Football Athletic Barrier Breaker Joe Greene

Joe Greene

In 1966, tackle Joe Greene was named to the defensive Associated Press All-Conference team. Greene was All-Conference as a junior and senior, and in 1968 was the first African American at North Texas to earn a consensus All American honor.

His jersey - Number 75 - was retired that year. The tackle became known as Mean Joe Greene. Greene played with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he anchored the Steele Curtain defense that led Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl titles. He was named to the North Texas Hall of Fame in 1988.

Greene also was the first African American to be named to the university's board of regents and was the first African American to be named a Distinguished Alumnus.