Chet Grimsley

Chet L. Grimsley (born July 14, 1956) is notably the first White-American Student Athlete from the C.I.A.A. Grimsley pledged, and subsequently became a member of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship from Johnson C. Smith University, a historically black university(HBCU). In 1976, Grimsley received the M.V.P. Award and the Pettis Norman Award for football. Grimsley was also named to the First Team all-CIAA and received Eastern Airlines Most Valuable Player All American. Grimsley was also the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Athlete of the Month at an HBCU.

Chet Grimsley was born on July 14, 1956 Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Grimsley follows in his father’s footsteps: Chester Ramon Grimsley was an All-State football player for State Champion Tift County High School and at 6 ft 8 inches and 270 lbs, went on to play for the University of Alabama on a football scholarship. The younger Grimsley was 6 ft 5.5 inches and 275 lbs, and recruited to Johnson C. Smith University by Coach Charlie Cox. He was not uncomfortable attending a black university because Grimsley grew up in Southwest Atlanta, Georgia where he was the only white student athlete on the Therrell High School Football Team in 1973 in a predominantly black high school. He also participated in baseball and soccer.

Upon arrival at JCSU in 1974, Grimsley was greeted and assisted by Grooves. Coupling this positive experience with being a freshman away from home and meeting other Groove members on the football team, Grimsley was inspired to pledge Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. as a sophomore. Grimsley not only excelled in football, but was a consistent fixture on the Dean's List and popular on campus. Groove Phi Groove SFI is a social fellowship that is common at H.B.C.U.'s around the country. Willie McMahand and Grimsley pledged in the '70s at Johnson C. Smith University. By the way, Grimsley is white and was named to the first team CIAA and MVP award for the Golden Bulls of J.C.S.U. Both remain friends to this day. McMahand's son Wesley was a starting running back at West Point for Stan Brocks Army Black Knights football team.

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