After a career at McKinley where he earned All-America honors in his senior year, he went on to star at the University of Houston. In the NBA he was a star player and won several championships with the Boston Celtics. But that wasn't all. As a coach, this 1964 McKinley graduate was NBA coach of the year in 1991 while coaching the Houston Rockets.
Don Chaney
When he retired, this McKinley alumnus was the winningest college football coach of all time. His record was later surpassed. For many years he had sent more players to the pros from Grambling than ANY other college program -- more than national powerhouses like Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Michigan, Alabama, and LSU. The award for the national college football coach of the year is now named in his honor.
Eddie Robinson ('37)
So smart that he was skipped and graduated from high school at Southern Lab at age 15. He was born and raised in "The Bottom" and went on to be one the most influential and controversial civil rights leaders and a prominent member of the Black Panther Party in the 1960's and 70's.
H. Rap Brown (later Jamil Al-Amin)
Black History....South Baton Rouge Style
She was the first black woman to be U S Secretary of State. Her roots run deep into South Baton Rouge. Her father John Rice and aunt Theresa Rice were graduates of McKinley High. Her aunt also later taught English at McKinley High.
Condoleezza Rice
This award winning actress was born and raised in South Baton Rouge, she attended McKinley several years -- later graduating from Lee High. She is the granddaughter of great SBR community leader Dr. Leo S Butler. Also the daughter of Dr. Valerian Smith.
Lynn Smith Whitfield
The historic information on this page was provided by McK 79er "Dunny" Dunbar
An award wining actor who starred in the popular shows The Unit and 24. He is also the popular television spokesman for All-State insurance. He has strong ties to South Baton Rouge and McKinley High. His father and uncle (Charles and Alex Haysbert) were star athletes at McKinley and Southern U in the 1940's.
Dennis Haysbert
It's great if a high school can claim that they have one NBA head coach. Imagine a school that can claim they had TWO NBA head coaches AT THE SAME TIME! McKinley did. It was the 2003 season when Don Chaney ('64) was head coach of the New York Knicks and Keith Smart ('82) was head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Keith Smart and Don Chaney
South Baton Rouge has a history that is profound. Its people, the events, the places. It has impacted the nation and the world. It continues. Know it and pass it on. Keep it alive. Such as......
Born and raised in South Baton Rouge in the Minnesota Street area. One of the three original judges on the popular America Idol show. As a musician he has played on records by Carlos Santana, Aretha Franklin, Maze, Kenny G, Madonna, Phyllis Hyman, and many more. He has also been a top executive in the music industry that has been instrumental in shaping the successful careers of stars such as Marian Carey.
Randy Jackson
And the list goes on and on......this is just a smidgen of the great history of Old SBR. There is so much more and so many others! Keep the great history alive. Let's continue to make black history every day of the year.