Inside the Rock Island High School Fieldhouse, you’ll find a display with thousands of athletes that have made their way through this school. Some of the names jump out at you. Others, not so much.
Like, Solomon Butler. A name most people may not recognize, but one you can find all over the history books.
“He’s probably the greatest athlete you’ve never heard of,” author David Sebben said.
After starting his career in Kansas, Solomon and his brother Benjamin made the move to Rock Island.
Solomon Butler’s Rock Island career only lasted a year, but included even more accomplishments.
“Still holds the school record for eight touchdowns in a game, which hasn’t even come close to being touched,” Sebben said. “And he wanted to move to Rock Island, because it was a bigger community, it had a larger black population — not that that mattered to him — but he thought he’d fit in maybe a little bit better at that time.”
From the football field to the basketball court to the track, Butler excelled in all activities he participated in.
He went on to continue his efforts at the University of Dubuque, eventually leading to a short career in the National Football League and a 1920 Olympics run cut short by injury.
After his athletic career ended came a career as a bartender in Chicago.
One night, Solomon had to deal with an unruly bar patron.
“Solomon, being the gentleman that he was, grabbed him and escorted him out the door,” Sebben said. “The gentleman came back an hour later, and there was a gunfight. Both were killed.”
Solomon left behind a lasting legacy and part of it took place right here in the Quad Cities.
Sebben says that legacy reaches much farther than his athletic accomplishments.
“He was obviously a phenomenal athlete and I think between his high school and college track careers he collected like 150 different medals, cups, plaques,” Sebben said. “But, that’s not what he was about. Yeah, he was good. But, he was encouraging others to do well.”
