Description
Brad Pye, Jr. was the first
African-American sportscaster in Los Angeles, California. He worked to establish racial
equality in American sports throughout his distinguished career as a sports journalist,
broadcaster, and community advocate. The
Brad Pye Jr. Campaign
Collection
highlights aspects of Pye's involvement in American athletics and in the
Los Angeles community, including his race for the District 9 seat of the Los Angeles City
Council in 1991. Records in the collection include campaign documentation, political
proposals, candidate advertisements, press releases, press clippings, correspondence, and
photographs.
Background
Brad Pye, Jr. was born June 11, 1931 in Plain Dealing, Louisiana. He moved to Los Angeles
at the age of twelve and lived on Central Avenue where he looked after himself without
family support until his mother joined him four years later. During that time he made a
living as a gas station attendant, shoe shiner, and garment factory worker. Pye enjoyed
athletics and became interested in sports writing while attending Thomas Jefferson High
where he was recognized with a journalism award in 1949 for his contributions to the school
newspaper. After graduation, Pye went on to play center position with the 1949 undefeated
football team of East Los Angeles College where he studied journalism and wrote for the
school's newspaper. He was the college's first African-American student public relations
director and its first Black member of Beta Phi Gamma, the honorary journalism society. Pye
completed his Associate of Arts degree at Compton College and served two years in the United
States Marine Corps before enrolling at California State University, Los Angeles where he
served as sports editor for the school's award-winning newspaper.
Restrictions
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright
status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected
by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the
written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Availability
This collection is open for research use.