Pettis Norman, a trailblazing 12-year NFL veteran who spent the majority of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, has died at the age of 86.
Norman spent nine years with the Cowboys and was on the franchise’s first team to reach a Super Bowl — a Super Bowl V loss to the Baltimore Colts. Norman, who played his final three seasons with the San Diego Chargers, served in the Texas Army National Guard during his first seven NFL seasons.
Norman was renowned for his work as a civil rights advocate. In the 1990s, he founded the Dallas Together Forum, an initiative that worked with Dallas CEOs to improve minority hiring and awarding of contracts to women and minority-owned businesses by Dallas companies.
“We mourn the passing of former tight end and civil rights advocate Pettis Norman,” the Cowboys said Monday. “Known for his selfless leadership, commitment to community, and dedication to creating equal opportunity, we were incredibly proud and grateful to share his remarkable story recently.”
Norman’s work as a civil rights advocate began in college when he was part of lunch counterprotests in an effort to help promote integration. On the field, Norman’s success at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte was noticed by Cowboys scout Gil Brandt, who would go on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Norman was drafted in the 16th round of the 1962 AFL Draft by the Dallas Texans, but Brandt was able to sign Norman to the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.
In Dallas, Norman helped convinced Cowboys Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry to no longer assign hotel rooms based on race. Off the field, Norman became the first Black official at a bank in Dallas.
“Pettis encouraged all of the players to open up bank accounts,” former Cowboys running back Calvin Hill said. “He encouraged us to establish credit. He encouraged us to get involved in the community.”
Norman also…
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