Carlyle “Chad” Borders was a young man whose courage made history. In 1926, at just 17 years old, he became the first African American to play basketball for Lebanon High School. In his only season, he led the team in scoring and secured a legendary victory against Crawfordsville with the winning basket. The local newspaper called him “the hero of the 1926 basketball victory.”
But Carlyle’s story was more than points and baskets. It was about stepping into spaces where he may not have been expected or welcomed — and giving his best anyway. His life was a testament to faith, perseverance, and quiet bravery.
In 1928, at only 19 years old, Carlyle’s life was tragically cut short by tuberculosis. For nearly a century, his grave lay unmarked, a silence that left his legacy hidden. As historian and Black history advocate Barry McKinney has said, “Unmarked graves are dehumanizing.”
Today, through the efforts of the Good Samaritan Project’s Community & Unity pillar, that silence is broken. A headstone now stands in his honor — not just as a marker, but as a witness to his resilience, his impact, and his rightful place in history.
Why We Remember
Proverbs 10:7 says, “The memory of the righteous is a blessing.” By telling Carlyle’s story, we bless his memory and ensure his name will never be lost to time. His life reminds us that every voice matters, every story counts, and every life holds value.
Carlyle Borders — we honor you, we thank you, and we promise your story will continue to inspire generations to come.
Rest in power. Rest in peace. Your name lives on.
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