Bethune-Cookman University Athletics

Dr. Hubert L. Hemsley was drawn to Bethune-Cookman inspired by founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. That inspiration would lead to a career in medicine and prominence as a civic leader in South Central Los Angeles.

Hemsley was a key player alongside John Cheyney and Jack "Cy" McClairen on the 1952-53 SIAC championship team that complied a 24-2 record. He was a four-year standout on the basketball team and also played one year of football.

He was also a model student-athlete, having been selected to the Dean's List the entire length of his college career. He would later graduate from Jefferson Medical College.

In Los Angeles, he become the first African-American OB-GYN resident at the Los Angeles County Medical Center and opened a medical center in 1968, dubbing it the "Bethune Center" that would serve the community for 38 years.