I think about how this was a part of history. I knew it was important back then, sure. But I didn't really realize and recognize that this would be such an integral part of African-American history. And here I was, just a boy, talking to him and shaking his hand. Words can't express how I feel about that, especially now, and the positive influence it had on my life.

Dick Blake

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We used to root for the Indians against the cavalry, because we didn't think it was fair in the history books that when the cavalry won it was a great victory, and when the Indians won it was a massacre.

— Dick Gregory

The timing of the 'give-away' of the retail units was possibly one of the worst in the history of American business.

It went from nine to 21 just like that, and then the ballgame's basically history. In the second half, I thought Prep really made an effort to push the ball down the floor.

— Dick Wettengel

One of the things he'd tell us is that if you've got something in your head, nobody can take it away from you. So, yes sir, he was always telling us to go to school, to go to college, to go get an education. Become somebody who makes a difference. That's what he'd say. It had a tremendous influence on me.

He was the Moses for the black community. He broke the barrier. He showed us the way.