Look back at Crossroads Trailblazer and NBA Star Lucious Jackson

This article was originally published in the San Marcos Record newspaper on Thursday, August 12, 1965 as the city of San Marcos honored then NBA Star Lucious Jackson with a proclamation and a barbecue. Jackson is one of 73 people named to the Civil Rights Trailblazers of San Marcos and Hays County, which are noted on page 6A. He moved away from San Marcos in high school because he was not allowed to play on the all-white basketball team in the 1950s. He went on to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States and had a stellar career in the NBA. Jackson passed away in 2022 at the age of 80.

By Tom Buckner San Marcos Record August 12, 1695

Ever so often I’m impressed that San Marcos is a mighty nice town. One such instance was last Thursday evening when about 300 folks gathered to honor Lucious Jackson, a man who has done so much to put our city on the map in a favorable way (underline favorable). What Lucious did was handle basketball in such a manner as to make Little All-American twice, lead the United States to a gold medal in the Olympics, and earn the title of “Rookie of Year' in the National Basketball Assn.

Ahead of His Time

Lucious was a year or two ahead of his time to play sports here. When he moved to high school, which was integrated, he found that the sports were not, so he moved to a large all-[black] high school in Louisiana he made “everything”. (A year or two later high school sports were integrated.)

When it came time for college, SWTSC wasn’t integrated so he went for a year to Texas Southern and then on to Pan-American [now UTRGV] (A year or two later, SWT integrated.

We mentioned that Lucious didn’t play in San Marcos. That’s not entirely true, pointed out SWT Vernon McDonald, who made a fine talk at the Jackson barbecue. It was McDonald’s first year as coach here when the Bobcats met Pan-Am Broncs in the NAIA regional playoffs. Lucious, a sophomore, came to San Marcos to play in the first game and scored 19 points and pulled down 33 rebounds! So he really did play hereno doubt about it.

When Lucious was in junior high, McDonald took the Bobcat starting postman over to the gym to work some one-on-one with the 6-5 teenager. “Lucious wasn’t perfect, my boy could score on him every once in a while” Vernon said. When the crowd laughed, he said “Don’t laugh, cry with me.”

Kind Words

Up for the informal affair were Sam Williams, Pan American coach and Jim Brooks, the athletic director at the Edinburg College. They also had words of praise for their former student. “We’ll look from now on for another Lucious Jackson and never find one,” Brooks said.

Coach Williams said “I don’t think mere words can ever tell what Jackson did for us. I’m sure Luke will tell you that Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell or Bob Pettit, one of them, is the greatest basketball player in the country. But down in Edinburg, we know who is [the greatest] Lucious Jackson.”

Olympic coach Hank Iba said over the phone, “Without Lucious Jackson, a real fine boy in all respects, we couldn’t have won the Olympic Games.

His Worth

Lucious’ worth to the United States team was obvious in the movie of the USA-Russian Olympic game shown at the barbecue. Big Luke was the commentator of the film and did an excellent job, getting numerous chuckles from the group. There was spontaneous applause when he would make a good play.

“There’s two more,” he would say as he sank a field goal or “That’s Lucious Jackson blocking the shot.” He was also complimentary of his teammates.

His Friends

And the congenial crowd of all ages, creeds, and colors were highly complimentary of Lucious. They said it on the plaque that was presented to him. It said: “In appreciation to Lucious Jackson for his outstanding example in the sport of basketball as a little All-American, Olympic Star, and as Professional Rookie of the Year. You have brought fame and honor to our town. We are proud of you, signed-Your friends of San Marcos”.