My journey this week takes me to Rommie Loudd, a friend I made at my first pastorage in Winters, Texas, in 1986. His witness helped build my faith.
Rommie was born in Madisonville, Texas, in 1933, and after moving to San Angelo, Texas, he graduated from Blackshire High School in 1948. He excelled and was designated All-State in three sports— football, basketball, and baseball. After high school graduation, he moved to Los Angeles, where he continued to excel in academics and athletics at UCLA. He played tight end from 1953 to 1955 and was a member of the 1954 UCLA’s Bruins football team that was the UPI National Champions and he was selected as All-American Player.
After graduating UCLA, Rommie Loudd was drafted in professional football and played for the Vancouver Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, and ultimately, the Boston Patriots. In 1964, he moved to coaching and became the linebackers’ coach for the Boston Patriots as the first African American coach in the history of the AFL. In 1974, Loudd became the first black top executive in major league sports as the owner of the Florida Blazers of the World Football League.
