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Wednesday, Oct 08, 2025
( Recurring yearly in October on the 8th of the month, starting from Wednesday, Oct 08, 2025, forever ) - Link
- Learn more about Jack Trice
On Oct. 8, Iowa state honors the memory and spirit of Johnny (Jack) Trice, the first Black student-athlete at ISU. Event programming includes a lunchtime carillon concert dedicated to Trice's courage and commitment while breaking barriers.
Jack Trice participated in track and football. He majored in animal husbandry, with the desire to go to the South and use his knowledge to help Black farmers.
On Oct. 6,1923, Trice played in his first "real" college football game against the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. During the second play of the game, he broke his collarbone. He insisted he was all right and returned to the game. In the third quarter, University of Minnesota players forced Trice to the ground and crushed him. Although he claimed to be fine, Trice was removed from the game and sent to a Minneapolis Hospital. The doctors declared him fit to travel and he returned to Ames with his teammates. On Oct. 8, Trice died from internal bleeding due to injuries received during the game.