Feb. 21, 2018
Former Commodore Godfrey Dillard, who along with Perry Wallace helped integrate men’s basketball in the SEC, will be honored March 7-11 at the 2018 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament in St. Louis, Mo. as Vanderbilt’s SEC Legend.
Dillard and Wallace competed as members of the Vanderbilt freshman basketball team in the winter of 1966. The following year, Wallace became the SEC’s first African-American varsity basketball player on Dec. 2, 1967 when he played in a game against SMU in Dallas, then made his conference debut two days later in a game against Auburn at Memorial Gymnasium.
During a team workout in late October, Dillard hurt his knee, causing him to miss his entire sophomore season.
Earlier this year, Dillard was honored with the league’s Michael L. Slive Distinguished Service Award, which is presented on special occasions to former student-athletes, coaches, graduates or administrators of SEC institutions or the conference office who have maintained a lifetime of interest in college athletics and who, over a significant period of time, have exhibited superior leadership qualities and made a significant impact to the betterment of the mission of the Southeastern Conference.
