RUSTON, La. – George "Petey" Thornton remembers some hesitancy when he signed to play basketball at Louisiana Tech in the late 1960s, becoming the first African American scholarship student-athlete in the University's history.

"When I went to Louisiana Tech, I was really concerned how the people would treat me," said Thornton who walked onto the Ruston campus in 1967. "But the people treated me really descent. That made going to school very good. They gave me a good scholarship offer too. Four years (on scholarship) was outstanding. They explained that even if I got hurt, I still had the scholarship. It was a great deal for me."

Thornton lettered for the Bulldog basketball and track and field teams from 1967 through 1972 where he earned the Outstanding Freshman award in hoops and starred in the high jump in track and field.

"I think about when I first entered Louisiana Tech, how I was greeted with such welcome and really blessed," said Thornton. "I am really happy to be able to bless someone else."

Thornton signed with Tech out of Kirkwood High School in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was an all-state forward and team captain for Coach Denver Miller. He immediately made an impact for Coach Scotty Robertson and the Bulldogs earning Outstanding Freshman honors. The four-year basketball letter-winner averaged 12 points a game and help lead the Bulldogs to a 23-3 record during his senior season.

That 1971-72 Bulldog team averaged more than 100 points per game and finished ranked in the top four in the nation by the Carr Ratings, the Dunkle Index, the AP Poll and the UPI Poll. As a senior Petey set the program single game field goal percentage record by hitting 10-of-11 shots in two separate games.

Although it had its challenges at times, Thornton remembers his time at Tech fondly.

"They treated me so well," said Thornton. "They always made me feel like I was part of the team. The coach allowed me to use their car to go out on a date. It was good. It was like being in a candy store. We had buffet, training room, beautiful gym, professional looking football stadium, fantastic track complex, clean dormitories, and so many other great things.

"They did explain to me that I needed to be careful if I left the campus. There were some places in town that I was not allowed to go to. They had to change were we went as a team to eat at times because I was not allowed to eat in some restaurants. Those were the challenges. The class and the teachers were outstanding. And the coaches. I learned a lot from them all."

Thornton said his biggest challenge in college came his sophomore season.

"When Mike Green came to Louisiana Tech," he said. "My grades declined. I was put on academic probation. What turned me around was when the US Army heard about my grades declining and wanted to draft me into the Vietnam War. They went as far as sending me to headquarters to take a physical exam. I immediately went back to Tech and got my grades back up. The best thing I ever accomplished at LA Tech was getting my degree."

Now the owner of his own scrap metal business – St. Louis Avenue Metal Services – and a minister at New Cote Brilliante Church of God, Thornton earned his bachelor's degree from Tech in education and immediately put it to good use back home..

"I became a teacher and a coach back at Kirkwood High School in St. Louis," he said. "I was a track coach and a cross country coach. Funny thing about that is I was not able to run a long distance. I had a Volkswagen Rabbit that I drove while the guys were running so I could keep up with them. I told them the reason I used the car was in case someone couldn't make it, but it was me who really couldn't make it."

Following his time as a high school educator and coach, Thornton worked in the insurance industry before starting his own company around 15 years ago. Although he has not been back to Tech since coming to a reunion in 2008, he still has great memories of his alma mater.

"Being able to get the education … I wanted to play professional basketball," said Thornton. "But I found out sometimes after the guys play you need something to fall back on. The classes, the teachers and getting the education and the degree turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me."

Louisiana Tech announced last October that is has created a position within the athletics department named the George "Petey" Thornton Minority Initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to provide minority graduates an opportunity to launch their careers through real work experience in the collegiate athletics profession.