George Taliaferro
George Taliaferro
George Taliaferro, an Indiana University running back, is best known as the first African American player ever drafted by a National Football League team. He is now 88 years old and staying at Bell Trace for his first ever rehabilitation.
Taliaferro was raised in Gary, Indiana, and attended Gary Roosevelt High. He’s a man of high moral integrity, a trait passed down to him through his father. George tells the story about how as a child his father asked him to help dig up a plot of land. His father wanted the job finished by the time he returned from work the next day. Coerced by friends to go swimming instead, he didn’t finish the project on time. When his father came home he wasn’t angry, but simply stated to him, “A man is no better or no worse than his word.” Taliaferro dug by lantern light to finish the project by 7:00am the next morning. Ever since then, his father’s words have been a driving mantra in his life.
Taliaferro broke down race barriers and helped to put positive changes into effect for the country. Throughout his years playing football he faced discrimination and blatant racism frequently. Taliaferro, a strong-willed and spry man with an amazing sense of humor, was never beaten down by the challenges that faced him. Times were different then, and up until 1974 the commissioner of the IHSAA would not permit “black” and “white” schools to play each other. During high school he remembers driving for miles, state-to-state, traveling with his team to find schools that would allow them to compete.
Taliaferro played football during an era of change for both the game and the country. When he finished high school World War II had begun and he was eligible for the draft. A family neighbor who served on the military draft board told the Taliaferros that the best way to ensure George wouldn’t be drafted was for him to go to school and play for a team in Indiana. At one point he almost signed a letter of intent with North Carolina Central. Their team had an all African American roster, and many athletes from Gary Roosevelt had chosen to join the team already. But with the support and encouragement of his high school coach, John D. Smith, Taliaferro came to Indiana University Bloomington in 1945 where he helped lead the team to victory in the first game of the season against Michigan.
Taliaferro recalls walking into the Michigan stadium, hearing the roaring crowd of people and feeling an emotion one wouldn’t usually associate with a man such as George Taliaferro; fear. He said his heart was beating like a tom-tom and he turned to God for comfort saying, “There must be a reason for all this that you haven’t explained to me yet.”
Taliaferro experienced racism and discrimination not only from the organizations themselves but also from teammates and coaches. During road games in the South, Taliaferro and other African American players weren’t permitted to stay with their team in hotels that had declared themselves “white only.” Although disheartened, his spirit was never broken and he pushed through in order to stay true to his word.
Growing up in Gary, Teliaferro was a big fan of the Chicago Bears. A question many football fans often ask of Taliaferro is why, after being drafted by the Chicago Bears, he did not played for them. The answer to this question ties closely to that defining characteristic Taliaferro learned from his father. He never played for the Chicago Bears because he had already made a commitment to the Los Angeles Dons prior to the draft. When deciding on a course of action, he thought back to his father’s words and knew it would only be right for him to stay true to his word.
Taliaferro is also a family man. He’s happily married to his wife, Viola, whom he met during college when she was 17. Upon first meeting Viola, Taliaferro knew she was different and someone he was meant to be with. It’s easy to see how he was drawn to her for she’s certainly an accomplished individual herself. After graduating high school at 14 and college at 18, Viola enrolled at the IU School of Law at age 44 and passed the bar at 47. She’s now a retired juvenile courts judge, with several awards given out annually in her honor. The Taliaferros have been married 65 years. While raising their children, they traveled anywhere and everywhere the car could take them. They were hands-on parents who were highly involved in the lives of their children. They are blessed with four successful daughters, all IU graduates, and several grandchildren.
Bell Trace Health & Living is proud that Taliaferro has chosen them for his rehabilitation. He picked Bell Trace after seeing the high level of care they provided to a close family friend. He’s enjoyed his stay so far and says that if anything ever happens and he needs assistance, “I’ll come to Bell Trace always.”
Taliaferro has received many awards and recognitions throughout the years but the memories of his lifetime of experiences are the true prizes for all his hard work. If you’d like to know more about his story he is featured in several books and even a documentary entitled Indiana Legends. Upon meeting Taliaferro one instantly notices his infectious energy for life. He’s vibrant, quick witted with a great memory, and he tells the most interesting stories you’ll ever have the fortune of hearing.