Trailblazer Bobby Grier to be Enshrined in Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame
10/1/2021 10:00:00 AM | Baseball, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Women's Gymnastics, Volleyball, Wrestling, Track & Field
PITTSBURGH—Pitt football letterman Bobby Grier, a two-way standout for the Panthers who made history in 1956 when he desegregated the Sugar Bowl, has been selected for enshrinement in the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame, it has been announced by Director of Athletics Heather Lyke.
Grier will join his fellow inductees at this year's Pitt Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner, presented by PNC, set for Friday, October 22, at Heinz Field. The entire enshrinement class will then be honored at the Pitt-Clemson football game on October 23.
"Bobby Grier is a richly deserving honoree in our Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame," Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "While Bobby enjoyed a highly productive career on the field, the courage and strength he showed in desegregating the Sugar Bowl continues to resonate well beyond the game of football. Bobby is a tremendous source of pride for the University of Pittsburgh as he represents the very best of our institution.
"This is an extraordinary group of honorees. As Pitt's director of athletics, I always greatly look forward to Hall of Fame weekend, and this year promises to be incredibly special as we welcome back such a decorated class."
A fullback and linebacker, Grier was a three-year letterman at Pitt (1953-55). He led the Panthers in interceptions as a senior and was the leading rusher in the Jan. 2, 1956 Sugar Bowl against Georgia Tech. (For more on Grier's historic participation in the 22nd Sugar Bowl Classic, read The New York Times' Grier Integrated a Game and Earned the World's Respect.)
The newly elected Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame class:
Grier will join his fellow inductees at this year's Pitt Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner, presented by PNC, set for Friday, October 22, at Heinz Field. The entire enshrinement class will then be honored at the Pitt-Clemson football game on October 23.
"Bobby Grier is a richly deserving honoree in our Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame," Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "While Bobby enjoyed a highly productive career on the field, the courage and strength he showed in desegregating the Sugar Bowl continues to resonate well beyond the game of football. Bobby is a tremendous source of pride for the University of Pittsburgh as he represents the very best of our institution.
"This is an extraordinary group of honorees. As Pitt's director of athletics, I always greatly look forward to Hall of Fame weekend, and this year promises to be incredibly special as we welcome back such a decorated class."
A fullback and linebacker, Grier was a three-year letterman at Pitt (1953-55). He led the Panthers in interceptions as a senior and was the leading rusher in the Jan. 2, 1956 Sugar Bowl against Georgia Tech. (For more on Grier's historic participation in the 22nd Sugar Bowl Classic, read The New York Times' Grier Integrated a Game and Earned the World's Respect.)
The newly elected Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame class:
- Jennifer Bruce (Women's Basketball)
- Donna DeMarino Sanft (Gymnastics Student-Athlete and Coach)*
- Chantee Earl (Women's Track and Field)
- Bobby Grier (Football)
- Craig "Ironhead" Heyward (Football; Posthumous)
- Brandin Knight (Men's Basketball)
- Ann Marie Lucanie (Volleyball)*
- Ken Macha (Baseball)
- Curtis Martin (Football)
- Bob Peck (Football; Posthumous)
- Pat Santoro (Wrestling)*
- Jackie Sherrill (Football Coach)
- Arnie Sowell (Men's Track and Field)
- Glenn "Pop" Warner (Football Coach; Posthumous)
*Formal Induction in 2022
Tickets for the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner are now available to purchase online. Individual registration is $150 and a table of 10 is $1,250.
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