Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
Art Powell
This article was written by Jay Zahn
Some men break the mold. Others make the mold. Art Powell chafed against the
restrictions of his times. Some said that Art was the prototype for more recent egocentric
recent receivers like Randy Moss or Terrell Owens. Al Davis, Art’s former coach, called
Art “the T.O. of his time.”
1
Seemingly unstoppable on the field, and boy, did they let you
know it. Trouble off the field. Art’s former teammate, Tom Flores, bristled at the
comparisons. “The things Owens does are all self-serving… the things Art did are
because of beliefs that he had.”
2
Art himself said that “I chose to challenge (social
challenges) while others chose not to challenge ‘em. … I made a lot of people angry.”
3
Arthur Lewis Powell was born February 25, 1937, in Dallas, Texas, but he grew up in
racially integrated San Diego, California. Multisport athletes were common in the Powell
family, whose siblings ran nine deep. Father Elvin barnstormed with Satchel Paige, had
been a black tennis champion in Texas, and was a scratch golfer. Oldest brother Charlie
spurned football scholarships from major schools, and a basketball offer from the Harlem
Globetrotters, to play pro baseball, then gave that up for a pro football career that lasted a
decade in between stints as a heavyweight boxer. Younger brother Jerry would later
receive a football and basketball scholarship to Michigan State.
The Powell children cut their athletic teeth at a place called ’40 Acres’, later Memorial
Park. “We’d have our own track meets there,” Charlie Powell said. “We had no starting
blocks, so we’d dig holes and mark lanes ourselves. There was an old shack where we
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
could check out footballs and baseballs. We saw the man in the shack had some lime in
there, so we asked, and he let us have it, so we’d mark the fields with it.”
4
Charlie and Art both attended San Diego High. It was a big school, loaded with talent.
Art’s football and basketball teammate Willie West would log nine years in the NFL and
AFL. On the football team, Art played one end; future baseball RBI champion Deron
Johnson played the other. The Cavers played their games in Balboa Stadium, later
expanded, and used by the Chargers of the AFL. At basketball, Art was named the San
Diego City prep league player of the year in 1954.
Art attracted attention from Pacific Coast Conference schools as a football player, but
lacked the grades to qualify. Instead, Art attended San Diego Junior College. Art starred
on the football field and particularly the basketball court, scoring more than 30 points a
game. He even attracted the attention of the Harlem Globetrotters, who “scouted” Art
while he played against them in a January 1956 game.
Art’s basketball season ended abruptly when he dropped out of school in February 1956
and enrolled in San Jose State shortly thereafter. San Jose football coach Bob Bronzan
was accused “unethical and irregular tactics” in recruiting Art.
5
Nevertheless, Art was
starring for San Jose on the gridiron in the fall of 1956. Despite missing a game when he
was suspended for falling asleep in a team meeting, he led all collegians in receptions
with 40 catches for 583 yards while playing as a halfback.
Art also played on the San Jose State basketball team. Again, his basketball season
ended early when he dropped out of school and signed with the Toronto Argonauts of
Canadas’s Big Four Football League. Again, reports of tampering were levied to no
avail, though it was acknowledged that Art had written the Argos personally, asking for a
contract.
6
Art caught 33 passes and scored five touchdowns playing Canadian football in 1957. At
midseason, he was released by his own request after the Argos lost five straight games.
He finished the season with the Montreal Alouettes, who also released him after the
season. At the time, Canadian teams still expected star players to play both ways and for
60 minutes. Art’s abilities as an effective deep receiver were recognized, but the
consensus was that he needed to improve in his defensive play and overall effort.
Art re-signed with Toronto in 1958. “I know I didn’t make a good impression last year,”
he said. “I know my attitude was bad. I want a chance this season to fix those mistakes
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
and prove I am a good football player.”
7
Despite his resolve, Art was released by Toronto
in pre-season, and trials with Hamilton and the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen also ended
before the 1958 season began.
Art’s rocky experience in Canada wasn’t a total loss, as he met his wife, Betty Haggerty,
whom he married in November of 1957.
In 1959 the Philadelphia Eagles chose Art in the 11
th
round of the NFL draft. They were
encouraged to sign Art based on a letter of recommendation from an old college coach.
San Jose State coach Bronzan wrote Eagles Coach Shaw, telling Buck that while Powell
“looks lazy” that “he can fly… this fellow can’t miss being a star in your league.”
8
Art did not disappoint in training camp; the Eagles considered him for offensive end,
flanker, and defensive back. With Pete Retzlaff, Bobby Walston, and Tommy McDonald
returning as Eagles receivers, Art wound up with a residence in the defensive backfield
and on special teams. He opted to hang onto his receiver’s number of 87.
Art got off to a fast start as a kick returner; his 95-yard kickoff return against the Giants
and 58-yard punt return touchdown against the Steelers helped the Eagles win both
games. For a time, he led the NFL in both kickoff and punt return average. Later on, he
intercepted three passes as a defensive safety. Art helped the Eagles to a 7-5 record, their
best in five years.
Electric on the field, Art ran into static off it. Coach Shaw fined Art twice for breaking
curfew, and Art told off an assistant coach in an argument over a play assignment.
9
Art showed up early in 1960 to train with other Eagles before the start of training camp.
He was targeted for receiver duty and even placekicking before settling in once again at
safety, as a starter this time. His camp and time with the Eagles ended abruptly when he
was released on August 27, the day of an Eagles exhibition game in Norfolk, Virginia.
NFL teams walked a tightrope for much of the 1960s in dealing with the American South.
Interest in developing an emerging economic market was tempered with ongoing issues
involving segregation and their African American players. The Eagles attempted to deal
with the issue by avoiding an overnight stay in Norfolk. However, they procured a hotel
on the day of the game, with the white players allowed to rest in their rooms, while the
African American players were forced to stay in the hotel’s lobby.
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
“We were told colored ballplayers – that was the language in those days – would not be
allowed to stay with the rest of the team in the hotel. I chose not to play… it cost me my
job,”
10
Art said. At the time of his release, the Eagles reported that Powell had showed
up to camp overweight and had played uninspired ball in two exhibition games.
11
Published rumors later inferred the Eagles felt Powell’s nightlife habits were a bad
example for other players.
12
The two rookies the Eagles kept instead of Powell at safety,
Bobby Jackson and Jim Niemann, were supplanted by veteran Don Burroughs in a trade
the Eagles made a few weeks later.
Though the 1960s brought racial unrest to the USA, they also brought a new football
league in the AFL. The AFL provided Art with a new job, and quickly. The New York
Titans were scrambling for players; they drafted 30 players, but only three would sign
and make the team. Has-beens and wannabes went through a revolving door that lasted
into the season. Among the hopefuls and rejects were a few gems; NFL and CFL
expatriates like Art. Flanker Don Maynard and quarterback Al Dorow had gone through
both leagues as Art had.
A week after his release by the Eagles, Art scored four receiving touchdowns in an
exhibition against the Buffalo Bills. No more kick return and safety work for Art. The
Titans won their first regular season league game against those same Bills, 27-6. But the
going soon got tougher. Al Dorow pitched it long and often to Art and Don Maynard
when the line held up, and ran for his life when it didn’t. The Titans scored a lot of
points, 382 to lead the league; their defense gave them up just as quickly.
The Titans were settled in with a 4-6 record when they and Art had their best stretch of
the season. Art’s 8 catches for 110 yards and a TD, along with Maynard’s 10 for 179,
helped in a 41-35 home upset of the Dallas Texans. Then Art blitzed Denver for 122
yards and 3 scores in another close 30-27 victory. Finally, with Maynard out of the
lineup, Art scorched Oakland for 10 catches, 179 yards, and two touchdowns in a 31-28
victory. A narrow 43-50 loss to the Chargers cost the Titans a winning record; they had
to settle for 7 wins and 7 losses. Art wound up leading the entire AFL with 14 receiving
touchdowns; he and Don Maynard both topped 1,000 yards receiving as well, the first
NFL/AFL duo ever to accomplish that feat.
The new league also gave Art a chance to go up against older brother Charlie. Charlie
was giving football another go after a couple of years as a boxer, and he was with the
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
AFL’s Oakland Raiders. Their first meeting was not only the first time they’d played
against each other, it was the first time Charlie had seen Art play any football game.
It seemed like Art had finally found a football home. He then spent the offseason
threatening to retire, but eventually signed. The 1961 preseason brought another trial, as
the Titans had a preseason game scheduled for Greenville, South Carolina.
“I had never been to a place with colored and white drinking fountains,” Powell said.
The African American Titans didn’t stay with the white players at their hotel; they were
taken elsewhere. “When we drove in, it was like something you’d see in an old movie.
You go down a dirt road, past a bunch of trees, to this place they called a ‘colored only’
resort. The swimming pool was like a swamp. Of course, the air conditioning doesn’t
work, so it’s a hundred degrees out, and you’re just laying on your bed, sweating like
crazy.”
13
Art said that he refused to play in the following game, though press reports
indicate that he caught a touchdown pass.
The 1961 regular season got off to a surprisingly good start for the Titans. A 3-1 record
and a slow start by returning champion Houston found the Titans unexpectedly in first
place. But the Oilers righted their ship and the Titans’ lead eroded. Maynard missed
several games with a separated shoulder, while Art struggled with his own knee injury.
The Titans’ fading title hopes were extinguished in a 21-48 loss to Houston in the Titan’s
13
th
game.
Art saw his numbers slip to 881 yards receiving and five touchdowns; the Titans scored
301 points, down from 382 in 1960. The team’s 7-7 record masked decline in other
areas, as the Titans were outscored, gave up more scrimmage yardage, and turned the ball
over more than their opponents.
The Titans traded quarterback Al Dorow in 1962. Among his replacements were former
New York Giant heir apparent Lee Grosscup. Lee was also an author, and he would have
plenty to say about the casual practices, thin playbooks, and primitive pass coverage
techniques of the early AFL. But he’d known Powell, having played with him in
California high school All Star games, and recognized Art’s talent. On Grosscup’s first
play in the AFL, he threw a deep pass to a sprinting Powell. Art had beaten Raiders’
cornerback Bob Garner, but had to come back for the underthrown ball. Art came back,
outjumped Garner, shed Garner’s tackle, and went the rest of the way for an 80-yard
touchdown in what would be a 28-17 Titans win. Lee continued to entertain Art’s huddle
suggestions (a.k.a. “give me the ball”) until they became too frequent and Lee felt he
needed to reassert command.
14
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
With the Titans again adding almost no players from the draft, the 1962 Titans were the
same old Titans. That simply wasn’t enough in a growing league, and it showed on the
field and at the turnstiles. A still porous defense doomed the Titans to a losing record in
1962, even as Powell and Don Maynard had another set of 1,000-yard seasons. Poor
attendance meant that undercapitalized owner Harry Wismer, already behind on his bills,
started bouncing payroll checks. By the Thanksgiving game in Denver where Art caught
the winning touchdown pass in a 46-45 victory, the team’s last win as the Titans, the AFL
had already taken over the team from Wismer to ensure that the payroll was met.
Conscious of the team’s direction, Powell made other plans. At the beginning of the
1962 season, Art had decided to play out his option and become a free agent. Free
agency wasn’t foreign to pro football, as a couple of NFL receivers had gone the same
route just a year ago. But Powell would be the first AFL player to take the plunge.
Owner Wismer, aware he’d lose his star, offered Art in trade during the 1962 season, but
found no takers.
15
After entertaining offers from several AFL, CFL, and NFL teams, Powell signed with the
Oakland Raiders on January 31, 1963. The decision seemed curious; the Raiders may
have been clearing their payroll checks, but they’d won but three games in two years, and
suffered the AFL’s worst attendance. Art’s decision was based on the personal
recruitment of new Oakland head coach and general manager, 33-year-old Al Davis.
Davis was so new to the job (two weeks) that Art believed Al to still be in his former job
of San Diego Chargers assistant.
Art and Al clicked immediately, and it showed in training camp. Davis said that “Art has
more understanding of what I’m trying to with the aerial game than any end I’ve ever
been associated with.” In turn Art, who’d slimmed down to 200 pounds on his 6-3 frame
from his usual 215 or so, reported that “the moves and releases Al asks of an end fit in
more with the way I think the position should be played than any other system I’ve
used.”
16
Again, though, racial issues reared. Powell, along with other African American
teammates, protested when an exhibition game in Mobile, Alabama, failed to provide
integrated seating for the fans as promised. Davis came through and moved the game to
Oakland at the last minute. “Al never put another game in the South during the time I
was with the Raiders,” Art said.
17
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
Back on the field, the Raiders won, in two weeks, more games than they’d won in all of
1962, with victories over the Oilers and Bills. But when halfback Clem Daniels was hurt
and ineffective, the Raiders’ offense faltered, and the team lost four straight games.
When Daniels returned though, the team took off, with Art and Clem leading the way. 49
Raider points against the Jets nee Titans, 34 in a victory over the Chargers, 41 more in
ANOTHER victory over the Chargers. A seven- game winning streak.
By the season’s final week, the Raiders trailed the Chargers by just a game in the
standings. The Raiders hosted the Oilers, while the Chargers hosted the Bills. Oakland
trailed early, but fought back with Powell leading the way. Art scorched the Oilers with
10 catches for 247 yards with four going for scores, all 20 yards away or more. The four
touchdowns would never be bested in the AFL’s ten-year history. The combined 101
points in a 52-49 Oakland victory were the most ever in an AFL game. But the Chargers
could not be caught as they closed out the Western championship with a 52-20 win of
their own.
Powell capped his 1963 season by catching the winning touchdown pass in the AFL All
Star Game. Art had dominated, and was rewarded with a first team selection on every
All-AFL team. He led the league with 1,304 yards and 16 touchdown receptions, and his
73 catches were twice that of any teammate, and more than the two ends the Raiders
employed in 1962. Fellow All-AFLer Lance Alworth won one of the three AFL MVPs
awarded despite Art having better statistics in all areas. Teammate Clem Daniels, the
league’s leading rusher, also won an MVP, despite scoring only half as many
touchdowns.
Art briefly requested a trade in the 1964 offseason due to incidents with his Oakland
neighbors relating to his interracial marriage.
18
Powell wound up moving back to
Toronto, and was late reporting to training camp while he settled things there. Once in
camp, Art was optimistic about 1964, but said his performance was as dependent upon
halfback Clem Daniels as himself. “When he isn’t healthy, they stop me,” Art said.
19
Daniels did not get off to a good start in 1964, rushing for just two yards a carry through
the Raiders’ first six games. Oakland lost the first five of those games, knocking
themselves out of contention. It was a productive statistical season for Art though, as he
set career highs for catches (76) and yards (1,361), though he’d cede the league titles in
both, as well as first team All-Pro honors, to Houston’s Charley Hennigan.
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
Powell made the AFL All Star game again, which was scheduled for New Orleans. Upon
arrival, Art and other African American players had numerous problems hailing cabs and
entering other businesses. At a meeting suggested by Art, the African American players
decided they would all leave New Orleans rather than play in the game.
“I did not want to take a leadership position, and after my experiences in Philadelphia I
didn’t trust the other players on what they would say later,” Powell said. “So to protect
myself I wrote up a paper that said everyone in this room is here voluntarily and nobody
has been coerced and I made them all sign it.”
20
As the players began leaving, the AFL
opted to move the game to Houston. The West won the game 38-14, with Art catching a
touchdown pass in the 4
th
quarter.
Whatever happened off the field, few had ever found fault with Art’s talents on the field
in any respect, and by 1965 Powell was at the top of his game. A comprehensive look at
Art’s skills came in a 1965 interview with Raiders quarterback and future coach Tom
Flores.
“With Art Powell we – Cotton Davidson and I – have the most complete receiver in the
game today to work with. Some guys might be able to catch-and-run better, some to go
deep better, some to get the short pass better, but few of them can put it all together.
Besides that, he’s a good blocker.”
“Art is an intelligent receiver,” Flores continued. “A good receiver has to be thinking
together with the quarterback. For instance, if he’s covered, he must sense when to break
the pattern, and the quarterback often can sense just what he’ll do and when he’ll do it.
Art wants to win all the time.”
21
Going into 1965, Art himself thought that due to improved teammates, he’d catch fewer
passes than prior years, but more touchdowns than the 16 he had in 1963.
22
The former
prediction proved to be correct.
After catching 11 passes for 206 yards in a victory over the Boston Patriots in Week five,
Art only caught 24 passes over the Raiders’ last nine games of the season. Rookie Fred
Biletnikoff actually caught more passes during that time period, though Biletnikoff didn’t
touch the end zone once, while Art scored seven times over the same period.
Art was nonplussed after a win over the Oilers where he caught just one pass for nine
yards. “I don’t like this decoy business – this standing out there for nothing. They say
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
I’m doing my job and that’s supposed to be good, but you can’t take that kind of talk to
the bank,” he said.
23
The Raiders improved in 1965 to 8-5-1, but were eliminated from the playoffs in the
season’s penultimate week. Art made the AFL All Star Game again, missing out on first
team All Pro to Alworth and Lionel Taylor.
Change was afoot for Powell and the Raiders in 1966. Art had been injured in the last
game of the 1965 season, and had his foot operated on to repair his Achilles’ tendon.
Then in April, coach and general manager Al Davis was named AFL commissioner. The
Raiders’ new coach was assistant John Rauch.
Powell and teammate Clem Daniels held out into early August and were suspended by
the Raiders. The contract issues were settled, Art returned, but he was far from a happy
camper. “I want out”, Art said after a November victory over the Oilers. “I’ll be glad
when the season’s over. I couldn’t play another season here.”
24
Art’s numbers were
indeed reduced from his 1963-64 peak, but he still caught 53 passes for 1,026 yards and
11 touchdowns. It was the fifth season he’d passed the 1,000-yard mark, and the fifth
he’d caught at least 10 touchdown passes. Both were AFL records.
The 1966 Raiders got off to their annual mediocre start before rallying for another 8-5-1
record and another second-place finish. The team was good, but not progressing. By the
end of the season, Art’s ire had cooled, and he was equivocal on any trade.
25
But he also
had business interests to attend to. Art still lived in Toronto. He requested a trade to an
Eastern team.
Meanwhile, the AFL and NFL had merged, and Al Davis had returned to the Raiders as
head of football operations and managing partner, where he and John Rauch had an
uneasy alliance. Davis did not want to trade his star receiver. The Buffalo Bills made an
offer. Davis could not commit, and it was ultimately John Rauch that pulled the trigger
on the blockbuster deal that took place March 14, 1967, the day of the first combined
NFL/AFL draft.
26
Art and starting quarterback Tom Flores were traded for Buffalo’s
backup quarterback Daryle Lamonica and receiver Glenn Bass. Draft choices also passed
both ways.
Unlike the bridesmaid Raiders, the Bills had made the playoffs every year from 1963 to
1966, winning AFL titles in 1964 and 1965. Along with acquiring Chargers’ halfback
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
Keith Lincoln, the Bill’s reasoning behind the trades seemed to be that the defensive
oriented team needed veteran offensive help to make one last push at a title.
Powell easily beat out Bills split end Bobby Crockett for a starting job. He, Lincoln, and
Flores all started the Bills’ opening game against the Jets. Joe Namath hit Art’s old
running mate Don Maynard with two touchdown passes to help build a 17-0 lead. The
Bills mounted a rousing comeback in the fourth quarter. Art caught two touchdown
passes of his own, though they were thrown by Jack Kemp, as Flores had been injured
and ineffective. Two field goals gave the Bills a thrilling 20-17 victory.
But then the Bills offense faltered, and the team lost their next three games. Worse, Art
hurt his right knee warming up against the Bills’ fifth opponent, the Denver Broncos.
Powell opted to play through the injury, and caught a touchdown pass in another fourth
quarter comeback win in Denver by a 17-16 score.
The next week found Art’s old mates the Raiders coming to Buffalo for a game. Daryle
Lamonica threw four interceptions for the Raiders, but they still led 24-14 in the fourth
quarter. Art caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Jack Kemp, but the Bills could rally
no further and lost 24-20.
The Bills had a bye week the next week. Art’s knee did not respond to rest. Tests were
done and a cartilage tear was found. Surgery was scheduled, and Powell would be out for
the season.
27
The touchdown against the Raiders would be the last pass Art ever caught in
the AFL.
Powell had been used to being a gifted player, and the knee injury meant he would need
to work harder to achieve what had come easier. He resisted. “I had been a durable
player for ten years. But now it would take me all week just to be ready to play,” he said.
“I figured it was time to do something else.”
28
The Buffalo Bills felt the same way. The
1967 season had not gone well, and the Bills finished with a 4-10 record. They were
looking to rebuild. They were aware of Art’s outspoken history, and concerned about his
effect on morale should he slip into a support or reserve role.
29
Art was released by the
Bills in early August 1968.
Art wound up regretting requesting to be traded from the Raiders. “Not every decision
you make goes well,” he said. I regret it more than (Al) Davis does. There is no doubt
playing for the Raiders would have been the best way to finish my career. No doubt.
You make a decision and live with it.”
30
Sitting in the stands watching the Raiders play
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
the Packers in Super Bowl II, he wistfully commented that “I know damn well if I was on
that field, we would have beaten Green Bay.”
31
Art would take one more crack at pro football. The Minnesota Vikings signed Powell on
August 21
,
1968. Art beat out incumbent Paul Flatley, who was waived to the Atlanta
Falcons. But he couldn’t beat out former Saint Tom Hall for a starting split end position.
Art caught one pass for thirty-one yards against the Falcons, then was released when the
Vikings activated receiver John Henderson from their taxi squad. Art’s pro football
career was over.
After a brief period selling cars, Powell became involved in the then lucrative business of
trading stamps. Black and Brown Trading Stamps featured the likeness of soul singer
James Brown, who invested money in the business. By 1971, the company was doing $1
million of business in a year.
32
Later Art owned the Indo-American Oil Company in
California.
Later in life, Art was honored by his San Diego hometown. He was inducted into San
Diego’s Breitbard Hall of Fame to honor sports figures, and the Boys and Girls Club of
San Diego Hall of Fame for his work in the community.
After experiencing heart problems, Art Powell died on April 6, 2015 in Aliso Viejo,
California. He was survived by his wife Betty of 49 years, and his daughters Teri and
Tracy. Teri married former professional basketball player Brian Taylor, and her son,
Art’s grandson, Bryce Taylor, also played college and professional basketball. Art’s
brother Charlie died in 2014.
At the time of his retirement, Powell ranked third in all pro football history in touchdown
receptions with 81, behind Don Hutson and Tommy McDonald. At the end of 1967,
those 81 touchdowns were the most in the AFL, and gave Art a lead of 13 over his next
closest competitor, Don Maynard. At the time, Art was a close second to Maynard in
AFL receiving yards gained, 8,105 to 8,154, and was second in receptions to Lionel
Taylor. Continuing the comparison to Maynard, Art had more all-star game appearances,
and more seasons with 10 or more touchdowns, more seasons with 70 or more catches, an
equal number of seasons with 1,000 yards. Yet Maynard is in the Hall of Fame, and Art
is not. This is due to Don’s longevity. Despite being two years older than Powell, Don
played for five more seasons, allowing him to accumulate better total statistics in all
categories. Simply, Maynard was effective well into his 30s, and Art was injured and out
of football. But at his peak, Art had better statistics per year than Don Maynard.
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
Casting a wider net, Powell’s career totals, reasonably impressive at the time, have now
been surpassed by many players. Art fares much better in per game averages. No
adjustment is made for Art’s season as a defensive back, as other players also were
relegated to defense for a time as well. Compared to all players with 300 or more
receptions, Art’s finest accomplishment was as a touchdown maker; 81 receiving TDs in
117 games made for 0.692 per game, surpassed by only three other players. One is the
pro football pioneer and all-time great receiver, Don Hutson. The other two? Randy
Moss and Terrell Owens.
33
Maybe molds aren’t such a bad thing after all.
End notes:
1
Jerry McDonald, “Art Powell and his Raiders Legacy”, San Jose Mercury News,
April 8, 2015.
2
McDonald, “Art Powell and his Raiders Legacy”.
3
McDonald, “Art Powell and his Raiders Legacy”.
4
Chris Jenkins, “NFL Great Charlie Powell Dead At 82”, San Diego Union-
Tribune, September 1, 2014, AA5.
5
United Press, “San Jose Authorities, Powell Deny Charges”, Bakersfield
Californian, February 8, 1956, 41.
6
Associated Negro Press, “Signing of tan gridder stirs international tiff”, Baltimore
Afro American, February 9, 1957, 23.
7
The Canadian Press, “Art Powell Inks Argos’ Contract”, The Montreal Gazette,
July 18, 1958, 23.
8
Wendell Smith, “Sports Beat – Art Powell, Exciting Rookie…”, Pittsburgh
Courier, November 14, 1959, 25.
9
Smith, “Sports Beat – Art Powell, Exciting Rookie…”.
10
McDonald, “Art Powell and his Raiders Legacy”.
11
Jack McKinney, “Eagles Give Up On Powell, Face ‘Skins Tonight”, Philadelphia
Daily News, August 27, 1960, 33.
12
Murray Olderman, “Between You ‘N’ Me”, Dubois Courier Express, September
20, 1960, 8.
13
McDonald, “Art Powell and his Raiders Legacy”.
14
Lee Grosscup, Fourth And One, New York, NY, Harper And Row.
15
Associated Press, “Wismer Wants to Sell Star End Art Powell”, The Washington
Post, Times Herald, October 20, 1962, 8.
Professional Football Researchers Association
www.profootballresearchers.com
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preserving and, in some cases, reconstructing professional football history. The PFRA is incorporated in the
state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue
Service.
16
“Art Powell is Al’s Kind of Receiver”, Oakland Tribune, July 21, 1963, 135.
17
McDonald, “Art Powell and his Raiders Legacy”.
18
Associated Press, “Art Powell Wants To Be Traded”, San Rafael Daily
Independent Journal, June 6, 1964, 12.
19
George Ross, “Art Powell Ready? ‘I’ll Score 20 TD’s’”, Oakland Tribune,
August 2, 1964, 176.
20
T.J. Simers, “Art Powell: Wide Receiver Paid For His Strong Convictions”, Los
Angeles Times, February 9, 1992, C13C.
21
George Ross, “Get Rich Manana”, Oakland Tribune, May 12, 1965, 146.
22
“Powell Sees More TDs”, Oakland Tribune, July 29, 1965, 108.
23
United Press International, “Art Powell Was Decoy”, Eureka Humboldt Standard,
November 9, 1965, 12.
24
George Ross, “’Decoy’ Blasts Offense”, Oakland Tribune, November 7, 1966, 39.
25
Ed Schoenfeld, “Flores’ Best Year”, Oakland Tribune, December 12, 1966, 87.
26
Rich Dymond, “Rauch, the forgotten coach, buries memories”, The Miami News,
February 14, 1981, 16.
27
Jim Peters, “Surgery Set for Art Powell; Lost to bills for 4-6 Weeks”, Buffalo
Courier-Express, October 25, 1967, 42.
28
McDonald, “Art Powell and his Raiders Legacy”.
29
Jim Peters, “Two Clubs Eye Axed Powell”, Buffalo Courier-Express, August 2,
1968, 19.
30
McDonald, “Art Powell and his Raiders Legacy”.
31
Simers, “Art Powell: Wide Receiver Paid For His Strong Convictions”, C13D.
32
Associated Press, “Black And Brown Stamps Doing $1 Million Business”,
Middletown Journal, April 19, 1970, 13.
33
www.pro-football-reference.com, retrieved June 30, 2020.
