Ladd inducted into Black College HOF

One of Grambling State University’s most distinguished athletes, Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd, was posthumously inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame on Feb. 28.

Ladd, a towering figure, will forever be remembered for his successful careers in both professional football and wrestling. Born in 1938 in Rayville, La., Ladd attended Grambling State University on a basketball scholarship, where he also played as a defensive tackle on the football team under legendary coach Eddie G. Robinson.

LADD

Ladd was drafted by the American Football League’s San Diego Chargers in 1961, where he helped the Chargers win four AFL Championships in five years. He played 112 consecutive AFL games during his eight years as a professional football player. He played with the Chargers from 1961 to 1965, the Houston Oilers from 1966 to 1967 and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 to 1968.

Ladd was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Grambling State University Hall of Fame in 1989.

Ladd began wrestling in 1961 during the football off-seasons, and became a full-time professional wrestler when his football career ended in 1968. He portrayed one of the first African-American heels, a wrestler who represents the antagonist in the match, in the wrestling business. He retired from wrestling in 1986 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995.

Ladd passed away from colon cancer in 2007 at the age of 68.

Ladd is one of seven inductees who were selected from a list of 25 finalists. The Class of 2015 includes Ladd, Roger Brown (University of Maryland Eastern Shore), Richard Dent (Tennessee State University), L.C. Greenwood (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), Ken Riley (Florida A&M University), Donnie Shell (South Carolina State University) and Coach W.C. Gorden (Jackson State University).

Inductees were honored at the Sixth Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony, presented by the Atlanta Falcons, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

This article originally published in the March 2, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.