Tommy Hawkins, author of LIFE'S REFLECTIONS: POETRY FOR THE PEOPLE

Tommy Hawkins is a retired professional basketball player.

A 6’5″ forward, Tommy starred at Chicago’s Parker High School before playing at the University of Notre Dame, where he became the school’s first African American basketball star.

Tommy was then selected by the Minneapolis (later Los Angeles) Lakers in the first round of the 1959 NBA Draft, and he would have a productive ten-year career in the league. He played for the Lakers as well as the Cincinnati Royals.

He registered 6,672 career points and 4,607 career rebounds.

Tommy later worked in radio broadcasting in Los Angeles for KABC Radio and then hosted a morning TV Talk show for 6 years.

Tommy also served as vice president of communications for the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.