In honor of Black History Month, local historian Chuck Langerman shared with us two Cheltenham High School grads who went on to great things after their days in Wyncote.

Nate Dickerson

Nate Dickerson, a 1955 graduate of Cheltenham High School, became the first African American baseball player to ever play for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1955.

According to Langerman, Dickerson debuted on Monday, June 20, 1955 when Pulaski (Va.) defeated Bristol (Tenn.), 9-4, in the first game of an Appalachian League doubleheader. He played first base and went 1-for-2 in the game.

Dickerson played in the Phillies’ Minor League system from 1955-1959. Despite hitting 75 homers and batting .313, the 6’3″, 215-pound first baseman never made it to the Majors.  

At Cheltenham High, Dickerson was a four-star athlete, competing in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field.

For his Minor League stats, you can click here.

Mr. William Norton

Mr. William Norton, now a retired Cheltenham High School teacher and administrator, served the students of CHS from 1961 to 1992. According to Langerman, he was the first African American teacher and administrator to work in the Cheltenham Township School District.

Mr. Norton’s roles included history teacher, social studies department chairperson, housemaster, and assistant principal.  

In a summer government course in 1972, Mr. Norton and Mrs. Lila Rosenbaum took a group of CHS students to the Democratic National Convention in Miami. He also started the Senior Independent Project at CHS, a cooperative education program which allowed twelfth graders to work for local businesses and earn class credits.

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