North Carolina Central University Athletics

Richard Mack entered North Carolina College in 1938 and participated in both football and basketball, earning letters in each sport for four years. He started his freshman year at tailback and moved to blocking back and quarterback in 1939. As a triple, threat player, he would often finish a game in a different position from that in which he started, and in 1940 he earned state honors as a fullback. He was co-captain of the 1939 and the 1940 teams.

His jersey number 36, and his brother George’s number 40, were the first numbers retired in the athletic history of North Carolina College.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in May. 1942, and after completing his war­time service, he returned to NCCU to complete his B.S. degree in physical educa­tion. He subsequently served as athletic director and coach at Kansas Technical Institute, as an assistant to Coach John B. McLendon at Tennessee State Univer­sity, and as head basketball coach at Southern University.