BRAD PYE’S BOOK FOREWORD BY LEROY VAUGHN, MD, MBA, Historian

BRAD PYE’S BOOK FOREWORD 

BY LEROYVAUGHN, MD

        I was quite honored when Brad Pye Jr. asked me to write the foreword to his outstanding autobiographical book considering all the very distinguished people he could have chosen. Brad has uplifted the lives of thousands of people during his 60 plus years in Los Angeles and several of those deeds are outlined in this work. I am sure his toughest job was choosing which appreciation letters, tributes, and award documents to include in this outstanding compilation.

When I was recently asked who the real American heroes were, I answered that I most admired people who had dedicated their lives toward uplifting the lives of their fellow man and especially people less fortunate than themselves. In fact, I am in awe of people who have helped disenfranchised, bright, gifted, deserving, needy African Americans break through racial barriers and injustices. This esteemed group includes people like John Brown and Marcus Garvey. Brad Pye in my eyes has spent no less energy trying to help others.

John Brown dedicated his life toward the emancipation of all slaves. He actively campaigned to establish African American schools and helped Oberlin College to open its doors to “Negroes” in 1839. John Brown volunteered to personally teach Black farmers in New York how to clean up and plant farmland that he had convinced a wealthy New York landowner to donate. When slavery appeared to have no end, John Brown died trying to steal enough weapons to allow slaves to fight for their own freedom.

Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in Harlem in 1918. His vision was to organize the Black race through race pride, education, self-reliance, and economic development. Garvey attempted to promote race pride by stressing the importance of the historical accomplishments of people of African descent. He said “we were once masters in art, science, and literature”, and “whatsoever a Black man has done a Black man can do.” Self-reliance and economic development was Garvey’s second major theme. His ultimate objective was to manufacture every marketable commodity and to establish factories that could employ and train thousands of Black workers. Although Marcus Garvey did not achieve all his goals, his spirit fortunately lives though the millions of people he has inspired and uplifted. I am convinced part of that spirit reached Brad Pye Jr.

Brad Pye Jr.’s humble beginning started in Plain Dealing, Louisiana. In 1943 at the age of 12, he convinced a person driving to Los Angeles to allow him to ride along for $5. His loving mother steered him toward friends and joined him six years later. Brad parlayed this non air-conditioned journey into a magnificent career as an award winning manager and sports editor of the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper and as the sports director of multiple radio stations for many years including KGFJ, KJLH, KACE, and KDAY.

Brad’s outstanding sports journalism career provided him the opportunity to obtain a lofty civic stature and to befriend numerous sport owners and upper management personnel. He used those inroads to increase awareness of racial injustices and inequalities and to promote opportunities for qualified African Americans in numerous endeavors. For over 50 years Brad used his influence and “insider” leverage to help break racial barriers in every major sport including football, baseball, boxing, and track and field. Brad was there when Aaron Wade became the first African American to be named an American Football league (AFL) official and when Eldridge Dickey became the first Black American quarterback drafted into the NFL. As a good friend, recruiter, and “Administrative Assistant” to Oakland Raider owner Al Davis, Brad encouraged the first aggressive football recruiting from historically Black colleges. This foresight helped the Raiders win 3 Super bowl championships. It is also no coincidence that Al Davis hired Art Shell as the first Black American head football coach in the NFL.

In professional baseball, Brad also worked tirelessly to promote Black “firsts”. He and others wrote numerous letters and met personally with the late Dodger owner Walter O’Malley. Eventually, Emmet Ashford became the first African American umpire called up to the Major league. Brad and others like Wendell Smith of the Pittsburgh Courier newspaper also helped promote the acceptance of major league baseball stars like Sam Lacey and Jackie Robinson who became his very close friend.

Although Brad is well known for promoting prep athletes at major southern California universities like UCLA and USC, he is just as recognized for obtaining press box accommodations for Black journalists in Southern California. Black journalists are now a staple in the press boxes of the Dodgers, Lakers and all other major sporting events.

Brad Pye Jr.’s great career also touched the lives of numerous non athletes. Among those who thank him and sing his praises include the late Attorney Johnnie Cochran who thanked him for 30 years of friendship and promotion long before the national media “discovered” him. Personally, my story is not unlike Attorney Cochran. When I told Brad that I had difficulty establishing my private practice as the only Black Retinal specialist on the West Coast, he told me not to worry. He subsequently published my resume in the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper and appointed me to the State Boxing Commission and the State Athletic Commission. To demonstrate his trust, he even sent his mother to me shortly thereafter when she developed a retinal detachment. I cherish our 30 year friendship.

I am confident that after reading this autobiographic collection of letters, tributes, and awards, the reader will be amazed at what one man can accomplish for his fellow man when intensely motivated. Perhaps this book can inspire the reader to also help others.

LEROY W. VAUGHN, MD, MBA, Historian

Dr. Vaughn's book BLACK PEOPLE AND THEIR PLACE IN WORLD HISTORY opens with a review by Brad Pye, Jr.