Darryl Hill (American football) facts for kids

Darryl Andre Hill (born October 21, 1943) is a famous athlete and businessman. In 1963, he made history by becoming the first African-American to play football for the University of Maryland. At that time, Maryland was in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which was made up of schools in the southern United States that had not allowed Black students to play on their teams before.

As the only Black player on his team for most of his college career, Hill was a star. He set two records for the University of Maryland that are still standing today. After college, he became a successful businessman who started many companies, including restaurants and green energy businesses.

A Future Star's Early Life

Darryl Hill was born in Washington, D.C., where he grew up with his family. Business was in his blood. His father, Kermit, owned a large commercial trucking company called Hill’s Transfer Company. Both of his grandfathers were also business owners.

Hill was a great student and athlete. He earned a scholarship to Gonzaga College High School, a private school in D.C. There, he became the first African-American to play football for the school. He was so good that he led his team to a city championship in 1959. He also excelled in track and field.

Breaking Barriers in College Football

Starting at Xavier and Navy

After high school, Hill went to Xavier University in Ohio on a football scholarship. The next year, in 1961, he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. He was the first Black man to play football at Navy. He played on the freshman team with Roger Staubach, who later became a famous Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

Making History at Maryland

In 1962, Hill decided to leave the Naval Academy. He was recruited by a coach from the University of Maryland to play for their team, the Terps. The head coach, Tom Nugent, wanted to break the color barrier in southern college football. At first, Hill wasn't sure. He said, "I'm no Jackie Robinson. I just want to play football." But when he learned it might be years before another Black player got a chance, he agreed.

When Hill joined the team, he became the first African-American to get an athletic scholarship at a major university in the South. The conferences in the South, like the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), did not have any Black football players at the time.

Facing Challenges with Courage

Hill's first game for Maryland was on September 21, 1963. He quickly became a star wide receiver. While his teammates were supportive, some coaches and fans from other teams were very hostile. When the team played at the University of South Carolina, they had to be protected by the National Guard.

His teammates stood by him. When they traveled in the South, the whole team would only eat at restaurants and stay in hotels that would serve Hill.

One of the most difficult games was against Clemson University. Their coach, Frank Howard, had said he would not let a Black person play in their stadium. Clemson even threatened to leave the ACC. But the game went on. Hill’s mother was not allowed to enter through the main gate, but the president of Clemson invited her to watch the game from his private box. In that very game, Darryl Hill set a new ACC record for the most passes caught in a single game.

A Successful Career in Business

After a brief time with the New York Jets practice team, Hill went to graduate school and started his business career. He wanted to help other people from minority groups succeed in business. For ten years, he led organizations that helped over 2,500 minority-owned businesses get started.

Over the years, Hill has started many of his own companies.

• In 1977, he opened a popular fine-dining restaurant in Washington, D.C.
• In the 1980s, he moved to California and started companies that focused on green energy, which is energy from natural sources like the sun and wind.
• In the 1990s, he did business in other countries, including Russia and China.
• He also opened more restaurants in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.

In 2003, Hill returned to the University of Maryland to help raise money for the athletic department. He helped make a major deal to name the football field Capital One Field.

Today, Hill is the Chairman of the Kids Play USA Foundation, which helps make sports affordable for all children. He is also the Chairman and CEO of companies like Tilstar, LLC and Green Bean, LLC, which operate in Maryland and California.