Speed City: From Civil Rights to Black Power» A Historical Athletics Exhibit curated by Urla Hill
1920-1950 Opening the Field
Lincoln Kimura
Lincoln Kimura, who played football as a freshman during the fall of 1941 at SJSC, plays his ukulele while in uniform during WWII, circa 1946. Kimura became the Spartans’ first athletic trainer during the 1940s.
Kimura and the 49ers
Lincoln Kimura may have been the first Japanese American to work as an athletic trainer in the National Football League. He worked for the San Francisco ’49ers for 20 years, circa 1973.
Ken Matsuda
Following WWII, Ken Matsuda’s family returned to Japan. He, however, stayed in the U.S., and eventually began playing football and running track. Matsuda competed for SJS during the late 1950s, and went on to coach at USC for 30 years. He now coaches tennis players, including Maria Sharapova. Here, he stands with Urla Hill in [...]
Willie Williams
Willie Williams had coached track and field at Arizona State University, and was to head the 1980 Olympic track team before he committed suicide. This photo was taken by football player Chuck Alexander, who amassed hundreds of photos such as these of students at SJSC during the late 1950s. Each picture was taken next to [...]