Hall of Fame
A pioneer in not only collegiate football but education and business as well, Linwood Sexton grew up in Wichita, Kansas, but Wichita has never grown out of him.
A product of East High School, he
became the first African-American football player in school history when he arrived on the Wichita University (now Wichita State) campus.
A three-time All-MVC selection from 1945 to 1947, Sexton is one of two WSU players to have his football jersey (66) retired.
He finished his collegiate days as the Wichita State career rushing leader with 1,995 yards -- a record he held for more than 40 years -- and the all-time total offense leader with 2,788 yards.
Sexton, who also lettered in
basketball and track at WU, rushed for more than 100 yards eight times in his career, including a career-high 176 against Saint Louis in 1947.
Also a passing threat from WU’s single-wing offense, he paced the 1946 and 1947 Shockers in passing with 225 and 312 yards, respectively, and in total offense with 1,056 and 1,014 yards.
As a senior in 1947, he finished third nationally for both rushing and total offense per play average. He led WSU to a 7-4 record and an appearance in the Raisin Bowl. Those totals could have been enhanced were he allowed to play in games at Tulsa and Oklahoma A&M, plus a non-MVC tilt at West Texas State, due to his race.
A member of the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, Sexton graduated from WU in 1948, with a bachelor of arts in education. He began his teaching career at L’Ouverture Elementary School in Wichita but later he would become area sales manager of Hiland Dairy.
An active community leader, he has served on numerous boards including the Kansas Board of Regents, Wichita State University Board of Trustees, YMCA Board of Directors, United Way of the Plains and the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Citizens Advisory Committee for Civil Rights. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Wesley Medical Center.
An active WSU supporter, he currently is on the Shockers Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors and a member of the WSU Foundation’s National Advisory
Committee. He has also been recognized by the Wichita Metro Chamber of
Commerce with its Uncommon Citizen Award -- presented for his role in business and participation in cultural, civic, social and philanthropic activities.
His tireless campaigning for equal opportunity and social justice earned him the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
Jim Mann, a 1956 graduate of WU and former chair and president of SunGard Data Systems Inc., established the Linwood Sexton Endowed Scholarship in 2000 to
salute the contributions of such a dedicated individual. This is a four-year general scholarship with a preference for those majoring in either business or education.
He and his late wife Delores are the parents of current Wichita State director of athletics Eric Sexton.