Wilmeth Sidat-Singh (February 13, 1918[1] – May 9, 1943) was a U.S. Army Air Corps officer with the Tuskegee Airmen, and an American basketball and football player who was subject to segregation in college and professional sports in the 1930s.
Wilmeth Sidat-Singh
Poster from Office for Emergency Management, Office of War Information News Bureau, 1943
His parents were both African-American. After the death of his father, Elias Webb (a pharmacist), his mother, Pauline, married Samuel Sidat-Singh, a medical student from India who adopted Wilmeth, giving him his family name. After his graduation from Howard University, Dr. Sidat-Singh moved the family to Harlem and set up a family medical practice. Wilmeth showed great talent as an athlete and became a basketball star, leading DeWitt Clinton High School to the New York Public High School Athletic League championship in 1934.
Basketball, Football, Law Enforcement Careeredit
Sidat-Singh received an offer of a basketball scholarship from Syracuse University and enrolled in 1935. Former lacrosse coach Roy Simmons Sr. saw him playing an intramural football game and asked him to join the football team. Sidat-Singh starred for Syracuse, playing a position equivalent to modern-day quarterback and starring for the basketball team as well.[2]
Syracuse University and nearby Cornell University were among the first collegiate football teams to include African-American players as starting backfield players. A 1938 news report in the Baltimore Sun reports on one such game where Sidat-Singh led Syracuse to victory over Cornell.[3] In that era, when games were played in Southern segregation states, African-American players from Northern schools were banned from the field. Because of his light complexion and name, Sidat-Singh was sometimes assumed to be a "Hindu" (as people from India were often called by Americans during this time). However. shortly before a game against the University of Maryland, a black sportswriter, Sam Lacy, wrote an article in the Baltimore Afro-American, revealing Sidat-Singh's true racial identity. Wilmeth Sidat-Singh was held out of the game and Syracuse lost that game 0-13.[2] In a rematch the following year at Syracuse, Sidat-Singh led the Orange to a lopsided victory (53-0) over Maryland.[4]
After U.S. entry into World War II, he applied and was accepted as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the only African-American unit in the U.S. Army Air Force, and won his wings as a pilot.
Sidat-Singh died in 1943 during a training mission when the engine of his airplane failed. "He died on a training flight when his stricken plane went down in Saginaw Bay, his parachute tangled in the fuselage." He drowned in Lake Huron.[5][6]
Legacyedit
In 2005, Syracuse University honored Wilmeth Sidat-Singh by retiring his number and hanging his basketball jersey (#19) in the rafters of the Carrier Dome.[7]
On Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, the University of Maryland publicly apologized to surviving relatives from the Webb family at a ceremony during a football game with Syracuse University.[8][9]
Fraternity Membershipedit
Wilmeth Sidat-Singh was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity initiated into Kappa chapter on May 2, 1938.[10] The original initiation document has a poem written about Sidat.[10][11]
^*"On the Sport Front," article by Harold Jackson published in The Afro American on July 10, 1943, p. 19, "[Sidat-Singh] was born on February 13..."
^ abVasudevan, Anish (23 October 2022). "'AS EVER, SINGH': Wilmeth Sidat-Singh was Syracuse's 1st Black star athlete". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^Rice, Grantland (16 October 1938). "Syracuse tops Cornell team in last period". The Baltimore Sun. p. 24. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
^Mike Morrison, ed. (July 7, 2017). "2017 Football Media Guide" (PDF) (Press release). Syracuse, NY 13244: Syracuse University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-26.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^Waters, Mike (25 May 2020). "Remembering the former SU players who died in the military". syracuse.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
^"For years no one knew what this plaque in the Wilson Building signified". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
^Rhiannon Walker. "Amending a Wrong". SBS Stories Beneath the Shell News. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
^Barker, Jeff (November 8, 2013). "Maryland football trying to do right by Sidat-Singh, 76 years later". Baltimore Sun. College Park, MD. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
^ ab"Third District History and Archives Monday Pearl 3/4/19 – Oh Nellie!". THIRD DISTRICT OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY. March 4, 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
^Rice, Grantland; Martin, John S. (December 1938). Theodore R. Fortson (ed.). "Saga of Sidat-Singh". Omega Bulletin. Detroit, MI. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
External linksedit
Player Bio @ orangehoops.org
November 10, 2023
wilmeth, sidat, singh, february, 1918, 1943, army, corps, officer, with, tuskegee, airmen, american, basketball, football, player, subject, segregation, college, professional, sports, 1930s, poster, from, office, emergency, management, office, information, new. Wilmeth Sidat Singh February 13 1918 1 May 9 1943 was a U S Army Air Corps officer with the Tuskegee Airmen and an American basketball and football player who was subject to segregation in college and professional sports in the 1930s Wilmeth Sidat SinghPoster from Office for Emergency Management Office of War Information News Bureau 1943Nickname s The Syracuse Walking DreamBornFebruary 13 1918 1918 02 13 Washington DCDiedMay 9 1943 1943 05 09 aged 25 Lake HuronAllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchUnited States Army Air ForcesUnited States Air ForceYears of service1943 Contents 1 Early life 2 Basketball Football Law Enforcement Career 3 Military Career Tuskegee Airmen Death 4 Legacy 5 Fraternity Membership 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life editHis parents were both African American After the death of his father Elias Webb a pharmacist his mother Pauline married Samuel Sidat Singh a medical student from India who adopted Wilmeth giving him his family name After his graduation from Howard University Dr Sidat Singh moved the family to Harlem and set up a family medical practice Wilmeth showed great talent as an athlete and became a basketball star leading DeWitt Clinton High School to the New York Public High School Athletic League championship in 1934 Basketball Football Law Enforcement Career editSidat Singh received an offer of a basketball scholarship from Syracuse University and enrolled in 1935 Former lacrosse coach Roy Simmons Sr saw him playing an intramural football game and asked him to join the football team Sidat Singh starred for Syracuse playing a position equivalent to modern day quarterback and starring for the basketball team as well 2 Syracuse University and nearby Cornell University were among the first collegiate football teams to include African American players as starting backfield players A 1938 news report in the Baltimore Sun reports on one such game where Sidat Singh led Syracuse to victory over Cornell 3 In that era when games were played in Southern segregation states African American players from Northern schools were banned from the field Because of his light complexion and name Sidat Singh was sometimes assumed to be a Hindu as people from India were often called by Americans during this time However shortly before a game against the University of Maryland a black sportswriter Sam Lacy wrote an article in the Baltimore Afro American revealing Sidat Singh s true racial identity Wilmeth Sidat Singh was held out of the game and Syracuse lost that game 0 13 2 In a rematch the following year at Syracuse Sidat Singh led the Orange to a lopsided victory 53 0 over Maryland 4 With unofficial bans on black players enacted in both the National Basketball League NBL and National Football League NFL Sidat Singh played briefly for a professional barnstorming basketball team in Syracuse and then joined the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia Military Career Tuskegee Airmen Death editAfter U S entry into World War II he applied and was accepted as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen the only African American unit in the U S Army Air Force and won his wings as a pilot Sidat Singh died in 1943 during a training mission when the engine of his airplane failed He died on a training flight when his stricken plane went down in Saginaw Bay his parachute tangled in the fuselage He drowned in Lake Huron 5 6 Legacy editIn 2005 Syracuse University honored Wilmeth Sidat Singh by retiring his number and hanging his basketball jersey 19 in the rafters of the Carrier Dome 7 On Saturday Nov 9 2013 the University of Maryland publicly apologized to surviving relatives from the Webb family at a ceremony during a football game with Syracuse University 8 9 Fraternity Membership editWilmeth Sidat Singh was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity initiated into Kappa chapter on May 2 1938 10 The original initiation document has a poem written about Sidat 10 11 See also editDogfights TV series Executive Order 9981 Freeman Field Mutiny List of Tuskegee Airmen Military history of African Americans The Tuskegee Airmen movie Tuskegee AirmenReferences edit On the Sport Front article by Harold Jackson published in The Afro American on July 10 1943 p 19 Sidat Singh was born on February 13 a b Vasudevan Anish 23 October 2022 AS EVER SINGH Wilmeth Sidat Singh was Syracuse s 1st Black star athlete The Daily Orange Retrieved 25 October 2022 Rice Grantland 16 October 1938 Syracuse tops Cornell team in last period The Baltimore Sun p 24 Retrieved 26 May 2020 Mike Morrison ed July 7 2017 2017 Football Media Guide PDF Press release Syracuse NY 13244 Syracuse University Athletics Retrieved 2020 05 26 a href Template Cite press release html title Template Cite press release cite press release a CS1 maint location link Waters Mike 25 May 2020 Remembering the former SU players who died in the military syracuse com Retrieved 26 May 2020 For years no one knew what this plaque in the Wilson Building signified Washington Post Retrieved 2016 05 28 Orange Hoops 19 Wilmeth Sidat Singh Orange Hoops Retrieved 2011 06 30 Rhiannon Walker Amending a Wrong SBS Stories Beneath the Shell News Retrieved 2013 12 14 Barker Jeff November 8 2013 Maryland football trying to do right by Sidat Singh 76 years later Baltimore Sun College Park MD Retrieved 26 May 2020 a b Third District History and Archives Monday Pearl 3 4 19 Oh Nellie THIRD DISTRICT OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY March 4 2019 Retrieved 26 May 2020 Rice Grantland Martin John S December 1938 Theodore R Fortson ed Saga of Sidat Singh Omega Bulletin Detroit MI Retrieved 26 May 2020 External links editPlayer Bio orangehoops org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilmeth Sidat Singh amp oldid 1125341856, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
