John Westbrook

John Hill Westbrook (November 13, 1947 – December 17, 1983) was a pastor and the first African American athlete to play in the Southwest Conference of American football during his time as a student at Baylor University.

Early life and education Westbrook was born in Groesbeck, Texas to Robert and Etta Mae (née McCracken) Westbrook.

In 1965, he started college at Baylor University, joining the football team as a running back. He played in several subsequent games that season, but due to a knee injury sustained during a game against Texas Christian University, his participation on the team was limited for the remainder of his time at Baylor. The annual award is presented to Baylor student-athletes (one male, one female) who have overcome various challenges to become successful and make positive contributions to their teams and communities. In 2016, 50 years after Westbrook played in the historic game against Syracuse, he was honored during a home game at Baylor. His family accepted the honor on his behalf.