John Mosley (1998) - Colorado State Athletics Hall of Fame

John Mosley

Induction:
1998
Class:
1943

Football (1940 to 1942)
Wrestling (1940 to 1943)

John Mosley came to Colorado State as a National Merit Scholar from Denver’s Manual High School in the fall of 1939. He decided that he wanted to try out for the football team as a freshman, and in doing so, became the first African American football player at Colorado State since 1906. Mosley also decided he would wrestle for coach Hans Wagner, becoming the second African American wrestler in school and state history. Mosley earned all-conference honors in wrestling. In football he lettered for three years, becoming the first African American letterwinner in CSU football history.

Following graduation, Mosley set his sights on flying and trained himself to be a pilot so he could fly for the Army Air Corps. He enrolled in the Tuskegee Flight training center and became one of the first African American pilots of bombers in US history. Mosley fought as a bomber pilot in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, retiring as a Lt. Col in the United States Air Force. Since retirement, Mosley has become a spokesperson for black athletes and the Tuskegee Airmen who first flew African American pilots during WWII. CSU developed the Lt Col John Mosley Mentoring Program for student athletes in 2011. Mosley died at the age of 93 on May 22, 2015.

Other Accomplishments: