Little Known Black History Fact: Harold “Buddy” Hudson

Harold “Buddy” Hudson was the first black basketball player at the University of Oklahoma. Johnson passed away last week at age 75. Hudson transferred to U of O in 1958, six years before the Civil Rights Movement. On December 3rd of that same year, he made history by walking onto the basketball court of the Oklahoma Sooners as the team’s first black player. With Hudson on the team, the Sooners finished the season 15-10, and 9-5 in the Big Eight..

Hudson was a native of Purcell, Oklahoma. He started his secondary education at Booker T. Washington but graduated from Purcell High School. By 1956, he had not only been one of the first black players at Purcell, but he was the first black player on the All-State basketball team. He scored under the guidance of Boney Matthews, who was the most winning high school basketball coach in the state. The six-foot-two player went on to Oklahoma Baptist University before transferring to University of Oklahoma.

Hudson got his letters in 1960. He graduated with his master’s degree and taught junior high and high school level students math and history, a profession he would keep for over 30 years.

Harold Buddy Hudson passed way on May 16, 2013 from a heart attack. He and his wife Elaine had recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.