COACH GARLAND PINHOLSTER
REENVISIONING THE PLAYBOOK
By Margaret Daniel
It was a snowy night when Charles Lee, star basketball player for the University of Rhode Island, fouled out in the last minutes of the game against Oglethorpe University. As Lee left the court, the 2,100 spectators in the Oglethorpe stands cheered and gave him a standing ovation. Such good sportsmanship is always gratifying, but on that night, December 29, 1961, it was especially memorable. Charles Lee was African-American, and this was the first integrated basketball game in Georgia history, one arranged by Oglethorpe’s Coach Garland Pinholster. When asked how he prepared his players and himself for this game, Coach Pinholster replied, “I didn’t have to. Oglethorpe was an oasis of tolerance when Jim Crow still existed. My team and I were not interested in the other players’ race; we just wanted to win, especially against a large university. I particularly remember the spectators. Although Lee’s team lost, both sides cheered him as an athlete and a gentleman, which made me proud.” With fewer than 500 students at the time, OU beat this large university in a stunning 64-47 upset. Lee, an All-Yankee Conference selection who average 23 points a game, scored only seven points that night because of OU’s unyielding zone defense. Top: The first integrated college basketball game in Georgia was played at Oglethorpe University in 1961. Bottom: Coach Garland Pinholster (center) led the 1962–63 Petrels team to first place in regionals.
“MY TEAM AND I WERE NOT INTERESTED IN THE OTHER PLAYERS’ RACE; WE JUST WANTED TO WIN, ESPECIALLY AGAINST A LARGE UNIVERSITY. I PARTICULARLY REMEMBER THE SPECTATORS. ALTHOUGH LEE’S TEAM LOST, BOTH SIDES CHEERED HIM AS AN ATHLETE AND A GENTLEMAN, WHICH MADE ME PROUD.” Bob Nance ’63, now an Oglethorpe trustee, guarded Lee that night and was focused on keeping the Rhode Island star from scoring, not on his race. Yet Coach Pinholster says that one of his most generous boosters was a segregationist who threatened to withdraw support if Oglethorpe played integrated games. “But when we beat Rhode Island, he cheered as loud as anyone,” Coach Pinholster reflected with a broad smile. This coach later scheduled games with black colleges and invited Clark University and Morehouse College to
14 CARILLON | SPRING/SUMMER 2014