Allen Easter Ericson Weatherford

Allen Easter Ericson Weatherford (1907–1965) was a professor of physical education and the first black man to earn a doctorate in the subject.

Allen Easter Ericson Weatherford was born on March 25, 1907, in Charlottesville, Virginia.^[1] Although an African American in the deep south at a time when blacks could be sent to jail for going to school beyond the ninth grade,^[2] his parents encouraged him to further his education. His uncle, Benjamin Tonsler, worked as a school principal,^[3] and was a driving force in helping Weatherford to take his education as far as he could. Weatherford left home to attend the Hampton institute in Hampton, Virginia,^[4] where he earned his bachelor's degree. Weatherford then went on to obtain his master's degree, and finally obtained his PhD degree in physical education; the first black man to do so. Weatherford moved to North Carolina, where he married Rebecca Christmas in 1939.^[3] They had six children together. Weatherford continued to work as a professor at St. Augustine's University; he also worked as Chairman of the Department of Physical Education there.^[5]