Chadron State College Athletics

While compiling the CSC Athletic Hall of Fame Book in 2008, it became evident that a major oversight had been made by not inducting Felix Sanford years ago.
Sanford is tied for sixth on the Eagles’ career scoring list with 1,532 points in 77 games for a 19.8 average. His 24.5-point average as a senior in 1963-64 ranks second to Ted Niemann’s 24.8 average in 1987-88. Sanford’s rebounding statistics are incomplete, but in the 48 games that records are available he averaged 15.2 per game.
He tallied 39 points three times and 41 against Southern Colorado in 1963-64 during a 112-111 double overtime victory over Southern Colorado for the school record at that time. He also pulled down 31 rebounds in that game for a CSC record that likely will never be broken.
A slender 6-foot-6 Chicagoan, Sanford was recruited by Mack Peyton with help Marques Haynes, player-coach of the Harlem Magicians. Sanford was CSC’s first black athlete. He was placed on the Omaha World-Herald’s state college all-star team all four years he was at CSC, including his junior year when he played in just eight games after missing the first semester because of academic problems.
He was a graceful athlete who seemed to glide down the floor. He had a variety of hook and jump shots, outstanding leaping ability, a long reach and great stamina. He often played the entire game.
Through Vester Van, who came to CSC with Sanford to CSC in the fall of 1960, it was learned that Sanford died of sickle-cell anemia when he was middle-aged.