DETROIT – A former professional football player’s family is turning his home in Detroit’s Russell Woods-Sullivan Historic District into a museum.
It’s a space honoring Wallace “Wally” Triplett. He was one of the Detroit Lions' trailblazing athletes.
“He loved playing football,” said Nancy Triplett-Edmunds, his daughter. “He loved playing for Detroit.”
Wallace Triplett became the first Black player to be drafted in the NFL in 1949. He played with the Detroit Lions for two seasons from 1949 to 1950.
“I think he was a dynamic person,” said Lynn Wiggins. “He was someone that, honestly, exudes what Detroit is actually about. About that grit, that grind.”
Family members said Triplett’s grit and grind made him a determined and legendary football player on the field in his day while navigating the realities of discrimination.
“He would always tell us about the times that it was kind of rough for him to even, at first, be in the locker room,” said Nancy Triplett-Edmunds.
Triplett died in 2018 at age 92. He had spent years as a small business owner and a community leader and continued supporting and cheering for the Lions.
His family decorated his home with many photos, awards, jerseys, and memorabilia.
“I don’t want it to be forgotten,” Triplett-Edmunds said. “The history should never be forgotten about anyone who made a significant contribution.”
The family hopes the Lions organization, its fans, and history buffs take an interest in the items they’ve been able to collect and preserve.
Family members invite the public to explore Wallace Triplett’s home’s memorabilia and history.
For more information or to schedule a visit, call Nancy Triplett-Edmunds at 313-330-2798 or David Triplett at 267-269-2192.