# Mel Groomes > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mel_Groomes > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mel_Groomes.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Groomes > Source revision: 1349830763 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American football player and baseball coach (1927–1997)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Mel Groomes | image = Mel Groomes.png | caption = Groomes from 1947 Indiana University yearbook | number = | position = [Halfback](/source/Halfback_(American_football)) | birth_date = {{birth date|1927|03|06}} | birth_place = [Trenton, New Jersey](/source/Trenton%2C_New_Jersey), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1997|09|11|1927|03|06}} | death_place = [Greensboro, North Carolina](/source/Greensboro%2C_North_Carolina), U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lbs = 178 | high_school = [Trenton (NJ) Central](/source/Trenton_Central_High_School) | college = [Indiana](/source/Indiana_Hoosiers_football) | undraftedyear = 1948 | pastteams = *[Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions) (1948–1949) | statlabel1 = Games | statvalue1 = 9 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 51 | statlabel3 = Touchdowns | statvalue3 = 1 | pfr = G/GrooMe20 }} '''Melvin Harold Groomes''' (March 6, 1927 – September 11, 1997) was an American professional [football](/source/American_football) player and baseball coach. He played [college football](/source/college_football) at [Indiana University](/source/Indiana_University_Bloomington) from 1944 to 1947 and helped lead the [Indiana Hoosiers football](/source/Indiana_Hoosiers_football) team to the [Big Ten Conference](/source/Big_Ten_Conference) championship in 1945. In April 1948, he signed with the [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions), becoming the first African-American signed by the team. He played for the Lions during the 1948 and 1949 seasons and spent the next four years serving in the [United States Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force). He later spent more than 30 years, as a professor and head baseball coach, at [North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University](/source/North_Carolina_Agricultural_and_Technical_State_University) in [Greensboro, North Carolina](/source/Greensboro%2C_North_Carolina). ==Early years and family== Groomes was born in [Trenton, New Jersey](/source/Trenton%2C_New_Jersey), in 1927. He was the son of Malachi and Margaret Groomes, both of whom were natives of Virginia. At the time of the 1930 United States Census, Groomes' father was employed as a fireman for a gas company. The family was living in Trenton's fifth ward and consisted of Groomes, his parents, three step-brothers, four step-sisters, and two brothers.Census entry for Malachi and Margaret Groomes and family. Son Mell age 3 years and one month (born approx. March 1927. Year: 1930; Census Place: Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey; Roll: 1363; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 24; Image: 693.0; FHL microfilm: 2341098. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Groomes played halfback on the Trenton Central High School football team.{{cite news|title=Coach Grooms New Groomes with Trenton High Eleven|newspaper=The Afro American|date=November 24, 1945|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eqljAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XysMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2856,20675903&dq=mel-groomes+trenton&hl=en}} He was also a competitor in track and field and set the New Jersey high school records in the high jump and the broad jump.{{cite news|title=A High Jumping Halfback|newspaper=The Sunday Morning Star|date=October 2, 1949|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2293&dat=19491002&id=Q-VfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-gIGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2678,4141406}} In 1954, Groomes' younger brother, Ronald Groomes, was the first African-American to enroll in the New Jersey State Police Academy.{{cite news|title=N.J. State Police Academy Admits First Negro|publisher=[Jet](/source/Jet_(magazine))|date=February 18, 1954|page=10|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DcADAAAAMBAJ&q=mel+groomes+ronald+new+jersey&pg=PA10}} ==Indiana University== [[File:Mel Groomes Ready for His Medicine.png|thumb|left|250px|Groomes in October 1947: "READY FOR HIS MEDICINE. Mel Groomes gets ready for the plunge as [Bob Ravensberg](/source/Bob_Ravensberg) tries to bring down a potential Badger tackler in the Hoosier homecoming." (Photo and caption from the 1948 ''Arbutus'')]] Groomes enrolled at [Indiana University](/source/Indiana_University_Bloomington) in 1944 where he played [college football](/source/college_football) and was also a member of the track and field team, specializing in the high jump.{{cite news|title=Sepia Stars Dominate Week's Track Program|newspaper=The Afro American|date=March 24, 1945|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SR0mAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wP0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3757,3587269&dq=mel+groomes+high-jump&hl=en}} He set an Indiana freshman record in the high jump at 6 feet, 4 inches, which record stood until 1959.{{cite news|title=Track: N. U. Loses, 80-31|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=February 8, 1959|page=A7|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/182262908|id={{ProQuest|182262908}} }} Groomes was also a member of the [football](/source/Indiana_Hoosiers_football) team from 1944 to 1947. He was a third-stringer in 1944, but established himself as the team's starting wingback during the 1945 season.{{cite news|title=In the Wake of the News|author=Arch Ward|newspaper=The Chicago Daily Tribune|date=November 10, 1945|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/177128966|id={{ProQuest|177128966}} }} Groomes and fellow African-American halfback [George Taliaferro](/source/George_Taliaferro) helped lead the 1945 Indiana team to the school's first-ever [Big Ten Conference](/source/Big_Ten_Conference) football championship.{{cite news|title=Ike Nixes Army Game with Ind.|newspaper=The Afro American|date=December 15, 1945|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6CUmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xP0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2004,3842224&dq=indiana+melvin-groomes&hl=en}}{{cite news|title=Star Backs Lead Indiana's Hot Hoosiers|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=November 15, 1945|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WCIbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vEwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6621,6104786&dq=indiana+mel-groomes&hl=en}} In the first game of the 1945 Big Ten Conference schedule, Groomes had a 54-yard touchdown reception in a 13–7 upset over [Michigan](/source/1945_Michigan_Wolverines_football_team).{{cite news|title=Indiana Wins Upset, 13 to 7, on Early Drive|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=September 22, 1945|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PbUWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KyMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2458,3253164&dq=indiana+melvin-groomes&hl=en}} Indiana became a leader in integrating college football in the 1940s. The 1947 team included eight African-American players, giving it "more colored gridmen than any other large squad in the country."{{cite news|title=Report Hoosiers Had 8 Gridders|newspaper=The Afro American|date=December 6, 1947|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_KA9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=visMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2139,15397057&dq=indiana+melvin-groomes&hl=en}} That year, the Hoosiers upset the [Ohio State Buckeyes](/source/1947_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team) 7–0, with the key play in the game coming on a pass from Taliaferro to Groomes that gained 63 yards.{{cite news|title=Indiana 7, Ohio State 0|newspaper=The Sunday Morning Star|date=November 2, 1947|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E94mAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WAIGAAAAIBAJ&pg=5509,6684278&dq=indiana+mel-groomes&hl=en}} Groomes also played defensive back, and Indiana coach [Bo McMillin](/source/Bo_McMillin) in 1947 called Groomes "the finest defensive back" in the Big Nine Conference.The conference now known as the Big Ten had only nine members following the departure of the [University of Chicago](/source/University_of_Chicago) in 1946. The conference remained at nine members until [Michigan State University](/source/Michigan_State_University) joined in 1949. See [History of the Big Ten Conference](/source/Big_Ten_Conference) for more details.{{Cite news|title=From A to Z|author=Sam Lacy|newspaper=The Afro American|date=November 1947|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Zh0mAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vv0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2660,2622934&dq=carolina+mel-groomes&hl=en}} ==Detroit Lions== In 1948, Bo McMillin left Indiana to take over as the head coach and general manager of the [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions). One of McMillin's first personnel moves was signing Groomes to a contract with the Lions on April 17, 1948.{{cite news|title=Six More Signed by Detroit Lions|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press (UP story)|date=April 17, 1948|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OXgbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KU0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=1399,994305&dq=mel-groomes+detroit+mcmillin&hl=en}} At the time, only one other NFL team, the [Los Angeles Rams](/source/Los_Angeles_Rams), had an [African-American](/source/African-American) player, and Groomes was the first African-American to sign a contract with the [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions).Charlie Sanders, Charlie Sanders Tales from the Detroit Lions, p. 25. ([Bob Mann](/source/Bob_Mann_(American_football)) signed with the Lions one week later.{{cite news|title=Detroit Lions Sign Bob Mann|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=April 23, 1948}}) During the 1948 season, Groomes wrote a series of articles, "How It Feels To Be A Rookie In The National Football League", for a Detroit newspaper.{{cite news|title=Writer-Gridder|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|date=December 6, 1948|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b8BkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AHUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2288,4374076&dq=mel-groomes+indiana&hl=en}} Groomes made his debut for the Lions on September 22, 1948, in the first game of the 1948 season against the [Los Angeles Rams](/source/Los_Angeles_Rams) in the [Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum](/source/Los_Angeles_Memorial_Coliseum). Bob Mann and Groomes both played in the game, becoming the first African-Americans to appear in a game for the Lions. Early in the game, Groomes fumbled a ball inside the Detroit 30-yard line, resulting in a Rams' touchdown. The Rams won the game, 44–7.{{cite news|title=Rams Rout Detroit, 44-7|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 23, 1948|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1948/09/23/archives/rams-rout-detroit-447-take-their-national-football-league-opener-on.html}} Groomes suffered a broken wrist during the 1948 season, limiting him to six games. Groomes appeared in three more games for the Lions during the 1949 season. In his career with the Lions, Groomes caught five passes for 51 yards and one touchdown.{{cite web|title=Mel Groomes|publisher=pro-football-reference.com|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrooMe20.htm}} ==Military service== In 1950, Groomes entered the [United States Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force). In 1951, private first class Groomes received the American Spirit Honor Medal for excelling at basic training.[https://www.newspapers.com/image/40051386/ "At Home and Oversea With Our GIs"], ''[Courier](/source/Pittsburgh_Courier)'', Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, volume XLII, number 38, September 22, 1951, page 2. He played football for the football team from [Bolling Field](/source/Bolling_Field) in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), for three years from 1951 to 1953.{{cite news|title=Groomes Stars In Flyers' Win|newspaper=Baltimore Afro-American|date=September 16, 1952|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gfglAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bfUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3386,1005348&dq=mel-groomes+indiana&hl=en}}{{cite news|title=Groomes leads Generals in battle for grid posts|newspaper=Washington Afro American|date=September 1, 1953|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gUYmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oP4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=853,814435&dq=mel-groomes+trenton&hl=en}} ==Coaching career== After being discharged from the military, Groomes was hired in August 1954 as the backfield coach for the [football team](/source/Howard_Bison_football) at [Howard University](/source/Howard_University), [historically black university](/source/Historically_black_colleges_and_universities) located in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|title=HU footballers to start practice|newspaper=Washington Afro-American |date=August 31, 1954|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IMslAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6_QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1159,721041&dq=mel-groomes+indiana&hl=en}}{{cite news|title=Groomes Named Backfield Coach at Howard U|publisher=[Jet](/source/Jet_(magazine))|date=September 2, 1954|page=58|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m78DAAAAMBAJ&q=%22groomes%22+football&pg=PA58}} In 1955 Groomes was hired as an assistant [football](/source/North_Carolina_A%26T_Aggies_football) coach at [North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University](/source/North_Carolina_Agricultural_and_Technical_State_University), a [historically black college](/source/Historically_black_colleges_and_universities) in [Greensboro, North Carolina](/source/Greensboro%2C_North_Carolina). In 1955, he also became the head baseball coach at North Carolina A&T. Groomes remained at the school until he retired in 1987. In 31 years as the school's head baseball coach, he compiled a record of 471–224. Groomes also served as a professor and was instrumental in developing the North Carolina A&T's Health, Physical Education, and Recreation department.{{cite web|title=Groomes Spring Classic|publisher=Aggies Baseball Alumni Association|access-date=August 21, 2013|url=http://aggiebaseballalumni.org/about/groomes-spring-classic/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130821024208/http://aggiebaseballalumni.org/about/groomes-spring-classic/|archive-date=August 21, 2013}} ==Family and death== Groomes and his wife, Juanita Bradley, had three daughters. Melita Rene was born in Philadelphia in May 1952, Deborah Lynn was born March 1955, and Glenna Marie was born February 1959.{{cite news|title=Births|publisher=[Jet](/source/Jet_(magazine))|date=May 29, 1952|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SEMDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22groomes%22+football&pg=PA16}} In September 1997, Groomes died at age 70 at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro. The causes of death were listed as renal failure and cardiac arrest.Death Record for Melvin Harold Groomes, born March 6, 1927, in New Jersey, died September 11, 2009, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Death Collection, 1908-2004 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Footballstats |nfl=2515429 |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=G/GrooMe20 |rotoworld= }} {{North Carolina A&T Aggies baseball coach navbox}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Groomes, Mel}} Category:1927 births Category:1997 deaths Category:American football halfbacks Category:Deaths from kidney failure in North Carolina Category:Detroit Lions players Category:Indiana Hoosiers football players Category:Howard Bison football coaches Category:North Carolina A&T Aggies baseball coaches Category:North Carolina A&T Aggies football coaches Category:Trenton Central High School alumni Category:Players of American football from Trenton, New Jersey Category:Players of American football from Greensboro, North Carolina Category:African-American coaches of American football Category:Indiana Hoosiers men's track and field athletes Category:United States Air Force airmen Category:American military sports players Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mel Groomes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Groomes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Groomes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.