Silas Robbins

Silas Robbins was the first African-American admitted to practice law in the state of Nebraska and the second African-American to run for the Nebraska state legislature. Wikipedia doesn't say if he was the third African-American to do something.

Not only did Silas practice law, he also invented a game called Politics, and got a U.S. patent for it in 1893.

I played the piano for many years when I was little, and my piano teacher was named Sheila Robbins. No relation, but same initials.


Also no relation.
Photo: Majiscup - Drink for Design via Flickr (CC)

John Faiman

John Faiman was a quarterback for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1960-1962. He was born in Omaha, and was a two-time All-American at Omaha South High School. Since 1985, John has been the head football coach at Bellevue West High School in Bellevue.

According to Wikipedia, John was the starting QB in the first game of the 1962 season, his junior year, and he led the Cornhuskers to a 53-0 victory over the University of South Dakota. In early November of that year, as an extra-point kicker, he broke his leg in practice. He never played for Nebraska again. In this way, he reminds me of Moonlight Graham.


Nebraska corn huskers.
Photo: shannonpatrick17 via Flickr (CC)