Ray Crowe, 1915-2003

*All Indianapolis Recorder and Indianapolis Times articles were accessed via Hoosier State Chronicles. All other newspaper articles were accessed via Newspapers.com unless otherwise noted.

[1] “Province Ray Crowe,” Indiana, U.S. Birth Certificates, 1907-1944, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; “Ray Province Crowe,” U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; “Ray P. Crowe,” Indiana, U.S. Death Certificates, 1899-2011, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; “Ray Province Crowe,” FindAGrave.com; “State Champ Basketball Coach Dies,” Indianapolis Star, December 21, 2003, 35 (B1), 41 (B7); “Coach Recalled as Champion,” December 28, 2003, Indianapolis Star, 33.

Ray Province Crowe was born on May 30, 1915, in Johnson County, Indiana to Morton Crow [sic] and Tomis (Tom) Ann Burress. His birth certificate lists him as “Province Ray Crowe,” but all other records list his name as Ray Province Crowe. Crowe died on December 20, 2003 in Indianapolis.

[2] “Tom Ann Burress,” Kentucky, U.S. County Marriage Records, 1783-1965, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; “Province Ray Crowe,” Indiana, U.S. Birth Certificates, 1907-1944, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; “Ray P. Crowe,” 1920 United States Federal Census, Sheet 5B, Line 97, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; [Untitled], Franklin Evening Star, May 7, 1929, 5; “Crowe Honored as ICC Senior,” Franklin Evening Star, June 8, 1938, 6; “Ray Province Crowe,” U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; “Ray P. Crowe,” Indiana, U.S. Death Certificates, 1899-2011, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; Hugh J. Ross, Whiteland ’33 – ’44 – ’94 (1996), 95-100;Kerry Marshall, The Ray Crowe Story: A Legend in High School Basketball (High School Basketball Cards of America, Inc., 1992), 6; Oral History of Sylvester Crowe, Interviewed by Lynne Schuetz, October 31, 1997, accessible via Johnson County Museum of History Genealogy Library, #1998.2.66.

Crowe was born and raised in Johnson County, Indiana, but sources conflict on whether he was born in Franklin, as noted on his birth certificate, or in Whiteland, as noted on his death certificate (both cities are located in Johnson County). Newspaper articles refer to Crowe as a native of both cities, but The Ray Crowe Story: A Legend in High School Basketball, notes that he was born in Franklin.Crowe’s parents were married in Adair, Kentucky in 1908 and later relocated to Indiana, settling in Johnson County and working as tenant farmers. According to a 1997 oral history of Sylvester Crowe, Ray’s sister, Ray was born on the John Kippler farm just west of Franklin in 1915 and the Crowe family later lived on the John Ditmer farm in Franklin before moving just south of Whiteland circa 1920. In 1929, a Franklin Evening Star article reports Morton Crowe living southwest of Whiteland. Ray Crowe attended Whiteland High School, where he graduated in 1934.

[3] “Whiteland Trounces Greenwood Nine, 20-2,” Franklin Evening Star, April 29, 1933, 3; “Whiteland Netters Begin Drilling for County Cage Season” Franklin Evening Star, October 10, 1933, 1; “Whiteland Defeats Clifford Five, 23-12,” Franklin Evening Star, November 6, 1933, 2;“Beats Butler,” Indianapolis Recorder, December 26, 1936, 12; “In Greyhound Home-Coming Tonight,” Indianapolis News, January 30, 1937, 8; John W. Thompson, “Off the Backboard,” Indianapolis Times, February 15, 1937, 14; Woody Sudhoff, “Crowe’s Leap in Broad Jump Gives Team Victory,” Richmond Item, April 18, 1937, 14; “Greyhounds Are Top Among State Fives, Backers Say,” Indianapolis Times, December 11, 1937, 6; “Paces Butler,” Indianapolis Recorder, January 22, 1938, 11; “And Speaking of Sports,” Indianapolis Recorder May 21, 1938, 11; “Franklin, Ind.,” Indianapolis Recorder, June 4, 1938, 16; “Crowe Honored as ICC Senior,” Franklin Evening Star, June 8, 1938, 6; Oracle, Indiana Central College Yearbooks, accessed University of Indianapolis, Frederick D. Hill Archives, Digital Collections, Yearbooks, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938.

Crowe participated in multiple sports in high school and college. Newspaper articles in the Franklin Evening Star detail his time playing baseball and basketball for Whiteland High School in the early 1930s. During Crowe’s senior year in 1933, the Franklin Evening Star reported on his basketball talent, stating that “Crowe is the colored flash who was the main cog last season. He has had two years of experience, and along with his height and weight, he should be another [David] DeJernett on the hardwood this year.”

Crowe graduated from Whiteland in 1934 and enrolled at Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) that fall, graduating in June 1938. He excelled in basketball and track all four years and served as captain of the basketball team during his senior year. Newspapers often referred to him as the “speed merchant” and “fast-breaking member” of the basketball squad.

[4] “Ray Crowe,” 1940 United States Federal Census, Sheet 62B, Line 50, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; “Crowe Honored as ICC Senior,” Franklin Evening Star, June 8, 1938, 6; [Untitled], [Seymour] Tribune, January 6, 1939, 4; “Laundrymen Trip Goldsmith Secos, 32 to 27, in Finals,” Franklin Evening Star, February 24, 1939, 4; “Crowe All-Stars Lose Fast Tilt,” Franklin Evening Star, December 15, 1939, 4; Oracle, Indiana Central College Yearbooks, accessed University of Indianapolis, Frederick D. Hill Archives, Digital Collections, Yearbook, 1938; “Personnel of Indianapolis School System for 1940-41,” Indianapolis News, June 5, 1940, 12; “Commissioners Approve School Administrative and Teaching Staffs,” Indianapolis News, June 10, 1942, 22; “Basketball Notes,” Indianapolis Star, October 26, 1943, 16; [Untitled], Franklin Evening Star, October 30, 1943, 4; “Ray Crowe Named Coach at Capital,” Franklin Evening Star, September 8, 1950, 5; Jim Nelson, “Ray Crowe Talks Life, Basketball, and the Crispus Attucks Tigers,” Indianapolis Recorder, December 23, 1995, C6 and C7.

Crowe graduated from Indiana Central College in 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Mathematics. According to the Franklin Evening Star, in addition to being a talented athlete, he was considered “a student of fine scholastic standing” and was active in campus affairs. Crowe began teaching at School 17, Booker T. Washington Junior High School, in Indianapolis by 1940. During this period, he continued to play basketball and often served as a player-coach for local, independent teams in the central Indiana area, including Franklin and Indianapolis. For instance, in January 1939, the Seymour Tribune reported on Crowe playing for the Hoosier Tigers. The following month, the Franklin Evening Star noted that he was a member of Oscar Lloyd’s Johnson County independent team, Lloyd’s Laundry, which participated in the annual State A.A.U. independent basketball tournament. In December, the same paper reported on his involvement with the Crowe All-Stars, “a Franklin team composed of colored Indiana cage stars.” The All-Stars had lost to the Chicago Crusaders that month, a traveling professional team which featured former Indiana high school star Dave DeJernett, Crowe’s former teammate at Indiana Central College. Throughout the early and mid-1940s, Crowe also played for USO-YMCA teams and the Lincoln Bears. He also coached at School 17.

According to a September 8, 1950 article in the Franklin Evening Star, Crowe worked at School 17 for nine years before joining Crispus Attucks High School. Education remained a top priority for Crowe throughout his career, including while he served in the Indiana General Assembly in the 1960s and 1970s. See footnote 10 for more information on his work as a legislator to improve educational opportunities for Hoosier students.

[5] Untitled, Indianapolis Recorder, April 16, 1949, 3; “Tigers Coach Drills Rookie Squad for Tough Schedule,” Indianapolis Recorder, September 3, 1949, 11; “Attucks Cagers Start Early Drill Sessions,” Indianapolis Recorder, November 12, 1949, 11; “Ray Crowe Named Coach at Capital,” Franklin Evening Star, September 8, 1950, 5; “Ray Crowe Appointed Attucks Court Coach,” Muncie Evening Press, September 8, 1950, 10; “Two Quit Posts in CAHS Dept. of Athletics,” Indianapolis Recorder, September 9, 1950, 1; “Crowe Promoted; Garrett Coach,” Indianapolis Star, July 10, 1957, 24; “State Champ Basketball Coach Dies,” Indianapolis Star, December 21, 2003, 35.

Crowe served as assistant basketball coach at Indianapolis’s all-Black Crispus Attucks High School in the late 1940s. He was appointed head basketball coach in September 1950 after Fitzhugh Lyons resigned due to health reasons. Crowe served as head coach from 1950 to 1957 and helped make the team a powerhouse during this period.

[6] “15,000 See Victors Take First Title,” Indianapolis Times, February 25, 1951, 1;“Reitz Whips Attucks , 66-59, At Tigers’ Own Running Game,” Indianapolis Star, March 18, 1951, 45; “Tech Bumps Attucks, Kokomo Tops Camden,” [Elwood] Call-Leader, March 1, 1952, 6; Bob Williams, “Shelbyville Crushed in Big Upset,” Indianapolis Star, March 15, 1953, 1; “Milan Wins Semifinal Title and Attucks Wins Its Spurs,” Indianapolis News, March 15, 1954, 26;“Rain Finally Put Out Big Victory Fire,” Kokomo Tribune, March 21, 1955, 32; “Hail to the Champs!,” Indianapolis Recorder, March 26, 1955, 10; “Attucks Becomes First Unbeaten to Win Basketball Title as Hot-Shooting Tigers Dispose of Lafayette Five, 79-57,” Palladium-Item, March 18, 1956, 18; “Tigers Likely to Monopolize Future Discussion of Records,” Tipton Daily Tribune, March 19, 1956, 4; “Tigers Upset Gerstmeyer By 85 to 71 Count,” Indianapolis Star, March 24, 1957, 25; “Attucks Coach Will Fill Out Application Blank,” Kokomo Tribune, March 30, 1957, 9.

The Attucks Tigers dominated Indiana high school basketball throughout the 1950s under Ray Crowe’s tutelage, going 179-20 over the course of his seven seasons. In March 1951, during his first season as varsity coach, he helped lead the Tigers to the State Finals Tournament, the first time an all-Black school had made the Final Four in Indiana. The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) had prohibited all-Black and Catholic schools from participating in the tournament until 1942. Attucks lost to Evansville Reitz in the afternoon semifinal game in 1951 but earned praise throughout the city and state for its remarkable season. After an unexpected loss to Indianapolis Tech in the sectional round in 1952, Attucks made it to the Sweet Sixteen in 1953 and won the regional in 1954, ultimately losing to Milan, who would go on to make history when they claimed the title that season. Attucks’s future remained bright, and they did not disappoint. They won consecutive state titles in 1955 and 1956 (defeating all-Black Gary Roosevelt High School, 97-74, and Lafayette Jefferson High School 79-57, respectively), and claimed a forty-five game win streak during that stretch (becoming the first undefeated team to win the tournament in 1956). Despite losing many starters the following season and it being considered a rebuilding year, Crowe led Attucks back to the State Finals Tournament in 1957, where they lost to South Bend Central in the championship game.

[7] “Attucks Favored in Sectional,” Indianapolis Recorder, February 24, 1951, 1-2; “Coach Crowe Takes Acclaim in Modesty,” Indianapolis Recorder, March 3, 1951; Charles Preston, “Hallmark of Champs on Crowemen All the Way,” Indianapolis Recorder, March 3, 1951, 11; Angelo Angelopolous, “Attucks Team Stars Also At Making Friends,” Indianapolis News, March 20, 1951, 19; “Tigers Shoot the Ripple, Take to Northwest Trails,” Indianapolis Recorder, December 20, 1952; “Attucks Five’s Defense Makes Its Good Offense Even Better,” Indianapolis News, March 2, 1953, 12; “Jep Cadou Jr. Calls ‘Em,” Indianapolis Star, March 20, 1955, 58; “12 Bearcats and 4,035 Enthusiasts to Indianapolis Semistate Today,” [Muncie] Star Press, March 16, 1957, 1; Kerry Marshall, The Ray Crowe Story: A Legend in High School Basketball (High School Basketball Cards of America, Inc., 1992), 156.

In March 1951, the Indianapolis Recorder praised Crowe on his team’s success during his first season as head coach. Reflecting on his early playing career at Indiana Central College, the paper spoke on Crowe’s “coolness, overwhelming sportsmanship, and his outstanding shooting and floor play.” The Recorder continued: “His character is reflected in his team. All the players are poised and cool at all times.” IHSAA Commissioner L.V. Phillips echoed these sentiments at an appreciation dinner for the team later that month when he was quoted in the Indianapolis News stating “Many schools in Indiana could well imitate the sportsmanship of Attucks. I never saw a greater team. The sportsmanship of players, coaches, and fans was the finest I ever observed.” Crowe’s teams were fast shooters and often outpaced their opponents by large margins. Cognizant of potential prejudice because of their race, Crowe emphasized aggressive but clean play by his players. In March 1957, the Star Press noted how Crowe’s team was ready for another championship bid despite a rebuilding season, stating that “Crowe has a typical Attucks team going for him, big and fast and aggressive. . .”

[8] “The City’s Great Champs,” Indianapolis Recorder, March 3, 1951, 10; Angelo Angelopolous, “Attucks Team Stars Also At Making Friends,” Indianapolis News, March 20, 1951, 19; “Now All Us Losers Can Battle It Out,” Indianapolis Recorder, February 12, 1955, 11; “Hail to the Champs!,” Indianapolis Recorder, March 26, 1955, 10; “Attucks High’s Victories Help Ease Race Tension,” Ebony Magazine, February 1960, accessed GoogleBooks; “I Haven’t Deserted My Race: Crowe,” Indianapolis News, August 20, 1968, 22; Jim Nelson, “Ray Crowe Talks Life, Basketball, and the Crispus Attucks Tigers,” Indianapolis Recorder, December 23, 1995, C6 and C7; “Champions for Change,” Indianapolis Star, February 27, 2005, 1, 10; “Crispus Attucks: Challenging Segregation On and Off the Court,” Talking Hoosier History, Indiana Historical Bureau, March 2, 2022, accessed https://podcast.history.in.gov/crispus-attucks-challenging-segregation-on-and-off-the-court/.

After playing in its first championship game in school history in 1951, Attucks received high praise from fans throughout the city of Indianapolis. Writing in the Indianapolis News in March 1951, Angelo Angelopolous reported that “In its march through the state high school basketball tournament the impact made by Attucks’s tremendously talented team took on the aspects of a social revolution in this city of heavy Negro population.” Ebony Magazine featured an article on Crispus Attucks’s success in its February 1960 issue, noting that “undoubtedly the most valuable by-product of the Tigers’ achievements has been the improvement of race relations in the city as a result of the team’s exemplary conduct on and off the courts. Much credit for the Tigers’ success belongs to the inspiring coaching of Ray Crowe . . .and his successor Bill Garrett.” Over thirty years later, in December 1995, Bailey Robertson, former Attucks’ star under Crowe and older brother of Oscar Robertson, also reflected on how “Attucks, through Ray Crowe’s efforts, was probably the only school in this city that brought about better race relations in this city by winning basketball games.”

Despite the progress made, discrimination in basketball and in the city didn’t disappear following Attucks’s championships. Over ten years after his time coaching at Attucks, Crowe was quoted in the Indianapolis News noting the discrimination that existed in scheduling during his tenure and that segregation continued in the 1960s. He also described his own experiences, noting that “Any white coach with my success would have had an opportunity” yet Crowe never coached again after his tenure with Attucks. But Attucks’s success in the 1950s did help ease some of the racial tension in Indianapolis and encouraged residents in the city to rally in support of the team.

[9] “Crowe Promoted; Garrett Coach,” Indianapolis Star, July 10, 1957, 24; “Good and Crowe Get Honorary Degrees,” [Greenfield] Daily Reporter, January 9, 1960, 6; “Erbecker Leads List of Filing Candidates,” Indianapolis Star, March 11, 1966, 6; “Garrett Succeeds Ray Crowe,” Kokomo Morning Times, August 3, 1967, 18.

After the 1957 season, newspapers began speculating that Crowe might leave Crispus Attucks for another coaching job. Instead, he accepted the position of Attucks’ Athletic Director.  Discussing the decision, Crowe was quoted in the Indianapolis Star on July 10, 1957 stating: “It was a hard decision. But the job was open and I had to make up my mind. I didn’t feel I could pass up an advancement. I feel I can do more for Attucks as athletic director. I intend to work for a well-rounded athletic program so Attucks can be on par with other schools in all sports.” During Crowe’s tenure as A.D., Attucks won their third state title in 1959 under Coach Bill Garrett. Crowe stayed in the position until 1967.

[10] “Erbecker Leads List of Filing Candidates,” Indianapolis Star, March 11, 1966, 6; “GOP Showing New Image to Negroes,” Indianapolis Star, July 31, 1966, 32; “Candidates Answer News’ Questionnaire,” Indianapolis News, November 3, 1966, 61;“Ray Crowe Wins,” [Columbus] Republic, November 9, 1966, 2; “Members of the House of Representatives,” Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Indiana, 1967, accessed HathiTrust; “Museum Aid Asked,” Indianapolis Star, January 20, 1967, 14; Michael J. Quinn, “Bipartisan Bills Set in House,” Indianapolis Star, January 23, 1967, 1; “Free Textbooks?,” Indianapolis News, February 1, 1967, 12;“School Bill Passed,” Indianapolis Star, February 28, 1967, 12; “House Committees Announced by Bowen,” Indianapolis Star, December 13, 1968, 31; “Definition of Special Ed Sought,” [Muncie] Star Press, February 11, 1973, 2; “Bill to Create New State University Gets Approval,” [Columbus] Republic, December 13, 1973, 23; “Award Recipients,” Indianapolis Star, January 13, 1974, 32; “Candidate and Biography,” Indianapolis News, October 19, 1974, 15; “House Bill Proposes Unemployment Benefits for State Employees,” [Franklin] Daily Journal, January 14, 1975, 3; “Ray P. Crowe is Returning to Education,” Terre Haute Tribune, July 31, 1975, 26; “Crowe Named Director of Parks, Recreation,” Princeton Daily Clarion, December 18, 1975, 2; “Councilman Crowe Decides He Will Not Seek Re-Election,” Indianapolis Star, February 3, 1987, 5; Kerry Marshall, The Ray Crowe Story: A Legend in High School Basketball (High School Basketball Cards of America, Inc., 1992), 170, 172.

Crowe served as a Republican member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1967 until 1975, at which time he resigned for a short position with the State Department of Public Instruction. During his tenure in the Indiana General Assembly, Crowe served on the Education Committee and often cited education as one of his top priorities in surveys about issues he was most interested in. He helped sponsor several bills focused on increasing educational opportunities for Hoosier students, including co-sponsoring a resolution calling for a legislative study of educational problems of economically disadvantaged children; sponsoring a bill to protect private school students from unethical counselors and recruiters; sponsoring bills that would give control to local school boards to decide for themselves whether to provide free textbooks on the basis of financial need for families; and co-authoring a bill to allow inclusion of non-teachers on a local textbook selection committee. He was also part of a special committee to find an acceptable definition of handicapped children with regards to mandatory special education classes and funding.

After his time in the General Assembly and then with the Department of Public Instruction, he served for a few years as director of the Indianapolis Parks Department and later as a City Counselor.