Black History Month in Muncie: Luther Bradley Sr.

Editor's note: To celebrate Black History Month, The Star Press will feature a daily brief about prominent Black community members in Delaware County.

MUNCIE, Ind. — Luther Bradley Sr. (1927-2005) was the first African American coach for Muncie Community Schools and later served as a longtime school administrator.

Bradley began his career as an assistant coach at Central High School, in football, basketball, baseball and track. He had earlier coached football for a dozen years at a high school in Greenwood, South Carolina.

Later, he became a school administrator, serving in roles that included Muncie Community Schools director of student services, dean of students at Central and assistant principal at Storer Middle School.

After more than two decades with the city school system, Bradley retired in 1989 and returned to his home state of South Carolina.

He had also served as a member of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, Muncie Economic Development Commission and the Industrial Revolving Loan Fund Board.

Bradley was inducted into the South Carolina State Hall of Fame in 1998.

The educator's son, Luther Bradley Jr., was a football standout at Northside High School before becoming an All-American as a cornerback for the University of Notre Dame's football team.

The younger Bradley played four seasons in the National Football League with the Detroit Lions and later played with three teams in the United State Football League.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Black History Month in Muncie: Luther Bradley Sr.