When Vice President Kamala Harris greeted Dick Barnett on Friday, he was concise in his response.
“Finally.”At long last, six surviving members of the all-Black Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State University in Nashville visited the White House, the culmination of a decades-long effort, led by Mr. Barnett, for recognition.
The Tennessee A&I Tigers were the first team from a historically Black college or university to win any national championship, and the first college team to win three back-to-back championships, in 1957, 1958 and 1959.
The former teammates — Mr. Barnett, George Finley, Ernest Jones, Henry Carlton, Robert Clark and Ron Hamilton — took part in a private ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House with Ms. Harris, who paid tribute to the team during a round-table discussion.
Persons:
Kamala Harris, Dick Barnett, Barnett, — Mr, George Finley, Ernest Jones, Henry Carlton, Robert Clark, Ron Hamilton —, Harris
Organizations:
”, Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State University, White, Tennessee, Tigers
Locations:
Nashville