Anderson, Ezzrett, Jr. "Sugarfoot"
(born: February 10, 1920 - died: March 8, 2017)Ezzrett Anderson, Jr. was born in Nashville, AR, according to the 1930 U.S. Federal Census. His nickname was Sugarfoot. He became one of the first African Americans from a predominantly African American school to play professional football when he joined the Los Angeles Dons in 1947. Anderson had attended Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY, where he played football. He was an all-around athlete who also played basketball and ran track. [His father had played in the Negro League Baseball.]
During his professional football career, he played with the Los Angeles Mustangs. He played for the Hollywood Bears in the Pacific Coast League when they won the title. He also played in the Canadian Football League for seven seasons (1948-1954) and was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2010. Anderson was a tight-end with the Calgary Stampedes.
In addition to playing football, Ezzrett Anderson, Jr. was also an actor and appeared in 20 Hollywood films with uncredited roles. He debuted was the role of Walkin' Murphy in the 1949 film The Story of Seabiscuit. [Seabiscuit (1933-1947) was a champion thoroughbred racehorse from Lexington, KY.]
In addition to acting, Ezzrett Anderson, Jr. was an entertainer, formed a blues band "The Bluenotes," he was a radio disc jockey, and he owned a gas station. He made his home in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and died there in 2017.
For more see Smith, T., "Outside the pale; the exclusion of Blacks from the National Football League, 1934-1946," Journal of Sport History, 15, no. 3 (Winter 1988); Seabiscuit's Obituary | article at the PBS American Experience website; and Former Stampeders star Ezzrett Anderson dies at 97, Canadian Press, 03/08/2017 (online).