ONE OF THE FIRST

LESSONS I LEARNED WHILE OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF INTEGRATION

The True Story of Ralph Stokes, A Pioneer for Integration in Sports and Business

From the time he became one of the first African American football players at Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery, Alabama, Ralph Stokes recognized a calling on his life for the cause of integration. This calling followed him everywhere he went. After becoming one of the first five Black football players at the University of Alabama and making many advances there, Ralph was a pioneer for integration in the business arena and later in the world of golf.

Throughout his life, Ralph was frequently told all the things he couldn’t do as a Black man. Over and over, he proved his critics wrong. Many barriers were broken, and the cause of integration was advanced. No matter what he faced, Ralph always had faith and looked out into his promised land and decided he could go in and take it.

In One of the First: Lessons I Learned While Overcoming the Challenges of Integration, Stokes is a master storyteller who shares the immense challenges, obstacles, and opportunities he faced as a young Black man in the South during the 1960s and 70s desegregation. In a truly “page turning” book, Stokes details the pathway he took to overcome hate and become a prophetic voice on the issues of racial equality and integration. The author’s humble but strong character stands out in every story and every challenge he faced. Stokes offers inspiration and a clear path forward for all of us to embrace one another and walk together into a promising future.

---

About the Author:

Ralph Stokes was a key player on the southern football scene during the time of integration. After becoming one of the first five Black football players at the University of Alabama, Ralph was a pioneer for integration in the business arena and later, in the world of golf. He is currently the Director of Partnership Marketing for PGA TOUR Superstore and President-Elect of the Georgia State Golf Association. Ralph is passionate about partnering with and supporting different charities across the United States. Ralph lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Debra. They have two daughters and two granddaughters.