LORMAN, Miss. – A four-year letterwinner with the Alcorn State University football program, Houston Markham Jr. passed away Wednesday at the age of 75.
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Markham, an offensive lineman, played in Alcorn's first-ever SWAC games as a sophomore in 1962 as the team transitioned from the SCAC. He played three seasons for head coach Franklin Purnell, and the inaugural season for head coach Marino Casem in 1964.
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For four years, Markham blocked for fullback Smith Reed who became the school's all-time leading rusher at the time with 1,545 yards.
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A native of Brookhaven, Mississippi, Markham earned a Bachelor's degree from Alcorn in health and physical education in 1965.
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Upon graduation, Markham worked as an assistant coach at Vicksburg High School for two seasons in 1966 and 1967. Markham was then promoted to head coach and compiled a 65-16-3 record over eight seasons from 1968-1975, which included a 40-game winning-streak.
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Markham went on to serve as an assistant coach at Jackson State before taking the head coaching job at Alabama State from 1987-1997.
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"I played against him when I was at Alcorn. I met him a few times and he was always a great individual person and also obviously a great coach," said Alcorn head coach
Fred McNair.
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Markham is a Hall of Fame member at Alcorn, Jackson State and Alabama State.
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No. 76 Houston Markham Jr.
#FearTheBrave
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