Photo courtesy UMass Lowell

by Chris Boucher

UMass Lowell honored Harry “Bucky” Lew before its men’s basketball game this past Thursday night by dedicating a plaque to the man who became the game’s first Black professional as well the first coach of an integrated college program.

Both historic events happened in Lowell, where Lew played for the Pawtucketville Athletic Club in 1902 and coached Lowell Tech (now UML) in 1922.

Bucky Lew’s granddaughter Wendy Johnson (photo courtesy UMass Lowell)

The plaque was placed near the entrance to the court to ensure Lew’s achievements are never again forgotten.

Lew’s granddaughter, Wendy Johnson, received a duplicate copy, a bouquet of flowers, and a UML jersey. Chancellor Julie Chen, Athletic Director Peter Casey, UML Student-Athletes of Color Affinity Group President Shataeya Smith, and player Max Brooks made the presentation at center court in front of a host of faculty and staff and a near sell-out crowd.

Perhaps inspired by the ceremony, Brooks led the River Hawks with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance and a victory-sealing block in the final minute of the game to hand UML an 87-80 win.

Chris Boucher and Wendy Johnson answer questions from ceremony attendees (photo courtesy UMass Lowelll)

At a reception beforehand, Chris Boucher, a 1993 UML alum and author of “The Original Bucky Lew,” led a presentation on Lew’s remarkable 25-year career. After which, he, Wendy, and early basketball author Douglas Stark engaged in a Q&A session with attendees.

The highlight of the reception was Wendy’s childhood recollection of watching sports with her “Grampa” when she was very young. His favorite sport in those days was boxing and the two enjoyed Friday Night Fights together.

While Lew also watched basketball games, according to Wendy he peppered them with commentary like “that’s not how we played the game in my day” and “we took more punches then.”

The UML marker is the second individual honor for Lew in Lowell. The first was the YMCA posting a plaque in November 2023 to commemorate his jump from the Y to the pros. Additionally, several generations of the Lew family are honored by the city’s Lew Family Square.

Wendy Johnson and daughter Kiah Jamille pose at Lew Family Square in Lowell (photo courtesy Chris Boucher)