2007.1.4

• photography

Photograph of two men, Fred Williamson on the left hand side of the picture with football shoes in his left hand and shoulder pads in his right hand; he is storing them in a compartment marked "Fred Williamson." Art Powell is looking over Williamson's left shoulder, facing the camera and is framed between Williamson's head and his boots. Left side and shoulder pads have ink(?) stains probably for showing contrast in reproduction of this image. Newspaper caption inserted in back reads: "TR 5C Jul 14 1963 VETERANS ON SCENE--Veteran Oakland Raider players are in camp at Santa Rosa. At left, defensive back Fred Williamson stores gear with assistance from Art Powell The only four players fro . . . team in 1960 get togethe . . ." Additional notes include the circling by pen of Powell's name in the newspaper caption and "Fred William Art Powell, Nets arrive, Raiders camp and Jul 13 1963" written in verso.

Art PowellFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Powell (5/3/2007)Art Powell (born 1937) was an American college and professional football wide receiver who played collegiately at San Jos_ State University and with the New York Titans and Oakland Raiders of the American Football League.Possessing the size, speed and ability to make remarkable plays all over the field, Powell led both the Titans and AFL in receiving yards and touchdowns in 1960, then again paced the league in touchdowns during 1963, this time after his move to the Raiders.Powell began his professional career after he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and put together an impressive rookie season in 1959, finishing second in kickoff returns with a 27-yard average while serving as a reserve defensive back. Included in those returns was a 95-yard touchdown run against the New York Giants on October 4 that jolted the defending conference champions in a 49-21 defeat.After being released Powell cast his lot with the AFL's Titans in 1960, and was soon establishing his receiving credentials after a position change by Titans' head coach Sammy Baugh, scoring four touchdowns in his first contest. During the league's first three seasons, Powell teamed with Don Maynard to form the first wide receiver tandem ever to each gain over 1,000 receiving yards on receptions.Despite his status as the team's leading receiver, Powell was preparing to leave for another team following the conclusion of the 1962 season due to the Titans' continuing financial troubles. In order to obtain something for him, while also alleviating the team's finances, Titan owner Harry Wismer offered him for sale on October to the highest bidder on October 19, 1962.Oakland would be Powell's eventual destination, signing with the team on January 31, 1963. During his first year with the Raiders in 1963, the team's record improved by nine games under the leadership of new head coach Al Davis, with Powell scoring 16 touchdowns and catching 73 passes for 1,394 yards.Off the field, Powell was showing his team leadership when he, along with teammates Bo Roberson, Clem Daniels and Fred Williamson, refused to play in an exhibition game against his old team, the now rechristened New York Jets because of segregated seating in Mobile's Ladd Stadium.Four decades after his playing career ended, Powell remains the Raiders seventh all-time leading receiver, scoring 50 touchdowns during his four seasons with Oakland. With five seasons of over 1,000 receiving yards, he earned American Football League All-Star accolades for four straight years and was among a select group that was chosen on the All-Time All-AFL Team. The latter balloting took place in 1970 following the merger between the AFL and NFL, and was selected by Hall of Fame selectors and wire services. Fred WilliamsonFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Williamson (5/3/2007)Fred "The Hammer" Williamson (born March 5, 1938 in Gary, Indiana) is a former professional football player, a star defensive back in the AFL during the 1960s.After playing college football for Northwestern in the late 1950s, he played a year for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL in 1960. He then switched to the new AFL, playing four seasons for the Oakland Raiders and three seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs.During his time with the Chiefs, Williamson became one of football's first self-promoters, coining the nickname "The Hammer"--because he used his forearm to deliver karate style blows to the heads of opposing receivers. Prior to Super Bowl I, he garnered national headlines by boasting that he would knock Green Bay Packers starting receivers Carroll Dale and Boyd Dowler out of the game, stating "Two hammers to (Boyd) Dowler, one to (Carroll) Dale should be enough."[1]. His prediction turned out to be ironic, because Williamson himself was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter, his head meeting the knee of Packer running back Donny Anderson. Williamson finished his 8-season career in 1967 with 35 interceptions, which he returned for 452 yards and 2 touchdowns, in 104 games.Following his retirement from football, Williamson had a career as an actor...

Used: Oakland Tribune