DES MOINES, Iowa – A statue tributing iconic Drake University student-athlete Johnny Bright will be unveiled on October 16, Bulldog Director of Athletics Brian Hardin announced today.
 
The effigy will stand approximately six and a half feet tall and will rest on a one-foot-tall concrete pedestal outside the southeast gate of Drake Stadium, along Forest Avenue. A public unveiling of the Bright's statue is set for 11 a.m. on October 16, a day before the Bulldogs host Marist in a Pioneer Football League contest.
 
Arguably the greatest student-athlete in Drake University history, Bright arrived in Des Moines on a track and field scholarship with the opportunity to compete for a spot on the football and basketball teams. He eventually earned varsity letters in all three sports as a sophomore before focusing on football only for his final two years.
 
A gifted quarterback, halfback, and punter, Johnny combined extraordinary ability with intelligence, leadership, and determination. During three varsity seasons, his name was littered throughout Drake's record book, and he established himself among the country's elite players. Johnny led the nation in total offense as both a sophomore and junior with 1,950 yards and 2,400 yards, respectively. Both of those marks were program bests.
 
Entering his senior season, Bright was regarded as one of the premier players in all of football and was a contender for the coveted Heisman Trophy. On October 20, 1951, during a game at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University), Johnny was repeatedly struck after the play, suffering a broken jaw. Two Des Moines Register photographers captured the assault in a series of photographs that earned the Pulitzer Prize and drew national attention to racial discrimination and player safety in collegiate sports.
 
Despite his serious injuries, which caused him to miss three games, Johnny still earned All-America status for the second year in a row and finished fifth in the 1951 Heisman Trophy voting. His remarkable achievements, unwavering dignity, and strength of character brought national distinction to Drake University and established a standard of excellence that continues to define Bulldog athletics.
 
"We are immensely proud at Drake Athletics to have helped bring a statue celebrating Johnny Bright to our campus," Hardin said. "His life story of valor, honor, persistence, and selflessness will undoubtedly inspire others. The location of the statue and the plaques that will share details of Johnny will certainly become a destination for visitors to our campus."
 
After earning his bachelor's degree in education from Drake in 1952, Johnny accepted an invitation to play for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League rather than staying in the U.S. and joining the Philadelphia Eagles, which had selected him with the fifth overall pick in that year's NFL Draft. Johnny would have been the Eagles' first-ever Black player.
 
In Canada, Bright was able to make his mark as one of the CFL's first true superstars. Affectionately nicknamed "Ol' Eyebrows" by his teammates, Johnny led the league in rushing from 1957-60 with an astounding 9,966 rushing yards. In 1959, he became the first Black player to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award. Johnny's playing career ended with Edmonton's team, now known as the Elks, in 1964. He was later inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1970, a year after he returned to Drake for a home football game where he was recognized as the greatest player in Bulldog history.
 
After retiring from football, Johnny remained in Edmonton, where he led the physical education department at Bonnie Doon High School. He worked with Edmonton Public Schools for almost two decades as a coach and teacher, eventually becoming principal of Hillcrest Junior High School, where worked from 1970-81.
 
Decades after Johnny's graduation and untimely death in 1983, at the age of just 53, his legacy remains strong. Bright's courage, determination, and generosity set the benchmark for what it means to be a student-athlete at Drake and member of the larger Drake University community. His integrity, accomplishments, and commitment to improving the lives of those around him resonate in the core values and principles of his alma mater.
 
Johnny's name has been emblazoned on several institutions in his honor including Edmonton's Johnny Bright School and Johnny Bright Sports Park. Drake has also paid tribute to Johnny, naming the football field at Drake Stadium in his memory in 2005, and founding the John Dee Bright College.
 
The Johnny Bright statue ensures that his name will live on as a symbol of what it means to be a Drake Bulldog and a role-model for those who follow him.
 
"When we celebrate the amazing story of Johnny Bright, we are also celebrating values that are foundational to Drake University: resilience, bold leadership, and a commitment to living meaningful lives and serving our communities," said Megan Brown, Dean of the John Dee Bright College. "Walking by this statue every day will inspire and remind us to live those values."
 
Johnny's story will also be told at a showing of "The Bright Path: The Johnny Bright Story" a day before the statue unveiling. Limited seats are available the historic Varsity Theater adjacent to Drake's campus to see the 2022 documentary detailing Johnny's life. Show time is set for 7:30 p.m. on October 15 with admission available here.
 
The new Johnny Bright statue was made possible through the extraordinary generosity and leadership of Ron and Jane Olson, Doug and Martha Lang, and Vinaya Sharma, whose support helped bring this meaningful tribute to life. Drake Athletics continues to accept gifts in support of the Johnny Bright Statue, providing others the opportunity to help honor Johnny's remarkable legacy at Drake and beyond. Fans interested in donating to the Johnny Bright Statue project, or any other athletics funds, can contact Senior Associate Athletics Director for Advancement and Revenue Generation Tim Tesar at tim.tesar@drake.edu or 515-271-2132.