Ex-Globetrotter Marques Haynes left a hoops legacy in Las Vegas

Image

Tony Gutierrez / AP File

Former Harlem Globetrotters great Marques Haynes holds a photo circa 1951 of himself in his Globetrotters uniform Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, in Plano, Texas. Haynes played in the legendary game 60 years ago, Feb. 19, 1948, when the Globetrotters beat the Minneapolis Lakers and their big man, George Mikan, 61-59 at Chicago Stadium.

Sat, May 23, 2015 (7:46 p.m.)

Click to enlarge photo

Former NBA star Bill Russell, left, adjusts the medal hanging from Marques Haynes' neck on Nov. 17, 2011, as they pose for a photo before induction ceremonies for the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Haynes died Friday in Plano, Texas. He was 89.

In Las Vegas City Parks and Recreation history, pro basketball legend Marques Haynes’ destiny was to briefly serve as a vital link between two legendary directors and provide young blacks with opportunities otherwise denied them during the Jim Crow era of the mid-1950s.

In early 1955, Marques was named interim director of the old Jefferson Recreation Center at D Street and Jefferson Avenue. His predecessor was Las Vegas civil rights pioneer Jimmy Gay, the center’s first director, who started numerous programs — including swimming — for young blacks who were not allowed to join in the many activities then designated for white children only.

Marques not only continued to keep the facility on an even keel, he hired his replacement — his older brother, Joe — who also became a renowned Las Vegas recreation director. After Marques’ fleeting stint as a Southern Nevada resident, he left late in 1955 to coach his own barnstorming squad, the Harlem Magicians, and carve out a 46-year pro basketball career.

Marques Oreole Haynes, regarded as one of the greatest ballhandlers in the game’s history — he was once clocked dribbling a basketball six times per second — died Friday night in Plano, Texas. He was 89. His work both in Las Vegas and as an international hoops star were well-defined by his catch phrase, “I’m Marques Haynes. I’ll show you how!”

Among the Jimmy Gay-started programs that Marques Haynes kept alive during those uncertain times for blacks in Las Vegas — then called the Mississippi of the West because of its segregated policies on the Strip and elsewhere — were the swimming program, mainstream sports and the Miss Black Las Vegas beauty pageant to encourage self-esteem in young black women.

Then, Marques’ brother, William Joseph “Joe” Haynes Sr., in 1964 became the first recreational director at the Las Vegas Doolittle Community Center, where he founded the men’s city basketball league and continued to build programs for West Las Vegas residents. In 1965, the Nevada Recreation and Park Society recognized Joe Haynes for providing black boys and girls with recreational activities during the turbulent civil rights movement. He retired in 1973.

Marques was the last survivor of the three local black recreational directors of the civil rights era. Jimmy Gay, one of the first black Las Vegas casino executives and the first black person appointed to the Nevada Athletic Commission, died in 1999 in Las Vegas at age 83. Joe Haynes, who after leaving his city post became a longtime local teacher, died in 2004 in Las Vegas at age 87.

Born March 10, 1926, in Sand Springs, Okla., Marques Haynes, the youngest of four children, grew up in a small house that had neither plumbing nor electricity. His father, a railroad worker, abandoned the family before Marques was old enough to attend preschool.

Raised by his mother, Hattie, a maid and laundress, Marques was taught how to dribble by brother Joe, who was 10 years his senior, and two other siblings. Marques played basketball at Booker T. Washington High School and for Langston University (1942-46), both in Oklahoma.

His ability to keep the ball away from aggressive opponents caught the attention of the Globetrotters, who drew much of their fan support because of their nifty dribbling and comical trick plays. After Haynes led Langston to a four-point victory over the Globetrotters in an exhibition game in Oklahoma in 1946, he was invited to become a member of the Globetrotters.

After earning a degree at Langston, Haynes joined the Globetrotters in 1947 for his first stint with the team, which ended in 1953, when he formed the Harlem Magicians.

Haynes returned to the Globetrotters in 1972 and for eight seasons was a player/coach. He also was a regular on the children’s show “The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine TV” (1974-75). The Globetrotter organization estimates that Haynes, during both stints, played more than 12,000 games and visited about 100 countries for that team.

Before retiring from pro ball in 1992 at age 66, Haynes also played for the Harlem Wizards and Meadowlark Lemon’s Bucketeers. In 1998, Haynes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame — the first Globetrotter to be so enshrined.

For many years after his retirement, Haynes resided in Dallas.

A list of his survivors was not immediately available. However, at one time, three of Haynes’ nieces — Veronica Goodwin, Veretta Smith and Martyna Hill — were Las Vegas residents.

Ed Koch is a former longtime Las Vegas Sun reporter.

Back to top

SHARE

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy