Marques Haynes

Class of
2011
Marques Haynes

Marques Haynes

“When I was in college, I found out guys got paid for playing basketball. You know, I couldn’t believe.”
Marques Haynes

Biography

A native of Sand Springs and a graduate of Langston University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial education, Haynes brought both honor and distinction to Oklahoma through his exceptional skills as a basketball player and leader in creating equal opportunity for people of all races to play basketball. His basketball career began at Booker T. Washington High School where he led the school to a high school national championship in 1941. During his time at Booker T. Washington, Haynes was honored as a High School All American. He then starred collegiately at Langston University from 1942 through 1946 where he was a four-time All-State, All-Conference and team MVP selection. Haynes played for the legendary Zip Gayles and led Langston in scoring all four years and led the university to a 112-3 record, a mark that included a 59-game winning streak. In 1947, Haynes joined the Harlem Globetrotters and dazzled fans with his basketball handling skills. Haynes is considered by many to be the greatest basketball dribbler of all time. He could dribble the ball three times per second and maintain the dribble one inch off the floor from any position. Haynes continued his career with the Globetrotters until 1953 and later re-joined the team from 1972 to 1979. In 1998, he was the first player to be inducted as a Globetrotter into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Haynes is equally famous for what he did off the basketball court – being instrumental in the NBA recruiting of Black players for the first time and opened Seventh Avenue’s first major Black-owned and operated fashion house.

Fun fact

Marques Haynes could dribble the ball three times per second and maintain the dribble one inch off the floor from any position.

Oklahoma connections

A native of Sand Springs, Marques led the Booker T. Washington High School Ramblers to State and National championships and was honored as a High School All American. He attended Langston University and played for the legendary Zip Gayles.

Hometown

Sand Springs

Profession

Basketball/Fashion Designer

Presenter

Born

1926

Died

2015

Relevant Exhibits

Green Country: From Lenapah to Prague

Green Country: From Lenapah to Prague

This exhibit features the lives of 18 Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductees from the 18-county region in northeast Oklahoma.