Chuck Cooper Foundation

The Chuck Cooper Foundation was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ray Goss, one of the truly great and enduring voices in college basketball and a beloved part of Duquesne basketball history.

For 58 seasons, Ray served as the Voice of the Dukes, a remarkable legacy that made him one of the most respected and enduring figures in college basketball broadcasting.

We were proud to present Ray with a Chuck Cooper Foundation Centennial Award at our Centennial Gala in celebration of Chuck Cooper’s life and legacy. Although Ray was unable to attend in person because of his accident, his daughter, Christine Brownlee, was there to accept the award on his behalf. It was a powerful tribute to see so many former Duquesne players return to the stage in support of Ray and his family, including Baron Flenory and Jarrett Durham, his longtime broadcast partner. Their presence spoke volumes about what Ray meant to Duquesne basketball and the deep respect he earned from generations of Dukes.

It is especially meaningful that one of Ray’s two all-time favorite calls came at the 2026 Chuck Cooper Classic on March 7, when Duquesne rallied from 30 points down to defeat Richmond 79-77 in the largest comeback in Atlantic 10 history. It also marked just the fourth time in NCAA Division I history that a team overcame a 30-point deficit to win. That unforgettable moment took place inside UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, with Ray behind the microphone making one of the calls he treasured most.

We are grateful that we had the opportunity to recognize Ray on that stage and thankful that Christine was able to share that moment with us and carry that love and recognition back to her father. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, former broadcast partners, and the entire Duquesne community.

Rest In Peace Ray Goss 🙏🏾

The Chuck Cooper Foundation was proud to present the President’s Award to the McConnell family at our Centennial Gala as we celebrated 100 years of Chuck Cooper’s life and legacy.

The McConnells are one of Western Pennsylvania’s great basketball families. Across generations, they have represented excellence as players, coaches, and leaders, leaving a lasting mark on the game and on the communities they have served.

From Suzie McConnell-Serio’s Olympic accomplishments, to T.J. McConnell’s outstanding NBA career, to Meg McConnell continuing the family’s basketball tradition at the professional level, their family legacy speaks for itself. Tim McConnell’s own place in coaching history only adds to that remarkable story. (Olympics)

We are especially grateful to Tim McConnell for helping bring the family together for this special recognition. The moment was made even more meaningful by the presence of family patriarch Tom McConnell and by Tim’s heartfelt remarks about his late mother, which brought a deeply personal touch to an already special evening. Tom McConnell and the late Suzanne McConnell’s family is reflected in Suzanne McConnell’s obituary. (Olympics)

It was a privilege to recognize such a remarkable family with the Chuck Cooper Foundation President’s Award.

The Chuck Cooper Foundation was proud to present the Trailblazer Award to The Honorable Ed Gainey at our Centennial Gala as we celebrated 100 years of Chuck Cooper’s life and legacy.

As Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor, Mayor Gainey represents the kind of barrier-breaking leadership this award was created to honor.

In his acceptance remarks, he delivered a powerful message on the importance of unity and bringing people together, which added even greater meaning to the evening.

We also thank Councilman Khari Mosley, a rising leader in local government and a dedicated public servant, for presenting the award and helping make the moment even more special.

We were honored to recognize Mayor Gainey with this special award.

This is what the Chuck Cooper Foundation is all about.

As we celebrate 15 years of the Foundation, this photo represents so much of what we have worked to build. It reflects leadership development, outreach, mentorship, educational support, and real investment in young people.

I’m incredibly proud of the impact we have made through the years, awarding nearly half a million dollars across more than 70 scholarships and educational support opportunities, while continuing to grow our outreach and internship programming.

Pictured here with me are Dr. Jimyse L. Brown, a current Chuck Cooper Foundation board member and two-time scholarship recipient, Calix Clark, a Penn Hills High School student we were proud to recognize at our Centennial Gala, and Dr. Ayanna Townsend, who recently completed her internship with the Foundation and played an important role in our outreach work.

This is only one snapshot of the young people we have supported, invested in, and believed in. None of it would be possible without our incredible corporate supporters, individual donors, volunteers, board members, and community partners.

We’re proud of what we’ve built, and even more excited about where we’re going.

Proud to share this from The Chuck Cooper Chronicles highlighting the trailblazer trifecta of Chuck Cooper’s legacy. He broke barriers in sports, government, and business, continuing to open doors and serve Pittsburgh with leadership and purpose.

Reminder: Today is the annual Chuck Cooper Classic at Duquesne University.

Through our partnership with Duquesne Athletics, and with the support of the Duquesne University men’s and women’s basketball teams, the Chuck Cooper Foundation’s annual Supply Drive helps us do more than collect school supplies. Each year, we visit a local Pittsburgh school, spend time with students, share a presentation, and personally deliver the donated supplies.

If you are joining us at the game today, please consider bringing school supplies to donate.

Sharing this Chuck Cooper Chronicles post for important context as we approach the NBA’s inaugural Pioneers Day and Pioneers Classic on February 1, televised on ESPN at 3:30 PM. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Chuck Cooper and Sweetwater Clifton: The Globetrotters World Series Chapter Before the NBA

Before the NBA fully integrated, the Harlem Globetrotters were a proving ground that forced the business of basketball to confront the truth on the court.

In back to back years, the Globetrotters beat the Minneapolis Lakers at Chicago Stadium. In 1948, they won 61–59 in front of 17,823 fans. In 1949, they won again, 49–45, in front of 20,046.
If it makes dollars, it makes sense. Crowds like that made it impossible to ignore what was already obvious.

And that is where this photo comes in.

In spring 1950, Chuck Cooper signed with the Harlem Globetrotters before he was drafted into the NBA, and played in the Globetrotters’ 18-game World Series of Basketball against the College All-Stars, alongside fellow pioneer Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton. Contemporary reporting notes World Series compensation of $1,000 to $2,000 for the series, roughly $13,000 to $27,000 today. That figure reflects pay for the World Series series itself, not a year-round salary.

What makes this chapter even more meaningful is what followed. Cooper and Clifton continued returning to play together in the World Series during NBA offseasons, two pioneers sharing the floor in a space that helped push the game forward.

This is what pioneers carried. They had the talent to be featured and the character to endure what came with being first. Their sacrifice was playing through overt racism, limited freedom, and an uneven playing field, while still proving their ability in every opportunity they were given. And with 6 days until the NBA’s inaugural Pioneers Day and NBA Pioneers Classic on February 1, we are sharing these chapters to ensure the truth is fully acknowledged.

NBPA NBA on ESPN Boston Celtics Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame GoDuquesne Duquesne University

Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through action.

Thank you to Penn Hills School District for the continued partnership and for highlighting the Chuck Cooper Foundation’s Beacons of Light Outreach Program.

Led by Chuck Cooper III, President and CEO, alongside our intern Ayanna Townsend, a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) student at Duquesne University and former Division I student-athlete, our team had the opportunity to work with an outstanding group of high school students, many of them student athletes already demonstrating leadership, discipline, and focus.

This session was a follow up to our initial workshop on goal setting and focused on goal attainment. Ayanna served as a near-peer leader for the students, guiding the conversation and helping them translate intention into clarity and commitment. Students arrived prepared, engaged fully, and took ownership of their progress. Each student left with two clearly defined short term goals documented as a point of reference as they move forward with purpose.

The level of focus and drive we witnessed reinforces the effectiveness of this work. Beacons of Light is designed to help students move from aspiration to accomplishment. Grounded in the belief that you wake up every day driven by your mission, these students now move forward with confidence, direction, and goals they have claimed for themselves.

Inside Our Beacons of Light Outreach Program

The Chuck Cooper Foundation was honored to bring our Beacons of Light Outreach Program to Penn Hills High School, where students participated in an engaging goal-setting workshop and a multimedia presentation on the legacy of Chuck Cooper.

The session was led by Chuck Cooper III, President and CEO of the Chuck Cooper Foundation, who shared the powerful story of his father’s pioneering journey in the NBA and his barrier-breaking accomplishments in education, government, and corporate leadership. Students were also introduced to Cooper’s ARC, a framework rooted in the qualities that fueled Chuck Cooper’s success as a trailblazer:

• Accountability – owning your actions, commitments, and decisions

• Relationships – surrounding yourself with the right people and choosing friendships that support growth and positive direction

• Communication – expressing ideas clearly, listening with intention, and building the interpersonal skills needed for teamwork and leadership

The workshop portion was facilitated by Ayanna Townsend, the Foundation’s intern and OTD candidate at Duquesne University, and a former Division I basketball standout. She guided students through an interactive goal-setting exercise designed to build confidence, focus, and practical skill development.

The Penn Hills students were outstanding. Their focus, engagement, and thoughtful participation created an inspiring learning environment and demonstrated genuine readiness for leadership and personal growth.

A special thank you to Mr. Morris, who also serves as the head football coach at Penn Hills, for his leadership and support in making this workshop possible. His commitment to student success set the tone for a productive and meaningful session.

The Foundation looks forward to future collaborations as we continue preparing students to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.