Obituary: Albert Dockery

Albert Dockery, the first African American to be enshrined in the Madison Sports Hall of Fame and a local civil rights activist, has died.

Dockery, 74, died July 30. There will be private services to remember him today.

An all-star athlete, most notably in football and track, during his time at Madison Central High School, Dockery went on to be an assistant track coach at UW-Madison and fight for civil rights with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, according to his cousin Addrena Matthews Squires.

Dockery was humble about his athletic achievement, she said, and in his later years liked to read to children and encourage them to get a college degree.

Dockery lived in Madison with his wife, Vera.

His family has created the UW Albert Dockery Memorial Fund, which will held support The People's Program at UW-Madison.

Checks can be sent to UW Foundation, Attn: Trent Jackson, 1848 University Ave., Madison, WI 53708.

Originally published as a news story in the Wisconsin State Journal on August 11, 2002