Merl Code

Merl F. Code graduated from Blue Ridge High School in 1966 and played baseball, basketball, and football. He was captain of the basketball team his senior year and won AA Championship. In 1965, the football team was SC AA State Champion and Merl was the captain. Merl was a member of the band, chorus, math club, and oratorical champion in 7^th-12^th grade. He was the Salutatorian for the Class of 1966. Merl went to North Carolina A&T on a football scholarship and played 1966-1970. The team was Black National Champions in 1968. His junior and senior year of college Merl was co-captain of the football team and was named an A-Tem All American. He was named Who’s Who in 1969-1970, was on the Dean’s List and graduated Cum Laude. In 1969 he received the following awards: Kodak Small College All-American, NCAA Small College All-American, NAIA Small College All-American, UPI Small College All-American, CIAA Player of the Year, Associated Press All-American, Pittsburg Courier All-American, and selected One of the Most Outstanding Athletes in America. Following a successful college career of football, Merl played seven years of professional football.

In 1981 Merl was enshrined into NC A&T State University Hall of Fame. He received the Order of the Palmetto by the governor of South Carolina in 1996 and was inducted into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame in 1999.