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So revered for his grace and leadership skills that pundits dubbed him “Black Jesus,” Monroe scored 17,454 points during his 13-year professional basketball career, a tenure that included his winning the 1973 NBA championship as a New York Knick. The product of 26th and Manton streets earned numerous hardwood honors, notably enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in ’90 and placement on the league’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in ’96. The 68-year-old Grays Ferry native, who last month published his autobiography, “Earl the Pearl: My Story,” oversees a candy company, runs an award-winning film and music label and serves as a spokesman for a pharmaceutical drug provider’s Diabetes Restaurant Month campaign.
He also has lent support to The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health and The Literacy Foundation of New York, with civic recognition such as the YMCA Citizenship, Harlem Professionals Inspiration and The Paralysis Project of America Sports Legend awards complementing his hoops feats.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
The South Philadelphia Walk of Fame 2013 inductees
/ Marian Anderson / Paul Arizin / Frankie Avalon / Joey Bishop / John Chaney /
/ James Darren / Angelo Dundee / Fabian / Larry Fine / Eddie Fisher /
/ Kenny Gamble / Frank Gasparro / Joey Giardello / Stephen Girard / Sherman Hemsley /
/ Irvin Kershner / Jack Klugman / Eddie Lang / Mario Lanza / Rob McElhenney /
/ Joe Medeiros / Earl "The Pearl" Monroe / Nathan Morris / Michelle Nader / Gene Perret /
/ Frank Rizzo / Bobby Rydell / Lisa Scottoline / Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter / Anna Verna /
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