WHITELAND, Ind. — He led a diplomatic fight for civil rights in Indiana throughout the 1950s and his career. Now the Johnson County Historical Society and the State of Indiana are erecting a lasting tribute to the late, Ray Crowe, not far from Whiteland High School where he was a basketball standout.
Crowe later coached several famous players such as Oscar Robertson, at Crispus Attucks High School leading the state’s first all-black team to a state championship. Crowe who died in 2003 at the age of 88 has left an indelible mark on Johnson County.
“You’re not in Johnson County very long before hearing about Ray Crowe”, says Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation (CPCSC) Superintendent, Tim Edsell. “You read about him leading the charge for racial equality through basketball, education, state government, and Indianapolis politics,” stated Edsell.
Crowe grew up on a Johnson County farm playing sports at Whiteland before moving to the University of Indianapolis. He became a coach, teacher, athletic director, State Representative, and Indianapolis City-County Council member. He is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Oscar Robertson has said that the success of Crowe’s Attucks teams helped racial relations in Indianapolis and eased integration of the public schools.
“When I met Ray Crowe I could tell immediately he was a special person”, said CPCSC School Board member and former Whiteland Athletic Director Butch Zike. “We renamed our top athletic award after Ray because of his impeccable character and leadership.”
The dedication of Ray Crowe State Historical Marker is this Friday, March 15, at 10 a.m. at the southeast corner of the CPCSC Administration Building, 50 Center St. in Whiteland,
It is the first State historical marker in the town of Whiteland.
