Temple University Athletics

Temple Celebrates 2022 Black History Month

BHM2022 Main Image
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Iconic Temple University Hall of Fame coaches John Chaney and Tina Sloan Green were honored by the Smith Memorial Playground with its Leaders and Legends exhibit on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.  

The Leaders and Legends exhibit celebrated the contributions of local African American leaders across the fields of law, education, medicine, journalism, sports, and the performing arts. This free, family-friendly, socially-distanced event recognized hometown heroes whose impact has made Philly a better place to live, work, grow and play.

Chaney, who passed away on Jan. 29, 2021, coached Temple to a school-record 516 wins and 23 postseason tournaments in his 24 seasons at the helm of the men's basketball program.  He led Temple to 17 NCAA tournaments, including five trips to the Elite Eight, and six trips to the NIT.  His 1987-88 team ended the regular season as the #1 team in the nation.

Sloan Green guided the Temple women's lacrosse team to three National Championships during her 18-season run, compiling an outstanding 207-62-4 record with a .758 career winning percentage.  In 1988 she led the Owls to a perfect 19-0 record and a national championship. Her teams won 29 straight games between the 1983-84 and '84-'85 seasons.

Besides Chaney and Sloan Green, this year's honorees included Marcel Pratt, Ala Stanford, Joan Myers Brown, Robert Bogle, Otis Hackney, Octavius Catto, Ed Bradley, Marian Anderson, Edith Mitchell, and Juanita Kidd Stout.

Leaders and Legends of Philadelphia was made up of 5'x7' educational displays focusing on each honoree's life and achievements. Displays included a short biography, a "Quiz the Kids" section with fast facts, and "Family Time" suggestions for interactive learning beyond the exhibit.

Thompson BHM

During her time at Temple, Thompson was a two-time winner of Temple's PNC Female Student-Athlete of the Year, earned All-American Honors, and was a four-time NCAA Qualifier placing 6th her senior year. Since her graduation, she has gone on to become the 2016 Division 1 Women's Sabre National Champion, a member of the World University Games Team (2013), a U.S. National Team Member (2019) and a 2021 Olympic alternate. Thompson was also a member of USA Fencing's Advisory Committee through the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), where she is the Woman's Sabre Representative. She runs a business called ‘Sabre and a Stethoscope’ where she promotes her journey to inspire others and eventually wants to provide resources to premedical students, most importantly underrepresented minority students. She completed her M.D. and M.B.A. at Rutgers and started her residency at Temple Hospital in July of 2021 to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Brown BHM

Afia Brown won 12 Atlantic 10 Conference titles and was named the 2001 A10 Indoor Championship Performer of the Year. Brown won a total of five Indoor A10 Titles in her career including the 55m and 200m in 2000, and the 200m, 400m, and 4x400m relay in 2001. In addition to the indoor titles, Brown won seven outdoor A10 Titles: 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in 2000; 100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x400m in 2001. Brown was inducted into Temple's Hall of Fame in 2020.

Palmer BHM

Paul Palmer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018. A prolific running back for Temple in the 1980’s under head coach Bruce Arians, he holds multiple school records and was a runner up for the 1986 Heisman Award. Palmer is the Owls’ all-time leading rusher with 4,895 yards, good for sixth all-time in FBS history at the time he graduated. The 1986 ECAC Player of the Year had 417 all-purpose yards against ECU that same year, which is still a Temple record. Palmer was inducted into the Temple Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Peacock BHM

Eulace Peacock competed in track and field under the late Ben Ogden in 1935-1937. He is known to be the greatest sprinter and long jumper in Temple's history. He tied the world record for indoor 60-yard dash (6.0) in 1935. He set the world record for the 100-meter dash (10.2) and the long jump (26.3), both in 1935. He is one of few men to ever defeat the great Jesse Owens in a race. He won double victory at the 1937 Penn Relays and was named to the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame. Peacock was inducted into Temple's Hall of Fame in 1969.

Dupree BHM

Candice Dupree was one of the most decorated women's basketball players in Temple history, Candice Dupree starred for the Owls from 2002-06. and has her number 4 jersey retired. Dupree is the Owls' all-time leader in field goal percentage (51.4%), and the 6-2 forward also ranks sixth on Temple's career list in points (1,698), fifth in rebounds (940) and is tied for second in blocked shots (218). The four-year starter was instrumental in helping the Cherry and White to its best three-year stretch in school history. Under her dominance, Temple won three conference titles, won 73 games, including a school-record 25 consecutive contests, and appeared in the national rankings in 27-straight weeks. Dupree also earned numerous personal accolades during her TU career. She was a two-time conference and Big 5 Player of the Year, a two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year, and as a senior in 2005-06 was named the Most Outstanding Player at the conference championship.  She capped her collegiate career with Third Team All-America honors. The sixth overall pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft, Dupree is a six-time WNBA All-Star. The Tampa, Fla., native was also a member of the US National Team that won gold at the 2010 World Championships. Dupree was inducted into Temple's Hall of Fame in 2016.

BHM-Black Excellence
In celebration of Black History Month, Temple University president Dr. Jason Wingard, vice president and director of athletics Arthur Johnson along with head coaches Tonya Cardoza (women's basketball), Stan Drayton (football) and Aaron McKie (men's basketball) sat down with Mayor Jim Kenney for a panel discussion entitled, Black Excellence in Leadership: Temple University and the City of Philadelphia. The panel was held February 17 on center court of the Liacouras Center and hosted by David W. Brown, Diversity Advisor to the Office of the Dean of Temple's Klein College of Media and Communication and Nefertiri Sickout, Esq., city of Philadelphia's Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. The panelists participated in an engaging discussion about leadership, race, culture, noting Mayor Kenney's commitment to advancing racial equity across his Administration, and the impact of Temple University on and in the City of Philadelphia. Temple head coaches Elvis Forde (cross country and women's track), Dr. Nikki Franke (fencing) and Linda Hampton-Keith (volleyball) also provided insight with their thoughts on excellence, diversity, and equity.