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.

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.

4.70 linear feet

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge.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.

This collection is open for research use.