Harrison Fitch facts for kids
Harrison Brooks "Honey" Fitch (born around 1912 – died 1984) was a talented African American college basketball player. He played for the University of Connecticut (UConn). In 1934, he faced a difficult situation during a game. This happened because of racism at the United States Coast Guard Academy.
Harrison Fitch in 1934
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | circa 1912 New Haven, Connecticut |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | June 11, 1984 (aged 72) Wallingford, Connecticut |
| High school | Hillhouse (New Haven, Connecticut) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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Contents
Harrison Fitch's Life Story
Harrison Fitch was born in New Haven. His parents were Collins and Lulu Fitch. His father delivered mail for the United States Postal Service. His mother took care of their home. Harrison was one of seven sons in the family. He also had one sister.
Harrison was a star basketball player in high school. He attended Hillhouse High School. In the fall of 1932, he started college. He went to Connecticut State College, which is now the University of Connecticut (UConn).
A Talented Athlete
Fitch played many sports in college. He was a guard in basketball. He played first baseman in baseball. He was also an end in football. He was the only African American student at Connecticut State College. He was also the first African American basketball player there.
Harrison was very popular among students. He was known for his good sportsmanship. He was also friendly and respectful. In April 1933, students voted him the best athlete. People called him "Honey" because he played so smoothly.
Life After UConn
After the 1934 incident, Harrison transferred colleges. He went to American International College in Springfield. He continued to play basketball there. Later, he played football for the Boston Shamrocks. In 1938, he joined the Walcos team in Wallingford.
Later in his life, Harrison became a researcher. He worked at a company called Monsanto. He also helped youth groups. He refereed basketball games in western Massachusetts. In 1939, he married Hazel Brandrum. They had two sons, Harrison Jr. and Charles. His son, Brooks, also went to UConn.
Harrison Fitch passed away on June 11, 1984. He was 72 years old. He is buried in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 2022, UConn honored him. He was added to the Huskies of Honor. This program celebrates top coaches and players in UConn's basketball history.
A Challenging Game: The 1934 Incident
On January 27, 1934, the Connecticut State basketball team had a game. They were scheduled to play the US Coast Guard Academy. The game was in New London. Earlier that day, the Academy had stopped another African American athlete, Fred Moody, from boxing. This was because of his race. Many cadets at the Academy were from the South. In those areas, people of different races were often kept apart.
Coast Guard officials said their teams had never played against a mixed-race team. They claimed it was a long-standing rule. They said "no ‘negro’ players be allowed to engage in contests at the Academy."
The Game Day
The Connecticut State players, including Harrison Fitch, arrived. They changed into their uniforms. They started practicing on the court. But just before the game, Coast Guard officials refused to play. They said they would not play if Fitch was on the team. The game was delayed for an hour. Officials and players from both teams argued.
The boxing coach from New Hampshire came to support Fitch. He told Connecticut to let Fitch play. He said New Hampshire would not be offended. Eventually, the game started. But the Connecticut State coach, John Heldman, kept Fitch on the bench. He did not explain why. Connecticut State won the game 31–29.
The Aftermath
The next day, athletic directors from both schools met. They said the incident was a "very unfortunate misunderstanding." They claimed it was "satisfactorily adjusted." They stated that any student could play in future games between the schools. This meant Fitch could play against the Coast Guard Academy later.
Students at Connecticut State strongly supported Fitch. The sports editor for the Connecticut Campus newspaper spoke out. He asked other teams to promise to let Fitch play. In March, basketball captain Connie Donahue led a student committee. They surveyed students about sports. Students voted to fire coach Heldman and athletic director Guyer. They also voted Fitch the best athlete for the second year. Students felt the college's response was not enough. The Coast Guard Academy never apologized.
The incident became big news. It was reported in state and national newspapers. Oscar S. De Priest was the only African American in Congress. He said the exclusion of Fitch and Moody was "un-American."
