J. T. Black

Born: ♂ J. T. Black (Blondy)

August 20, 1920

Philadelphia, MS

Died: May 4, 2000

Jackson, MS

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Spouses: Shirley DeWeese Black (m. January 13, 1944, San Diego, CA), Bernice Black (m. May 1, 1965, Opelika, AL)

Children: Ronald DeWitt Black, Janice Black Law, Darrell Thomas Black, Bruce Tinsley Black

Parents: John T. Black, Norah Tinsley Black

Siblings: Adolphus Black, Remola Black Falls, Corneil Black, and Henry Grant Black

The story is told that he grew up being called "J. T." and no other name. When he enlisted in the Marines, he had to give a full name. He phoned his mother. She couldn't remember for sure whether J. T. stood for John Thomas or James Tinsley. He chose "John Thomas," and that's how he is known to posterity.

His Wikipedia article

Accomplishments

Blondy Black was very well known for his successful football career, particularly for his speed. He was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1976.

Here is a video of clips from his performance playing (and winning) at the Orange Bowl in 1941: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G98X4oFgSwM

Obituary

Jackson Clarion-Ledger, May 7, 2000

J.T. 'Blondy' Black

business owner

By Shderia Thompson

Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer

J.T. "Blondy" Black, of East Woodrow Wilson Avenue, 79, a land developer and business owner, died of respiratory failure Thursday at G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Services are 3 p.m. Monday at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home with burial in Trinity Mausoleum Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland. Visitation is 1-3 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Mr. Black was a native of Philadelphia. He was a graduate of Philadelphia High School and Mississippi State University, where he had an outstanding football career. He served as a lieutenant in the Marine Corps during World War II and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

He later trained for the 1944 Olympics, which were not held because of the war. He played professional football for the Buffalo Bisons and Baltimore Colts. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame honored him.

In the 1950s, he had a car dealership in Yazoo City. He later moved to Jackson. He was a member of Riverside Independent Methodist Church. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and loved to cook. He continued reunions with the "Old Dogs," his Mississippi State teammates. He was the widower of Shirley DeWeese Black and Bernice Boone Black.

His children remembered the great sense of humor he had and the laughter he brought his family.

His son, Bruce T. Black of Madison, said, "He was a great dad and a fun person to be around. I always thought one way to tell if a person was true or not was the amount of friends they had, and in this case he had a lot and kept in contact with them monthly," added Black.

His daughter, Janice B. Law of of Chapel Hill, N.C., said, "He never met a bite of steak he didn't love."

A son, Darrell T. Black of Jackson, said, "He was extremely humorous, kind and gentle. He loved to laugh and joke around ... there was never a dull moment."

Other survivors include; son, Ronald D. Black of Brandon; and six grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Riverside Independent Methodist Church, 865 Riverside Drive, Jackson MS 39202.

Remembrances

I can remember when Granddaddy came to visit us in NC around 1990. I was five years old, and it seemed like the most exciting thing in the world that we were going to all go fishing. There weren't enough poles so Granddaddy tied a fishing line on the end of a stick for me. I didn't catch anything, but I sure felt special.

-Shirley Elizabeth Law