| Summary: | Bobby Hayden (b.May 28, 1937) Born in Huntsville, Alabama, Bobby was very active with the sports program at Alabama A&M and worked closely with Paul White (who would become "Tall Paul" in Birmingham at WENN 1320 AM) who would broadcast A&M games on WEUP 1600 AM. Bobby also gave tours later on in life at the Underground Railroad safe house in Huntsville. In 1963, Hayden was one of the first African-American presidential honor guards. He served for Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, along with six other African-Americans who referred to themselves as "The Magnificent Seven.'' In this interview, Bobby talks about his relationship with Paul White and the overcoming of obstacles and racism while pioneering Black radio sports broadcasting. He also speaks of Paul White's relationship with Leroy Garrett, founder and owner of WEUP.
Also present: Dr. Roy McRay
Second sound file describes the first radio broadcast between Alabama A&M and Lane College (Jackson, TN). Bobby Hayden claims this to be the first radio broadcast of two contending HBCUs. This was the first A&M Homecoming game (1959) to be broadcasted over WEUP Huntsville. Broadcasting initially began with "away" games.
This recording was first played at the Alabama Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame induction ceremony for broadcaster Paul "Tall Paul" White on August 13, 2022.In black and white image, the woman to Paul's far right was Willie Mae Butler, an Administrative Assistant in the Alabama A&M Athletic Department. She represented the A&M Administration on the broadcasting team but did no broadcasting. The young man in the picture to Paul's immediate right was a spotter for the opposition, the South Carolina State (Orangeburg, SC HBCU) football team.
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