Grifford Lomax ("Schoolboy"), born December 25th, 1914 in Whelen Springs, AR,1
was a professional Negro baseball player from about 1932-1950.
Biography
Lomax was the son of Sylvester Lomax and Bessie (nee Faulk) Lomax Allen.2 He moved to Kansas City, KS by 1925.3 After his mother died in 1930, he was raised by his uncle and aunt, James E. Berry and May Etta (nee Faulk) Berry.4 He graduated from Sumner High School in 1935.5
Lomax was a tall and thin pitcher and outfielder. Beginning his baseball career as early as age 17, Lomax played with various semi-pro teams in Kansas City during the early 1930s, most notably the Kansas City Giants. In 1935, he joined the independent Broadway Clowns barnstorming team and from 1936-1940 was with the Van Dyke Colored House of Davids. When the Van Dykes ceased operation due to World War II, Lomax played the 1941 season in integrated Fresno City Twilight League in Fresno, CA.6 Lomax enlisted in the military in September 1941 and became a staff sergeant.7 While stationed in California, Lomax pitched with the Long Beach Colored All-Stars in the summer of 1942.8 9 He returned to baseball in 1946 with the San Francisco Sea Lions of the short-lived West Coast Negro Baseball Association.10 The following two seasons, Lomax played with various related independent teams in California including the California Colored Tigers in 1947,11 and the Oakland Beavers and San Francisco Cubs in 1948. In addition, he returned to the Van Dykes House of David team for the 1949-1950 seasons. His last known baseball engagement was with the semi-pro Randolph Lights in Minneapolis, MN in 1953.12
Lomax died on January 18th, 1975 in Minneapolis, MN.13 He was shot to death in an argument over $2 during a card game.14 He was buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.15
Biography
Lomax was the son of Sylvester Lomax and Bessie (nee Faulk) Lomax Allen.2 He moved to Kansas City, KS by 1925.3 After his mother died in 1930, he was raised by his uncle and aunt, James E. Berry and May Etta (nee Faulk) Berry.4 He graduated from Sumner High School in 1935.5
Lomax was a tall and thin pitcher and outfielder. Beginning his baseball career as early as age 17, Lomax played with various semi-pro teams in Kansas City during the early 1930s, most notably the Kansas City Giants. In 1935, he joined the independent Broadway Clowns barnstorming team and from 1936-1940 was with the Van Dyke Colored House of Davids. When the Van Dykes ceased operation due to World War II, Lomax played the 1941 season in integrated Fresno City Twilight League in Fresno, CA.6 Lomax enlisted in the military in September 1941 and became a staff sergeant.7 While stationed in California, Lomax pitched with the Long Beach Colored All-Stars in the summer of 1942.8 9 He returned to baseball in 1946 with the San Francisco Sea Lions of the short-lived West Coast Negro Baseball Association.10 The following two seasons, Lomax played with various related independent teams in California including the California Colored Tigers in 1947,11 and the Oakland Beavers and San Francisco Cubs in 1948. In addition, he returned to the Van Dykes House of David team for the 1949-1950 seasons. His last known baseball engagement was with the semi-pro Randolph Lights in Minneapolis, MN in 1953.12
Lomax died on January 18th, 1975 in Minneapolis, MN.13 He was shot to death in an argument over $2 during a card game.14 He was buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.15
1
"California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGXY-PQW2 : Fri Apr 04 01:03:15 UTC 2025), Entry for Grifford Lomax and May Etta Berry, 16 Oct 1940.
2
"Arkansas, Marriages, 1837-1944", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQPB-MTT : 11 January 2020), Sylvester Lowmax, 1913.
3
"Kansas, State Census, 1925", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYG-RLHS : Mon Mar 11 17:47:03 UTC 2024), Entry for Bessie Faulke and Gufford Lomax.
4
"United States, Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X77R-5TY : Sun Mar 10 00:20:54 UTC 2024), Entry for James E Berry and Mayette Berry, 1930.
5
Kansas City Call, 1/8/1943
7
Kansas City Call, 1/8/1943
8
Long Beach Press-Telegram, 6/22/1942
9
Some source attribute to Griff Lomax one appearance with the Newark Eagles on May 24th, 1942. This is likely a misattribution. Lomax was stationed with the Army in California during this time.
11
The California Colored Tigers were a consolidation of the San Francisco Sea Lions and the San Diego Colored Tigers
13
"Minnesota, Death Index, 1908-2002", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4HP-Y35 : Tue Feb 18 22:49:32 UTC 2025), Entry for Grifford Lomax and Faulk, 18 Jan 1975.
15
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74734564/grifford-lomax: accessed April 25, 2025), memorial page for Grifford Lomax (25 Dec 1914–18 Jan 1975), Find a Grave Memorial ID 74734564, citing Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA; Maintained by FamilyFirst (contributor 47339454).