Professional Football Player. He gained recognition for being a pioneer African-American professional football player. After graduating from Trenton Central High School in New Jersey, Melvin Harold Groomes went to the University of Indiana. After college, the Detroit Lions signed him to be a halfback and defensive back. No NFL team other than the Rams had a black player until the Lions signed Groomes. He was one of two black players on the Lions in 1948. He played a total of nine games in two seasons (1948 and 1949) for the Lions. He caught a total of five passes for 51 yards and one touchdown. He intercepted one pass which he returned for 25 yards. He and a handful of other black pro football pioneers endured hostility competing against all-white teams in a slow-to-integrate National Football League.
Professional Football Player. He gained recognition for being a pioneer African-American professional football player. After graduating from Trenton Central High School in New Jersey, Melvin Harold Groomes went to the University of Indiana. After college, the Detroit Lions signed him to be a halfback and defensive back. No NFL team other than the Rams had a black player until the Lions signed Groomes. He was one of two black players on the Lions in 1948. He played a total of nine games in two seasons (1948 and 1949) for the Lions. He caught a total of five passes for 51 yards and one touchdown. He intercepted one pass which he returned for 25 yards. He and a handful of other black pro football pioneers endured hostility competing against all-white teams in a slow-to-integrate National Football League.
Bio by: Mel Bashore
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