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In Coral Gables, we take pride in our history — not just in the Mediterranean-style architecture or the banyan-lined streets, but in the people whose stories have shaped our community. One of those stories belongs to Craig Curry, and right now, his neighbors, classmates, and friends are writing a new chapter with him.
In the 1960s, high school football in the South was as much about culture as it was about competition. Following the court-ordered integration that closed George Washington Carver High School, a talented young quarterback named Craig Curry chose to attend Coral Gables Senior High. In 1966, legendary coach Nick Kotys made a decision few dared to make in that era — he named Curry the starting quarterback.
It was a groundbreaking choice. Black quarterbacks were rare in Southern high schools at the time, and the move was met with resistance. But Kotys recognized Curry’s leadership and ability, and together, coach and quarterback proved the critics wrong.
By 1967, Curry had led the Cavaliers to a perfect 13–0 season, winning the Florida large-school state championship. The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) later named the team its “Team of the Century,” meaning the best high school football team in the state’s history. Teammate Bertram Taylor, the school’s first Black running back, put it simply: “Craig was our Jackie Robinson.”
Curry went on to play at the University of Minnesota, leading the Big Ten in total offense in 1971. Lifelong friend Ray Bellamy, who happens to be the first African American athlete given a scholarship to the University of Miami and who broke the school’s football color barrier, says Curry’s influence reached far beyond the field: “Everyone was always so proud of him in his neighborhood. He was a great example for young people – a class act. They all looked up to him.”
Today, the man who once ran the offense with precision is facing the toughest drive of his life. A stroke has left him paralyzed from the waist down, and without transportation, he is mostly confined to his home. This September, Curry will be inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in Gainesville. Thanks to generous donations from friends, former classmates, and the Coral Gables High Class of 1967, Craig and his wife, Josephine, will be able to attend — traveling in a rented wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
But the need doesn’t end there. Day-to-day life — trips to the rehabilitation center, doctor’s appointments, or simply getting out into the community — can be exhausting without proper transportation. “Just getting him to his rehab can take two hours,” says former teammate Bob Injaychock. “The purpose of helping Craig and Josephine acquire a van is to give them the freedom of mobility around town.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise $48,000 for a wheelchair-accessible van. You can learn more and donate here: Help Craig Curry Get His Wheelchair Van.
Craig Curry broke barriers, inspired a generation, and brought glory to his school and community. Now, his community is showing him the same loyalty and spirit he showed on the field. In Coral Gables, that’s what we do — we rally for our own.
To get involved reach out to : junetmorris@gmail.com
