Frank Kinney Holbrook

Frank Kinney Holbrook (c.1874 in Tipton, Iowa – ??) was the first African American intercollegiate athlete at the University of Iowa and one of the first African Americans to participate on an American college varsity athletic squad. He played on the Iowa football team and lettered in both football and track in 1895 and 1896. He was Iowa's leading scorer in 1896 and led the Hawkeyes to their first football conference title in school history.

Frank Holbrook lettered in track and football for Iowa in 1895. How he came to be a part of the football team is not widely known. It is true, however, that in 1895, Iowa nearly did not field an official team. The school Athletic Board ruled that recognition would not be granted until the team paid off its debts, and emergency fundraising was needed for the team to even be formed that season.

To save money, however, the school did not hire a head coach. Practices were reportedly disorganized and sloppy, and the 1895 Hawkeyes posted a poor 2-5 record. Iowa football would never go without a professional head coach again. It was in this season of uncertainty that Frank Holbrook first participated in the Hawkeye football program as a freshman.

The Ivy League was the premier conference in college football at that time, so Iowa hired former Pennsylvania star A.E. Bull as their head coach for the 1896 season. Bull’s arrival made Hawkeye fans optimistic that Iowa could bounce back from the disastrous 1895 campaign.

Frank Holbrook returned for his second season in 1896 and was soon seen as Iowa's best ball carrier. Holbrook was a champion sprinter and Iowa’s best defensive man. He was described as "one of the best halfbacks in the west. He was generally given the ball when a good gain was needed on the last down. His line bucking was excellent. In falling on the ball after a fumble, he has his superior yet to meet. His ability lay in great part in his strength and sprinting qualities." He was also Iowa’s first black football player and, as a result, a target for opposing teams.

Iowa started the 1896 season with a 32-0 win over Drake, with Holbrook rushing for four touchdowns. Though Iowa would suffer a 6-0 loss at Chicago, the Chicago Times-Herald was complimentary, especially of Holbrook. "Iowa’s star work was done by Holbrook. It was brilliant. He made one run of forty yards through a forest of Chicago tackles, and a couple of sprints of thirty yards. Iowa always worked him when it was necessary to make a gain to keep the ball."

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