Rommie Loudd

Rommie Lee Loudd (June 8, 1933 – May 9, 1998) was an American former collegiate and professional American football player, coach, and executive. He was the first black assistant coach in the American Football League[1] and the first black majority owner of a major league sports team.[2]

Rommie Loudd
Born:(1933-06-08)June 8, 1933
Madisonville, Texas
Died: (aged 64)
Miami, Florida
Career information
Position(s)Linebacker/Tight end
CollegeUCLA
Career history
As administrator
1968–1971New England Patriots Director of Player Personnel
1971–1973New England Patriots Director of Pro Scouting
1974Florida Blazers owner
As coach
1964–1965Boston Sweepers (Defensive Coach)
1966–1967Boston Patriots (Linebackers)
As player
1956BC Lions
1960Los Angeles Chargers
1961–1962Boston Patriots
Career highlights and awards

Playing career

Loudd was born in Madisonville, Texas, and played tight end for coach Red Sanders at UCLA from 1953 to 1955. He was a member of the 1953 UCLA Bruins football team that lost in the 1954 Rose Bowl and a member of the 1954 UCLA Bruins football team that was declared the FWAA & UPI National Champions.

He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 26th round (304th overall) of the 1956 NFL Draft, but instead signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. After being cut by the Chicago Bears in 1959, Loudd joined the newly formed American Football League as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers. He was released by the Chargers after one season and signed with the AFL' Boston Patriots.

Coaching

In 1964, Loudd moved to coaching. He was the defensive coach of the Boston Sweepers of the Atlantic Coast Football League for two seasons before becoming the linebackers coach for the Boston Patriots and the first African-American coach in the history of the AFL.[3] After two seasons as coach, Loudd moved to the front office, where he was the Patriots Director of Player Personnel from 1968 to 1971 and Director of Pro Scouting from 1971 to 1973.

In 1973, Loudd led a bid to get a National Football League franchise in Orlando, Florida.[4] The expansion franchise would instead go to Philadelphia construction magnate Thomas McCloskey who founded the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 1974, Loudd became the owner of the Florida Blazers of the World Football League.[5] He was the first black top executive in major league sports.[6]
Loudd, one season, worked with Don Gillis for New England Patriots preseason.

On April 3, 1957, Loudd was charged with child molestation. He and four other men allegedly engaged in sodomy and other sexual acts with three boys, ages twelve, thirteen, and fifteen, who were picked up off the street wearing wigs and women's clothing. He was found guilty on two charges of child molestation and sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation.[7]

On December 23, 1974, Loudd was arrested on charges of embezzling state sales tax money.[8] Three months later he was charged with conspiracy and delivery of cocaine.[9] He was sentenced to two concurrent fourteen-year sentences for conviction on two counts of delivering cocaine.[10] He was also sentenced to two years in prison for possession and distribution of cocaine.[11] The sales tax embezzlement and conspiracy to deliver cocaine charges were dropped following his convictions on drug charges.[10] After three years in prison, Loudd was released on parole.[12] and became an associate minister at Mount Tabor Baptist Church.[1]

Death

Loudd died on May 9, 1998, in Miami, Florida, aged 64, of complications from diabetes.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Rommie Loudd, 64, Pro Football Coach". The New York Times. May 18, 1998. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  2. "Sports News Briefs; First Black Top Executive in Sports". New York Times. May 21, 1974. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
  3. "Patriots Hire Negro Coach". St. Petersburg Times. March 4, 1966. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
  4. Girard, Fred (April 8, 1973). "His Selling Point: Black Ownership". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
  5. Zier, Patrick (July 12, 1974). "Being Owner Something New for Rommie Loudd". The Ledger. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
  6. "Sports News Briefs; First Black Top Executive in Sports – Free Preview". The New York Times. May 21, 1974. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  7. Leonard, Kevin Allen (September 2011). "Containing "Perversion": African Americans and Same-Sex Desire in Cold War Los Angeles". Journal of the History of Sexuality.
  8. "Orlando Boss Faces Charges". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 23, 1974. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
  9. "Ex-GM in WFL charged in drug ring". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. March 11, 1975. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  10. "State Drops Charges Against Jailed Loudd". St. Petersburg Times. July 20, 1976. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
  11. "Loudd Gets Two Years For Cocaine Possession". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. March 9, 1976. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  12. "Loudd is Granted Parole". St. Petersburg Times. September 23, 1978. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
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