, Grier Is A Christian Minister And Prominent Member Of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He's Also On the Milken Family Foundation Board Of Trustees -- Serving As its Program Administrator Of Community Affairs.
Rosey Grier Has Been Honored By Penn State As Recipient Of The Distinguished Alumni Award in 1974, And The Alumni Fellow Award In 1991. He Was Named To The NCAA's "List Of The 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes,” Published To Commemorate The NCAA's 100th Anniversary. In 1997, He Was Inducted Into The New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame.
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
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