By Stu Pospisil, World-Herald staff writer

Recognition for his athletic accomplishments came later in Marion Hudson’s life.

The pioneering Dana College standout from Omaha Central, who died Tuesday at 76, was enshrined in the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame, the Nebraska Black Sports Hall of Fame and Dana’s athletic hall of fame.

His wife, Ella Hudson, said he also talked often about receiving the Martin Luther King “I Have a Dream” award in 2007.

“Johnny Rodgers presented the award, and he brought his Heisman Trophy,” she said. “Marion got a kick out of that.”

Hudson was the first black student at Dana. The college’s student body, seeking to add diversity to the campus, raised $355 for a scholarship for him.

But it also was a period in which Hudson was unable to sleep in the same hotel or dine with teammates on at least one road trip.

In football, he rushed for 2,383 yards to average 7.3 per carry and 101.3 yards a game. He rushed for 1,041 yards in seven games as a sophomore in 1953.

In track and field, he still is the Vikings’ record-holder in the long jump (24-6) and javelin (206-8).

In 2007, Hudson said his favorite athletic moment was winning the javelin at the 1953 Drake Relays. It was there that Hudson outscored all the Big Seven Conference schools combined.

He earned 12 varsity letters in football, basketball and track. In 2003, Dana honored him with Marion Hudson Day.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in history and education in 1956, Hudson worked as a tool and die maker at Wilkinson Manufacturing in Fort Calhoun and at Western Electric in Omaha. He also was a salesman.

Hudson’s death at Methodist Hospital followed a couple of mini-strokes and a heart attack, Ella Hudson said. He had been a double amputee because of diabetes.

Besides his wife, Hudson is survived by six children: Michael, Earlena, Brandon and Rayliesha of Omaha; Marcus of Colorado; and Hallie, of Hopewell, Va.

Services tentatively are set for Friday at Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak, Cutler Funeral Chapel, 7805 West Center Road.

WORLD-HERALD, 12/13/2009

HUDSON, MARION, Nov.12, 1933-Dec. 8, 2009

Omaha. Survived by wife, Ella Hudson; sons and daughters, Hallie, Earlena, Michael, Marcus, Rayliesha, Brandon, and Ariel Hudson (from a previous marriage); 10 grandchildren.

SERVICES Friday, Dec. 18, 11 am at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 2501 Hamilton St.

INTERMENT Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

MEMORIALS to the Marion Hudson Scholarship c/o Dana College. The family will receive friends Thursday, 6 pm – 7:30 pm at the West Center Chapel.

HEAFEY-HEAFEY-HOFFMAN-DWORAK-CUTLER

West Center Chapel, 78th & West Center

391-3900