Emery Barnes (December 15, 1929 – July 1, 1998) created a lasting legacy as an athlete and social leader in Oregon and Canada.
Barnes was raised in Louisiana and then Oregon, where he played football and ran track and field at Jefferson High School. He set the state high school record in the high jump in 1948 at 6-foot-2½ inches, a record that stood until 1960.
Barnes competed in both sports at the University of Oregon, beginning in 1950. He played defensive end on the football team and became an international-caliber high jumper.
In 1952, he shared the NCAA title in the high jump by clearing 6-8, then set a personal best of 6-9¾ in the AAU National Championships. Barnes missed clearing the world record of 6-11 but earned a spot as an alternate on the U.S. team for the 1952 Olympic Summer Games. In the fall, Barnes was voted to the All-Pacific Coast Conference team at defensive end, and he was team captain for the 1953 season.
The Green Bay Packers drafted Barnes 18th overall in 1954, but he served two years in the military before joining the team. Barnes played just two games for the Packers in 1956, before moving to Canada. He completed a degree program in social work at the University of British Columbia in 1957 and began a career in social work.
Barnes returned to football with the British Columbia Lions from 1962-64, playing on the Grey Cup championship team in his final season. Barnes then found his way into politics in 1972. He was the first person of color to be elected to a legislative position in British Columbia. Barnes was re-elected four times and served as Speaker of the Legislature from 1994-96.
Vancouver, BC honored Barnes’ legacy by officially opening Emery Barnes Park in 2003. He is a member of the PIL and University of Oregon Sports halls of fame and has also been presented the UO Pioneer Award.