Gene Derricotte facts for kids
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Derricotte from 1948 team portrait
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| Born: | June 14, 1926 Fostoria, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Died: | March 31, 2023 (aged 96) |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Halfback, return specialist |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 178 lb (81 kg) |
| College | Michigan |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Honors | Michigan all-time records Single-season punt return average (1947–) |
Eugene Derricotte (June 14, 1926 – March 31, 2023) was an American college football player. He played as a halfback and return specialist for the Michigan Wolverines from 1944 to 1948. He was one of the first African-American athletes at the University of Michigan. This was during a time when college football was just starting to include players of all races.
Derricotte set school records for punt returns that are still impressive today. He also set some short-lived school records for interceptions. Beyond football, Gene served as a brave Tuskegee Airman during World War II. Later, he had a successful career in dentistry while continuing to serve in the military.
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Early Life and College Journey
Gene Derricotte was born in Fostoria, Ohio, on June 14, 1926. He grew up in Defiance, Ohio, where his father ran a shoe repair business. Gene married Jeanne E. Hagans and they had a son named Robert.
Gene was not only a star athlete but also an excellent student. He graduated from Defiance High School as the top student in his class. Because of his athletic talent, he received a scholarship to attend the University of Michigan. He started there in 1944, studying chemistry.
Breaking Barriers in Football
At Michigan, Gene Derricotte became the first African-American to play in the offensive backfield for the Michigan Wolverines football team. He made an immediate impact in 1944. He was the team's leading ground gainer that year. News reports at the time often mentioned his race. They called him things like "freshman negro halfback" or the "speedy negro freshman."
Military Service as a Tuskegee Airman
In December 1944, Derricotte was drafted into the United States Army. He was first assigned to an artillery unit. Later, he transferred to the Tuskegee Airmen pilot training program in Tuskegee, Alabama. He graduated from this special program in May 1946. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the U.S. armed forces. They flew with distinction during World War II. After the war ended, Gene was discharged and returned to the University of Michigan.
Return to Michigan Football
When he returned to Michigan in 1946, he continued to do well in both academics and sports. He kept a "B" average and changed his major to pharmacy. In football, he shared the starting role at left halfback. He played alongside Bob Chappuis, who later became an All-Big Ten Conference player.
In 1946, Derricotte set a school record for interceptions in a single season. By 1947, Bob Chappuis was an All-American halfback. Gene Derricotte's main role became a return specialist.
Record-Setting Punt Returns
In 1947, Derricotte averaged an amazing 24.8 yards on punt returns. This still stands as a Michigan school record today. He also ranks among the top players in NCAA Division I-A history for average yards per punt return.
During his time at Michigan, Derricotte returned four punts for touchdowns. This set a school record that has since been tied by other great players. He also returned three punts for touchdowns in one season. This was a Big Ten Conference record for over 50 years.
Rose Bowl Victory
The 1947 Michigan Wolverines football team and the 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team were both undefeated. They finished the season ranked number 1 in the Associated Press polls. The 1947 team is often called "Michigan's Mad Magicians." It is considered one of the greatest University of Michigan football teams ever.
In the 1948 Rose Bowl game, Michigan beat USC 49–0. Derricotte scored a touchdown on a 45-yard reception in that game. He also completed a ten-yard pass.
Life After Football
After college, Derricotte was selected in the first round of the All-America Football Conference draft in 1949. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. However, he suffered a knee injury during training camp. This injury prevented him from playing professionally.
Gene Derricotte was honored for his achievements in 1987. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor.
Dentistry and Continued Military Service
Gene had a very successful career in dentistry. In 1950, he earned a degree in pharmacy. Then, in 1958, he earned another degree in dentistry. After becoming a dentist, Derricotte returned to the military. He served in many places, including Vietnam, Hawaii, and at the United States Air Force Academy. He retired from the military in 1985.
After his military retirement, Derricotte moved to San Antonio, Texas. There, he started another career at the University of Texas Health Science Center. He retired from dentistry in 2000.
Honoring the Tuskegee Airmen
In March 2007, Gene Derricotte was one of many Tuskegee Airmen honored at a special ceremony. This event took place in Washington, D.C.. They were given the Congressional Gold Medal. This award recognized their important service to the United States. They were also honored at another ceremony in June 2007 in Universal City, Texas.
Gene Derricotte passed away on March 31, 2023, at the age of 96.
