Julius Whittier

"He Came Betore Us. He Left a Legacy"

Julius Whittier (Texas Football: 1969-72) became a historically significant figure as the first African American to

receive a four-year tooiball scholarship, and the first to letter in toorball al Texas. A star student-athlete at

San Antonio's Highlands High School, he was identified during the recruiting process as a young man he could

handle the enormous pressure and public attention that would come with beine a prominent African American

student-athlete at The University of Texas.

A standout on the treshman team in 1969, Whittier cared three letters trom 1970-72 and played on three-straight

Southwest Conference Championship teams, including the Longhorns 1970 National Championship squad. He was

inducted into the Texas Ainletics Hall of Honor in 2013.

Whittier never saw himsell as a maverick, but more as pan ot a team that exhibited greatness on the field and off.

He considered his legendary coach, Darrell Royal, his “dad from another pad," in that Royal was a disciplinarian who

presented a fair opportunity to those who understood his goals, Whinier marmed, benetted tom that discipline,

and developed as a football plaver and person.

Although athletics was Whither's passion, he looked beyond that in the pursuit of knowledge. Alter graduating with a

degree in philosophy, at the urging of Royal's triend, President Lyndon Baines Johnson, he earned a degree from the

LBJ School of Public Affairs, and a UT law degree, He went on to a distinguished legal career as a prosecutor in the

Dallas County District Attorney’s office.

Whinier left a legacy that reflected a pioneer, whose perseverance opened the door, not only for himself, but for

those who followed.

Submitted by Chi C.