Those who have read NORVEL will recall that the above photo is included in the book.  It was also included with a Roanoke Times piece that was published just before the first book talk I gave (more on that in a future post). 

This photo was taken at the White House on June 18, 1953.  I obtained it from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas.  I didn't actually have to go to Abilene to obtain it.  After a few email exchanges with the museum I was sent a digital copy of one that was in the public domain because it was shot by the National Park Service.  There were several other photos that the museum did not have permission to distribute. Such are the intricacies of intellectual property.

This photo shows President Eisenhower in the front row and center with Norvel standing over his left shoulder.  In the front row on the right side is the boxer Rocky Marciano who is standing next to the baseball great Joe DiMaggio.  The golfer, Gene Sarazen, is on the other side of DiMaggio.

The occasion was an event driven by Eisenhower himself for prominent athletes to be hosted for lunch and photos shoot with the president.   This was before it became commonplace for world champions of certain sports such as baseball and football to be honored at the White House.  Eisenhower insisted that Black athletes be included in the event.  The other Black in the photo is Art Bragg who was also on the 1952 U.S. Olympic team as a sprinter.