State Marker Unveiling in Honor of Earl Lloyd

Page updated on April 4, 2022 at 8:49 AM
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State Marker Unveiling in Honor of Earl Lloyd

For Immediate Release

1020 Montgomery St.
Saturday, April 2
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Free, please RSVP to HistoricAlexandria@alexandriava.gov

Please join the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria African American Hall of Fame as we unveil the Historical State Marker of Alexandria’s own Earl Francis Lloyd, at 1020 Montgomery Street the site of his childhood home. The event features remarks from Mayor Justin Wilson, Kevin Lloyd, son of Earl Lloyd, and others as we celebrate the life of NBA trailblazer Earl Lloyd.

Earl Lloyd was born in Alexandria in 1928 to Theodore Lloyd Sr. and Daisy Lloyd. At Parker-Gray, Lloyd played on the basketball team and earned All-South Atlantic Conference honors three times, and All-State Virginia Interscholastic Conference honors twice. Earl’s defensive prowess earned him the nickname “Moon Fixer” due to his size and shot blocking ability. His success led to a scholarship in 1946 to West Virginia State, which he led to two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships. In 1949 and 1950, the Pittsburgh Courier named him to its All-American team. After graduating in 1950, Earl was drafted by the Washington Capitols. He was one of only four black players drafted to the NBA that year. Due to a scheduling coincidence, his start on Oct. 31, 1950, made him the first African American to play in an NBA game. He achieved that honor one day before “Chuck” Cooper played for the Boston Celtics and four days before Nat Clifton played for the New York Knicks. After playing only seven NBA games, Lloyd was drafted into the army during the Korean War. After two years in the army, he returned to the NBA in 1952 with the Syracuse Nationals, following the dissolution of the Capitols in 1951. Earl played six seasons with the Nationals, winning the championship in 1955 alongside Jim Tucker. Lloyd and Tucker were the first two African Americans to win an NBA championship. Lloyd passed away in 2015.

For media inquiries, please contact Audrey.Davis@alexandriava.gov, or call 703.746.4706

For a reasonable disability accommodation, please email Audrey Davis at Audrey.Davis@alexandriava.gov, or call 703.746.4706.

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This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/3481.