Introduction: The Beginning of FCA

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a national organization was originally formed by East Oklahoma A&M basketball coach Don McClanen in 1954 (Deford, 1976). McClanen believed that if athletes could endorse products and advertise material goods, then they could promote religion as well. With the help of Dr. Louis R. Evans, Dr. Roe Johnston, Pittsburgh Pirates executive Branch Rickey (the same Branch Rickey who broke the MLB’s color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson and also drafted Hispanic Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente) and Tom Landry, McClanen’s non-profit organization rapidly expanded from it’s headquarters in Norman, Oklahoma and moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1956. That same year, the first ever FCA National Conference was held in Estes Park, Colorado, led by various sport-specific directors including Otto Graham and Doak Walker (FCA.org, 2014). Within a decade, school campus “huddles” were being established at high school and colleges all over the country.