🎊🎉HAPPY JUNETEENTH! 2 Reasons UNT’s All American—KC Chiefs Great & Texas Colleges Integration Pioneer Deserves A Statue At Fabulous Apogee Stadium.

PlummMeanGreen · January 30, 2021

2021: The year that Juneteenth became more than just a Texas holiday but—an American National holiday. All races should celebrate this day, but please leave the politics at the door. This day is so much bigger than anyone who’d try to politicize it.

•••Here is the history of Juneteenth if you don’t know it completely. We have to learn from our history lest it be repeated (& we never need that to happen).
https://www.history.com/.amp/news/what-is-juneteenth

As far as the subject in the headliner? That would be Abner Haynes, of course.
I should add that African-American Dr. Leon King entered the 1956 UNT Mean Green freshman class with Mr. Haynes.

••• Late Kansas City Chiefs owner, ie, 🔹SMU🔺alum Lamar Hunt called ❇️🦅❇️Abner Haynes “the American Football Leagues first superstar.” If you ever saw him play back then—you would agree. (Mr. Hunt’s widow, Norma, is a UNT grad).

Some on GMG have made mention many times thru the years that a statue for Abner should happen while he is still with us. ❇️ Well, ain’t it time?🤔
➡️••• A great article below about Abner, Leon & their white UNT teammates in the era of Jim Crowe.
••• Abner has told many of us on GMG the story about he & Leon King’s experience on a train when it pulled into Houston for UNT’s game with the Coogs. Heart-warming but sad (& typical) of the JIm Crowe era in the South.

https://amp.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article243796387.html

22DB1CCC-64F9-404A-8907-9D0D546BC132.jpeg.ac3fb608f0195e9a504b7df138a9dc05.jpeg

🦅❇️🦅

Edited June 19, 2021 by PlummMeanGreen

NorthTexasSportsNetwork · January 30, 2021

The Hunt family should donate the statue to UNT! That would be awesome

Venson · January 30, 2021

33 minutes ago, PlummMeanGreen said:

Of course, I’m talking about many of us on GMG’s friend & acquaintance—one Abner Haynes. I should add that African-American Dr. Leon King entered the 1956 UNT Mean Green freshman class with Abner.

••• Late Kansas City Chiefs owner (& SMU alum) Lamar Hunt called Abner Haynes “the American Football Leagues first superstar.” If you ever saw him play back then—you would agree. (Mr. Hunt’s widow, Norma, is a UNT alum).

Some of you on GMG have made mention many times thru the years that a statue for Abner should happen while he is still with us.

https://amp.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article243796387.html

🦅❇️🦅

While agree that this would be nice, will it start to be too much is the question I would have? We already have a Joe Greene statue. If we add a Haynes statue, will people start to request more statues and then it become a cluster? Maybe we can build a HOF Building and put busts of our superstars in there along with pictures, there stories, their jerseys etc. I am by no means against a statue of Haynes because he was great and was a pioneer. I just wonder if it will stop there or will we keep going until it becomes too much.

PlummMeanGreen · January 30, 2021

The historical aspects of Haynes & King’s integration at North Texas & the first 2 blacks to do so for Texas colleges football would be the clincher for a statue, but the think tank on campus would I’m sure figure all this out. Of late, they are on a pretty good run of doing so.

If this UNT bucket list item happened I’d hope they’d entertain the idea of putting such a statue on the UNT Student Side. That might be the ideal spot since this is all about being a very educational thing for UNT students who have no idea of this story. Even a single statue of both Haynes & King together would be nice &...very cool.

🦅I’d always heard Lamar Hunt signed Abner in the south end zone at Fouts, but have no idea if that’s true or just an urban tale.

🦅In 1959 Abner Haynes made the 1st team Time Magazine All America football team.
••• Time magazine was the premier All America team in which to receive a selection in that era.

🦅❇️🦅

Edited January 31, 2021 by PlummMeanGreen

NorthTexan95 · January 30, 2021

2 hours ago, Venson said:

While agree that this would be nice, will it start to be too much is the question I would have? We already have a Joe Greene statue. If we add a Haynes statue, will people start to request more statues and then it become a cluster? Maybe we can build a HOF Building and put busts of our superstars in there along with pictures, there stories, their jerseys etc. I am by no means against a statue of Haynes because he was great and was a pioneer. I just wonder if it will stop there or will we keep going until it becomes too much.

Who else? After Greene and Haynes there's not a UNT player who's had as much historical success at college and in the pros.

GrandGreen · January 30, 2021

3 hours ago, Venson said:

While agree that this would be nice, will it start to be too much is the question I would have? We already have a Joe Greene statue. If we add a Haynes statue, will people start to request more statues and then it become a cluster? Maybe we can build a HOF Building and put busts of our superstars in there along with pictures, there stories, their jerseys etc. I am by no means against a statue of Haynes because he was great and was a pioneer. I just wonder if it will stop there or will we keep going until it becomes too much.

Those statues are very expensive, I don't see overcrowding as a problem.

The Haynes/King story is much more important than any one NT player including Joe Greene.

IMO, NT has not done enough to to tell the story of football integration which occurred almost ten years before the much more celebrated SMU recruitment of Levias.

UNTLifer · January 30, 2021

11 minutes ago, GrandGreen said:

Those statues are very expensive, I don't see overcrowding as a problem.

The Haynes/King story is much more important than any one NT player including Joe Greene.

IMO, NT has not done enough to to tell the story of football integration which occurred almost ten years before the much more celebrated SMU recruitment of Levias.

AMEN!

PlummMeanGreen · January 30, 2021

18 hours ago, GrandGreen said:

Those statues are very expensive, I don't see overcrowding as a problem.

The Haynes/King story is much more important than any one NT player including Joe Greene.

IMO, NT has not done enough to to tell the story of football integration which occurred almost ten years before the much more celebrated SMU recruitment of Levias.

I’ve read somewhere (his bio?) what then SMU HFC Hayden Fry said about some doggone’ scary stuff concerning 🔺SMU🔹 great Jerry Levias & all the death threats to him even from Southwest Conference schools, specifically TCU.
🦅❇️🦅

Abner Haynes receives Presidential Medal of Honor Award

🦅❇️🦅

Edited January 31, 2021 by PlummMeanGreen

Venson · January 31, 2021

3 hours ago, NorthTexan95 said:

Who else? After Greene and Haynes there's not a UNT player who's had as much historical success at college and in the pros.

I agree with you 100%. My post was in no way saying don't do it. I think that it is long overdue. I just always wonder will people start asking for more and more. At some point you will have to say no. There will always be someone who won't be satisfied. I think Haynes deserved a statue before Joe Greene. Don't get me wrong, Joe Greene may have been the best football player we have had, but that will always be a matter of opinion. Haynes broke down barriers and paved the way for guys like Greene to have the success that he had. Haynes certainly deserves a statue. I also agree with someone else here that stated it should be on the student side and used as an educational tool.

UNTLifer · January 31, 2021

I know Haynes garnered more attention for his accomplishments on the field, but to me, if there is a statue, it should be of Haynes and King. Although King didn't have the career that Haynes experienced, he deserves the recognition for breaking barriers with Haynes and should not be diminished.

Venson · January 31, 2021

28 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

I know Haynes garnered more attention for his accomplishments on the field, but to me, if there is a statue, it should be of Haynes and King. Although King didn't have the career that Haynes experienced, he deserves the recognition for breaking barriers with Haynes and should not be diminished.

Agree 110%.

97and03 · January 31, 2021

1 hour ago, UNTLifer said:

I know Haynes garnered more attention for his accomplishments on the field, but to me, if there is a statue, it should be of Haynes and King. Although King didn't have the career that Haynes experienced, he deserves the recognition for breaking barriers with Haynes and should not be diminished.

I get what you are saying but Haynes did have a stellar career and that would alone be worthy of a statue.

tmjerm · January 31, 2021

Wren said recently it’s on their radar. No indication of urgency but I imagine we will see this soon.

Eagle71 · January 31, 2021

I'm in for a statue for Abner Haynes. A donation from the Hunt family would be wonderful, but I would not want them or any one family or corporation to fund the statue 100%. To me it is important that we all have a chance to show our appreciation for the contributions that Abner made, which is the same way I felt about our fabulous Joe Greene statue. Fly Like An Eagle!

PlummMeanGreen · January 31, 2021

Lamar Hunt, H.L. Hunt, Hank Stram, North Texas, the Texans, the Chiefs, Jim Crowe in the 1950-1960’s South & more Abner talks about.

🦅❇️🦅

Edited January 31, 2021 by PlummMeanGreen

SilverEagle · January 31, 2021

1 hour ago, Eagle71 said:

I'm in for a statue for Abner Haynes. A donation from the Hunt family would be wonderful, but I would not want them or any one family or corporation to fund the statue 100%. To me it is important that we all have a chance to show our appreciation for the contributions that Abner made, which is the same way I felt about our fabulous Joe Greene statue. Fly Like An Eagle!

Totally agree. I'm in for a contribution. Also, I find it interesting that the Dallas Texans trading card had Abner in his North Texas uniform.

See the source image

Edited January 31, 2021 by SilverEagle

UNTLifer · January 31, 2021

1 hour ago, SilverEagle said:

Totally agree. I'm in for a contribution. Also, I find it interesting that the Dallas Texans trading card had Abner in his North Texas uniform.

Another great looking uniform.

greenjoe · January 31, 2021

That’s the pose for the statue, by the way. Perhaps Leon King could be memorialized next to Abner reflecting his career after football.

So to that notion, what was Leon King’s PhD awarded in and what career did he choose ?

GO MEAN GREEN

greenjoe · January 31, 2021

And perhaps some mention of Coach Ken Bahnsen who had the vision to see football greats and not skin color.

SigmaGreen · January 31, 2021

4 hours ago, SilverEagle said:

Totally agree. I'm in for a contribution. Also, I find it interesting that the Dallas Texans trading card had Abner in his North Texas uniform.

If it was his rookie card then most, at least since the late 90s are that way bc they are released before the season starts. I used to collect them and I have several Randy Moss cards with him in his Marshall uniform.

PlummMeanGreen · January 31, 2021

🎵😱Did you know...Denton native Sly Stone (of Sly & the Family Stone fame) & Denton native Abner Haynes are cousins?

🦅❇️🦅

greenjoe · January 31, 2021

Further, our own Plummeangreen and actor Christopher Plummer are not related. Small world.

PlummMeanGreen · February 1, 2021

2 hours ago, greenjoe said:

Further, our own Plummeangreen and actor Christopher Plummer are not related. Small world.

Hold the board, greenjoe. 😊

There is a chance Captain Von Trapp may be related since my Grt-Grt Grandpappy spent some time in Canada 🇨🇦. I’m still researching it thru Ancestry & will next try to get Christopher’s family tree & check all its branches. (Not really much else to do during a 1 year pandemic, right)?

Since you are a favorite son of Denton & in it’s music scene—did you know Sly Stone?

Side.Show.Joe · February 1, 2021

On 1/30/2021 at 11:13 AM, PlummMeanGreen said:

I should add that African-American Dr. Leon King entered the 1956 UNT Mean Green freshman class with Abner.

••• Late Kansas City Chiefs owner, ie, 🔹SMU🔺alum Lamar Hunt called Abner Haynes “the American Football Leagues first superstar.” If you ever saw him play back then—you would agree. (Mr. Hunt’s widow, Norma, is a UNT grad).

Some on GMG have made mention many times thru the years that a statue for Abner should happen while he is still with us. ❇️ Well, ain’t it time?🤔
➡️••• A great article below about Abner, Leon & their white UNT teammates in the era of Jim Crowe.
••• Abner has told many of us on GMG the story about he & Leon King’s experience on a train when it pulled into Houston for UNT’s game with the Coogs. Heart-warming but sad (& typical) of the JIm Crowe era in the South.

https://amp.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article243796387.html

🦅❇️🦅

It is past time to honor both of these UNT greats. I have some ideas that could acknowledge both men in a fitting way. Maybe I will email Wren tomorrow.