Sexton, Linwood Bookard

90, died March 29, 2017 in Wichita. He was born April 16, 1926 in Wichita and since 1961 lived in rural Halstead. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, April 6 at 4 - 6 p.m. at Jackson Mortuary, 1125 E. 13th Street, Wichita. Funeral on Friday, April 7th at St. Paul AME Church, 1756 N. Piatt, Wichita, with the Rev. Godfrey Patterson officiating. Burial (private, family only) will follow at Lakeview Cemetery. Memorial service on Saturday, April 8 at
11-noon at Charles Koch Arena at Wichita State University (doors open at 10 a.m.).

In the 1940s, Linwood was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Wichita East High School and the University of Wichita where he became one of the first Black athletes to compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. He set records in rushing and total offense and broke racial barriers on the football field for W.U.

Racism and Jim Crow segregation were normal throughout Kansas in the 1940s, meaning Linwood could not stay in hotels or share some meals with his teammates. Playing football with certain teams meant more bruises for Linwood, and teams from the South often refused to play W.U. because he was on the team.

Linwood was the first Shocker football player to have his jersey retired. He is in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame. More valuable to him than these honors are the lifelong friendships formed with teammates and classmates who, through Linwood's experiences, became aware of racism and chose a different path for themselves and their families.

While Linwood played professional football and then taught 6th grade, the Education degree he earned in 1948 was not enough to overcome the local tradition that Blacks were not hired to be high school teachers and coaches. So, he worked more than 60 years for Steffen's Dairy (now Hiland) in Wichita.

Linwood served in many volunteer and leadership capacities over the years including the Kansas Board of Regents, National Advisory Council of the Wichita State University Foundation, Wesley Medical Center Board of Trustees, St. Paul A.M.E. Church Steward Board, Kappa Alpha Psi, and Kiwanis. In 2006, the Wichita Metro Chamber honored him with its Uncommon Citizen Award.

Preceding him in death was his father, Edwin Sexton, Sr., mother, Beatrice Sexton, brothers Edwin Jr. and Wiley, and wife Delores Sexton. He leaves to cherish his memories his son Eric Lin Sexton (Kathy) and a host of relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring his legacy by contributing to the Sexton Scholarship at the WSU Foundation, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita KS 67260 or the Sexton Scholarship Fund at the Halstead Community Foundation, P.O. Box 4, Halstead KS 67056. Leave tributes at www.theJacksonMortuary.com .