~Benjamin Hart II--"Sugar Ben"~(Aug. 19, 1945- Aug. 27, 2004)Athlete, coach, administrator and teacher. His career as an athlete began in Oklahoma City. His legend in Oklahoma took root at Frederick Douglass High School. From 1959-1963, at his high school, he was a four year varsity football starter and a three year basketball varsity starter; a three time All City Football selection and a two time All City Basketball selection; Back of the Year and runner-up basketball Player of the Year; and All-State Football and All-State basketball selection. He was selected a Parade High School Football All-American his senior year. At University of Oklahoma from 1963-1967, in addition to lettering two years in basketball, he was a varsity started in the Sooner backfield for three years, Football Sophomore of the Year, Most Valuable Offensive Football team member, All Big 8 Conference Flanker, and Football Coaches All-American. In the 1967 National Football League draft, he was picked by the New Orleans Saints to their inaugural season. From 1970 to 2003 he was a player and coach with several semi-pro football teams: The Oklahoma City Wranglers, The Oklahoma City Warriors, the Oklahoma Stampede, and The Oklahoma City Drillers. In Southwest Kansas, he founded the Tri-City Marshals of the North American Football League and was the owner and head coach. He received his Bachelor's degree in special education from University of Oklahoma. In 1971, he received his Master's degree in counseling and special education from Montclair State College, and then in 1975 he became the first black athlete from the University of Oklahoma to receive a Ph.D. During thirty-five years as an educator and coach, he was a special education teacher, administrator, or coach in schools in Oklahoma, Kansas and New Jersey. He began an organization in 1984, later incorporated as a non-profit organization, the United States Federation of Amateur Athletics, Inc., which provided both athletic and educational services.
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Happy Birthday.