PHOTO GALLERY: Mel West's untold story years after Missouri football career

June 12, 2012 | 6:00 a.m. CDT

Mel West was the first African-American football player at Missouri. He didn't dwell much on the past and his stories of race, football career, later career and life went untold outside his family as he lost touch with former teammates.

A Columbia native and Jefferson City High School graduate, Mel West was the first African-American along with Norris Stevenson to play football for Missouri. He led the team in rushing for three consecutive seasons, 1958-1960, and helped lead the 1960 undefeated team that won the Orange Bowl. He was drafted by the Boston Patriots and played for two seasons in the AFL.
| Photo Courtesy of MU Archives

Mel West taught for a year in the Minneapolis Public Schools, immediately got promoted to assistant principal and wound up a superintendent. He was selected for a national education policy fellowship program in 1984.
| Photo Courtesy of Melody West

Mel West and Norris Stevenson were the first African Americans to play football for Missouri. | Photo Courtesy of Melody West