Arthur Carr
Time at Ohio: 1902-1905
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Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018
The Ohio Bobcats football team faced
the Howard University Bison in its home opener at Peden Stadium.
The game itself was full of twists and turns. Ohio’s starting quarterback, Nathan Rourke, was benched after just eight passing attempts and his team was on the wrong end of a 16-3 score.
Bobcats Head Coach Frank Solich called up redshirt junior Quinton Maxwell. He propelled the green and white in a thrilling comeback with two touchdown passes while throwing for 233 yards.
Ohio scored 35 points in the remaining three quarters to avoid the upset loss, defeating Howard by a final of 38-32.
But there is another reason this game carried significance.
From left to right: Bobcat players Amos Ogun-Semore, Bryce Houston, and Kaieem Caesar celebrate with fans after their win over Howard on Sept. 1, 2018.
Photo by Haldan Kirsch (WOUB).
Both O.U. and Howard University were once the homes of
Dr. Arthur Carr,
one of the most accomplished individuals of his generation.
Who was Arthur Carr?
Unfortunately, there are not many tangible accounts or records that highlight the life of Carr. Much of the key information I found is from a 2018 article by Kayla Beard of The Athens News.
Carr’s parents, Minor “N.J.” and Maria Carr, were born in the south – where slavery had a profound influence on the region’s economy, lifestyle, and culture. Minor and Maria eventually moved north and got married in Athens County in 1879. Their son, Arthur Davis Carr, was born in April 1883.
The marriage certificate for Minor Carr and Maria Reedis, 1879.
Provided by Dr. Carl Denbow
Carr graduated from Athens High School in 1902 and most likely attended Ohio University that fall. He was a standout athlete throughout his young life and reached his peak when he became quarterback for the school’s football team (the “Bobcat” nickname did not exist until 1925).
He played on the team in 1903 and 1904. Ada Adams, a historical preservation advocate and president of the Mount Zion Black Cultural Center, said in Beard’s article that Carr is recognized as the first black student athlete to play football at Ohio University.
A photograph of the 1903 Ohio University football team. Arthur Carr is located on the top row (standing), fourth from the left. This is the only photo of Carr that is known to exist. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.
Carr graduated in 1905 before continuing his academic career, majoring in medicine at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He finished his studies at Howard in 1912 and moved to Richmond, Va. – spending almost a decade as a private-practice physician. It was also during this time, according to Beard’s article, that Carr was elected president of the “association of colored doctors” in Richmond.
He eventually moved back to the nation's capital, where he’d live for the rest of his life. Carr continued his practice and taught at Howard’s medical school for 45 years. His obituary in The Athens Messenger stated that he “operated his own hospital in Washington, D.C.”
Carr passed away in 1966 at the age of 83.
Athens Roots
Despite his professional success out east, Carr never forgot about his connection with southeastern Ohio. According to Beard’s article, Carr regularly returned to Athens to visit relatives, friends, and other acquaintances.
One of Carr’s most significant contributions to Ohio University came in 1928. He donated about 4-5 acres of his property in Athens for the construction of the “new athletic plant" – which ultimately became Peden Stadium.
Clippings from the Nov. 9, 1928, edition of The Green and White newspaper, which credits Carr for his contribution towards the new facility. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
The Carr family also established roots in other parts of the Athens community. According to Adams (via Beard’s article), Carr’s parents were members of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church – on W. Carpenter St.
The church was a gathering place for African Americans of the area. According to the church’s website, it served “as a place of spiritual solace and social connection.” An informational sign outside the building states the church supported both the social and cultural contributions of Black Americans who lived in the Ohio River Valley.
Mt. Zion Baptist Church remained an active parish until the early 2000s.
Above: Mt. Zion Baptist Church in 1909. Photo credit: Mount Zion Black Cultural Center website (www.mountzionathens.org).
Below: A photo of the church's front sign in 2024. Photo by Darayus Sethna.
Photos by Darayus Sethna (taken in October 2024).
Carr Hall
Carr Hall was built in 2015 and is located on the south end of Ohio University’s campus. The dormitory includes 148 rooms that comprise of single and double suites. Photos by Darayus Sethna.
Interview with Dr. Carl Denbow
Provided by Dr. Carl Denbow
I had the chance to speak with Dr. Carl Denbow, Director of Communication Emeritus of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Denbow, an Athens native, began his teaching career at Marshall University and Murray State in the 1970s. He became the communications director of O.U.’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1978. Dr. Denbow was also an adjunct professor of journalism for nine years (1981-1990) and was a board member for the Athens County Historical Society & Museum in 2002 – maintaining that role for seven years.
Dr. Denbow fully retired from Ohio University in 2009 after serving as project director for the “Family Health” radio series.
Dr. Denbow has conducted extensive research on African American studies in southeastern Ohio. He emphasizes that Carr may have been the first African American quarterback to play at a predominantly white institution.
Dr. Denbow spoke with me in October of 2024 about his initial interest in Arthur Carr, what he learned throughout his exploration, and advocated for Carr’s influence to get the recognition it deserves.
Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
You can visit Dr. Denbow’s website, 78ohio.org, which is dedicated to the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry that fought in the Civil War.
More from Dr. Denbow
Along with his research, Dr. Denbow collected newspaper articles from The Athens Messenger dating as far back as 1897 that highlight moments of Carr’s life.
A clipping from the July 29, 1897, edition of The Athens Messenger and Herald mentioning a performance from “The colored band of Athens” – which Carr was a part of as a teenager. The article states that he played the cornet.
Provided by Dr. Carl Denbow
Carr graduated from Athens High School in 1902 with only 13 other students. According to this article from The Athens Messenger and Herald on June 12, 1902, the auditorium was packed with locals.
As the article describes, “the auditorium was filled to overflowing by the usual cultured Athenians who always show their appreciation of their public schools...”
O.T. Corson, an educational orator and the state of Ohio’s eventual Director of Education, was one of the keynote speakers at the commencement.
Provided by Dr. Carl Denbow
This 1930 article from The Athens Messenger mentions Carr’s first wife, Millie, who died two years earlier from a “severe surgical operation.” The article also states that Carr returned to Athens every year to visit the graves of his parents – Maria and Minor – who passed away in 1919 and 1923, respectively. Carr and his parents are buried at the West Union Cemetery.
Provided by Dr. Carl Denbow
Below: A note from Carr to his father in the Jan. 4, 1926, edition of The Athens Messenger. Provided by Dr. Carl Denbow.
An Inspiration for Future Generations
Photo provided by Trisha Smathers
Angela Hall is a social studies teacher at Athens Middle School. Along with her responsibilities as cheerleading coach, student council advisor, and organizer for the school’s annual D.C. trip, Hall is also the advisor of the Andrew Jackson Davison Club (AJDC) – named after the first Black attorney in the city of Athens.
The club was founded in 2019 and provides students with a chance to undertake projects that spotlight local culture and history. They’ve worked with experts like Bill Kimok at the Mahn Center to not only learn – but revive the stories of their community.
Hall and her students plan to begin their own research on Carr’s life with the hopes of honoring him for Black History Month in 2026.
I spoke with Hall in October 2024 about her initiative to bring Carr’s life to the forefront – and more importantly – why his story can have a major impact on her students.
Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Other Findings on Arthur Carr
A copy of Carr’s complete transcript from Ohio University. Carr is suggested to have majored in business while at O.U.
Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.
Below: Carr's obituary in The Athens Messenger, 1966. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.
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