David Showell facts for kids

David Anthony Showell (born October 14, 1924 – died December 23, 1955) was an American fighter pilot. He flew during World War II as part of the Tuskegee Airmen. These were all-black squadrons of pilots. After the war, he became a star football player for Lafayette College. This was during the 1948 and 1949 seasons.

A big event happened when the Sun Bowl Committee did not let Showell play. This was because of his race. Because of this, Lafayette College refused to play in the Sun Bowl. Students at the college also held protests.

David Showell's Early Life

David Showell was born on October 14, 1924. He grew up in Prospect Park, Pennsylvania, with his eight brothers and sisters. As a child, he went to Lincoln Elementary School. He also attended Washington Junior High and Prospect Park High.

Showell was very good at sports. He played both baseball and football in high school. In 1942, as a senior, he was the top scorer in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He scored 135 points that season.

He helped his team win three championships that year. These were the Suburban Class A and B, and the Chester Pike Conference. David received many awards for his amazing sports skills. The Prospect Park yearbook even called him "one of the greatest backs ever."

Serving in World War II

After finishing high school in 1943, Showell joined the U.S. Army. He went to flight school and became a pilot. He joined the Tuskegee Airmen. This was a special group of black pilots in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II.

When he joined the military, Showell faced a lot of unfair treatment. He and other black airmen were often not allowed to fly missions. This was only because of their skin color. Showell left the U.S. Army in October 1945.

Awards and Recognition

• Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006.

College and Later Years

In 1947, Showell started college at Lafayette College. This is a small school in Easton, Pennsylvania. He played football for the Lafayette Leopards football team for four years. He was a star halfback.

At the end of the 1948 season, his team was invited to play in the 1949 Sun Bowl game. This game was in El Paso, Texas, on January 1, 1949. But David Showell was not allowed to go with his team. This was because of the segregation laws in Texas. These laws kept people of different races apart.

This unfair event caused a lot of discussion. It was talked about at Lafayette College and across the country. Lafayette College decided not to send its team to the Sun Bowl. This was their way of protesting the decision to exclude Showell. Many students at the college also protested against this unfair treatment.

In 1951, Showell graduated from Lafayette College. He earned a degree in business. After college, he went to the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Death

David Showell died on December 23, 1955. He was 31 years old. He passed away at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. This was after a car accident where the truck he was driving overturned.

See also

• Dogfights (TV series)
• Executive Order 9981
• Freeman Field Mutiny
• List of Tuskegee Airmen
• Military history of African Americans
• The Tuskegee Airmen (movie)
• Tuskegee Airmen