Harlem Globetrotters To Honor Team Legend Charles "Tex" Harrison During 2015 World Tour

PHOENIX, Dec. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The world famous Harlem Globetrotters announced today that they will honor one of the greatest Globetrotters to ever play or coach in their 89 years, Charles "Tex" Harrison, with a special "TEX" band on the team's uniform during their 2015 "Washington Generals' Revenge" World Tour.

Harrison, who passed away in late November at the age of 81, spent six decades with the Globetrotters as a player, coach and executive.  

"When Tex passed away, we truly lost one of the greats," said Harlem Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider. "He was more than just a player or coach; he was a leader and mentor, and contributed so much to old and new Globetrotters alike. For that and much more, we plan to make a lasting tribute to Charles 'Tex' Harrison."

During his Globetrotters career, Harrison had tea with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, and he performed for three Popes. During a 1959 tour in Moscow, which included a nine-game exhibition, Harrison ate caviar with late Russian First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev. Harrison and the team, which included the immortal Wilt Chamberlain, also received the Athletic Order of Lenin Medal in 1959 – during the Cold War – an event that solidified Harrison and the Globetrotters as global ambassadors.

Born in Gary, Ind., and raised in Houston, Harrison was discovered in 1954, when he faced the Globetrotters as a member of the College All-American team during the World Series of Basketball. While at North Carolina Central University in Durham – where he earned a degree in physical education – Harrison became the first player from a historically African-American college to capture All-American honors.  Harrison received the nickname "Tex" in college by being a very recognizable 6-3 Texan attending school in North Carolina.

"Tex was so proud to be a Globetrotter," Schneider added. "It's evident by the commitment and contributions he made in his many years with the organization."

The North American leg of the Harlem Globetrotters' 2015 "Washington Generals' Revenge" World Tour tips-off on December 26, 2014, and will run through May 2015. Featuring some of the greatest athletes and entertainers on the planet, the Globetrotters will perform over 310 shows in North America, bringing their unrivaled family experience to more than 250 cities in 49 U.S. states and nine Canadian provinces. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit harlemglobetrotters.com.

Sponsored by World Vision, Greyhound Lines and Baden Sports, The Harlem Globetrotters® are celebrating their 89^th consecutive year, continuing a world famous tradition of ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry, and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that continues to thrill fans of all ages. Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation, the largest family-owned themed entertainment company in the U.S. Throughout their history, the Original Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 122 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans-among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents-over more than eight thrilling decades. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, and to purchase tickets and team merchandise, visit the Globetrotters' official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com.

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SOURCE Harlem Globetrotters