Wichita State University alumnus and football legend Linwood Sexton has been named one of the recipients of the 2012 Pioneer Award by the John McLendon Scholarship Foundation, in partnership with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

The award honors minority “firsts” in athletics. Sexton is one of nine honorees.

He will be honored Wednesday, June 27, at NACDA’s annual convention in Dallas.

Sexton is the first African-American to graduate with a bachelor’s in education from the Missouri Valley Conference (1948) and to be named three times to the MVC All-Conference team (1945-46-47).

Sexton set statistical records and broke racial barriers while starring on the football field for the University of Wichita in the 1940s, competing as one of the first African-American football players for the Shockers and in the MVC.

While competing in a segregated United States, Sexton wasn’t allowed to play in certain road games because of his race and had to stay in separate travel accommodations from his white teammates. But he overcame such challenges to become the school's career leader in rushing and total offense.

Hall of famer

The Wichita native is one of two Wichita State football players to have their jersey retired. Sexton was inducted into the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and, most recently, into the MVC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.

While at WSU, Sexton’s average yards per play ranked third nationally in both rushing and total offense during his senior season in 1947, despite not being able to play a handful of games, such as at Tulsa and West Texas State, because of his race.

He racked up 1,995 rushing yards in his career and 2,788 yards of total offense.

After graduation, Sexton taught sixth grade for four years at a Wichita elementary school. He remains passionate about the benefits of education.

Sexton has served on numerous boards, including the Kansas Board of Regents and the Wichita State University Board of Trustees. He serves on the Board of Directors for Wesley Medical Center, the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors and is a member of the WSU Foundation’s National Advisory Committee.