Pitt trailblazer Julius Pegues, the first Black player in program history, passed away following a long battle with cancer Wednesday, March 30, at the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation in his hometown of Tulsa.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Julius Pegues,” said University of Pittsburgh Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. “He lived an impressive life of service with the constant goal of creating opportunities for others, especially those in underrepresented communities. Julius was a trailblazer at the University of Pittsburgh and went on to become an icon in the Tulsa community. We are proud to recognize him as one of the exceptional people in the history of Pitt Athletics.”
A product of Tulsa Public Schools and one of Booker T. Washington High School’s proudest alums, Pegues parlayed a talent for basketball into an engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a career in the aerospace industry.
Pegues was a standout on the Pitt freshman team in 1954-55 before earning a scholarship and playing a starring role in the program over his final three seasons. The 6-9, forward went on to start all 77 games of his career, finishing with 1,050 points and 377 rebounds, while helping the Panthers to 49 wins and two NCAA Tournament appearances. As a senior, Pegues averaged 17.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in helping lead the team to an 18-7 mark and the program’s third NCAA Tournament appearance all-time.
Pegues was selected with the 31st overall pick in the 1958 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks but was unable to pursue a professional basketball career due to a five-year postgraduate commitment required by the U.S Air Force ROTC.
“Julius Pegues’ impact on the game of basketball here at the University of Pittsburgh was immense,” said head coach Jeff Capel. “The life he lived and the impact he made on the Tulsa community beyond basketball was even more impressive. He was a trailblazer for the Black community and an unquestioned leader. The more I have learned of his impact on the world the more impressed I am with the life and legacy of Julius Pegues. With his passing, we have lost a great man and a tremendous role model.”
As much as Pegues accomplished during his athletic career at Pitt, he likely accomplished more in his professional career. Pegues graduated from Pitt with a degree in aeronautical engineering and studied meteorology at St. Louis University. He became an Air Force weather forecaster before returning to Tulsa to work for Douglas Aircraft and American Airlines – eventually landing as an advisor to the Federal Aviation Administration.
He also served on several boards benefiting the community, including the Tulsa NAACP, the Tulsa Urban League, and the Tulsa Board of Education Human Relations Committee.
In recent decades, Pegues remained a prominent figure in Tulsa and was best known for his work to memorialize Tulsa’s 1921 Race Massacre and the history and culture of Black Tulsans through the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation, which hosts an annual dinner for Tulsans from across the city and sponsors a national symposium on reconciliation and understanding on the massacre’s anniversary.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Wennette, their three children Mary Pegues, Michael Pegues and Angela Guillory — and their families.
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