Kenny Washington - Broke NFL Color Barrier– The Jackie Robinson of the NFL

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I am astonished that I had not even heard of this man until coming across a group of photos recently that I purchased. He has articles all over the internet about what a superstar he was and how he re-integrated the NFL in 1946, a year before Jackie Robinson integrated major league baseball. If you are a fan of Jackie, you should take the time to read about Kenny Washington. He was a multi-sport athlete at UCLA and, by some accounts, was the better athlete (and a better baseball player) than his UCLA teammate Jackie. He also played basketball and was in the backfield on the football team along with Jackie. In August of 1940, after his eligibility was up, he was invited to play in the College All-Star game in Chicago against the NFL’s championship Packer’s team. He was the only black player in the game. Many believed him to be the best collegiate player on the field and one of the elite players in the country. He would have been a first round draft pick in the NFL draft that year…. except for the color of his skin. The Chicago Bear’s coach, George Halas, even kept Washington around for two weeks after the All Star game to work him out and see if the NFL owners would be open to his signing. They did not, so he went and played for the Hollywood Bears team in California until a few years later when he finally got the opportunity to be the man to break the barrier in the NFL. In 1946 he signed with the LA Rams. Unfortunately, this was after his prime and also after five knee operations. He played three fairly successful years for the Rams before time caught up to him and he hung up his cleats to become a Los Angeles police officer. In 1956 Kenny was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
These photos all appear to be from the time frame of August and September 1940 while Kenny was in Chicago for the All-Star game. He was a busy man during this time. After the All-Star game was played on August 29th, Kenny signed to play football with the all-negro Chicago Panthers team, operated by W.A. Donaldson and Kenneth E. Campbell. Donaldson then invited Washington’s fiancé to travel up to Chicago from her home in California and hosted a wedding for them at his house. Only a few guests were invited but they did include the former negro football great “Duke” Slater, who was recently asked to be the new coach of the Chicago Panthers, as well as two teammates on the Panthers, Ozzie and Don Simmons, former stars at the University of Iowa. Shortly after playing his first game with the Panthers, and having just been rejected to play with the Chicago Bears, Kenny and his wife headed back to California.
The photos below (most are by Chicago photographer Charles Stewart, Jr.) include Kenny in his College All-Star uniform. One of them is autographed by Kenny – “To Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson / With Sincere Regards / Kenny Washington / 9/13/40”. Obviously Kenny wrote this to the Donaldson’s in appreciation for hosting the wedding and for his opportunity to play with the Panthers.
During this two-month period, Chicago was hosting the Negro East/West Baseball All-Star game and also the American Negro Exposition. Some of these photos are taken at these locations. A few of these photos I was the runner-up on and did not end up with them (noted below). I have been doing a lot of research trying to figure out who some of the people are, but have come up short, or may be wrong on a few. Any identification or other help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Kenny in his All-Star uniform:

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Shaking hands with Panther’s owner W.A. Donaldson:

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Wedding photo with W.A. Donaldson at the left and co-owner Kenneth E. Campbell on the right. The gentleman, third from left, is in several photos but I have not been able to identify him (possibly Best Man James W. Quisenberry):

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Some of the Panthers getting some kind of appreciation gift. The tall man in glasses is Chicago mayor Edward Joseph Kelly. To his left is Donaldson and three persons to his left is Campbell. The writing on the package is obscured but includes “Best Wishes From / Chicago …. Benefit / Mayor … “:

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One of the Panthers signing his contract with Campbell and unknown at his sides and teammates behind him:

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An interesting photo of the team having a dinner in an under-sized room:

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A photo of some of the star players including, I believe, Don Simmons seated at right, Ozzie Simmons seated second from left, and Bobby Vandever seated at far left. All would have played in the NFL if they would have been allowed:

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Some teammates:

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At an event with unknown:

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Washington and some teammates at the Joe Louis counter of the Negro Exposition (not mine):

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Washington getting an autograph from a KC Monarch’s player (not my image):

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The original group of photos included this image - some African-Americans at an event in October of 1939 - I bet most of you know the tall gentleman in the back (not my image):

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1940 College All-Star uniform (not mine):

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1940 College All-Star program (not mine):

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Article about the All-Star game against the Packers:

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Kenny in action at the All-Star game:

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The three African-American teammates from the 1939 UCLA team – Robinson, Washington and Woody Strode. Strode went on to also play a year of NFL football before becoming an actor (a gladiator in Spartacus that you would remember if you’re old enough and have seen this Kirk Douglas movie):

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