Villanova Univeristy Athletics

A standout on the Villanova defense during his collegiate career, Gene Arthur was active in the Student Government Association during his time on campus and was the first African American to be named a captain for the Wildcats football program. Arthur played on the varsity squad from 1967-69. He graduated from Villanova in 1970 and was inducted to the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2005.
 
On the playing field, Arthur was a defensive halfback who was one of the team’s top performers during his three varsity seasons. He recorded nine career interceptions, including leading the Wildcats with four picks in both the 1968 and 1969 campaigns. As a senior he also amassed 94 yards on eight punt returns while averaging 11.6 yards per return.
 
Villanova posted winning records of 6-4 in 1968 and 6-3 in 1969. During his junior season in 1968 the defense gave up just 18.2 points per contest and held four opponents to 10 or fewer points, including a 16-0 shutout win over rival Delaware. The points allowed average ticked up slightly in 1969 but the Wildcats once again held three teams below 10 points and had a +95 scoring margin for the season.
 
Arthur is part of the Black Villanova Oral History Project exhibited by Falvey Library. When he enrolled at Villanova the black student population was only 1%, and Arthur recalled being the only African American student in high school at St. Joseph’s of the Palisades until his younger brother followed a few years after him. Arthur was a student in the College of Commerce & Finance and he credited his high school football coach, Frank Gargiulo, with developing his athletic talent and playing a major role in helping him earn a football scholarship to Villanova.
 
In addition to being the Wildcats first African American football captain, Arthur was chosen by his teammates and coaches as the team’s Most Consistent Player. Outside of football, Arthur was the Treasurer of his graduating class in 1969-70 and he supported the Black Student League mission of recruiting more non-athlete black students, more black faculty, a black curriculum, and a black voice on campus. He considered Dean Alvin Clay from the College of Commerce & Finance a mentor and close friend throughout his life.
 
As for his individual goals, Arthur was driven by the idea of maximizing his own personal growth and contribution to campus life. He felt his personal mission was to change the hearts, minds and perceptions of others regarding black students on campus. He wanted to accomplish this by interacting, competing, and exchanging ideas with all Villanova students. Arthur’s ultimate goal was to demonstrate the many capabilities and endless possibilities of the black Villanova student given the opportunity. His friendships, personal accomplishments and contributions to the university enabled Arthur to view his Villanova experience as a positive and rewarding one.
 
In December 1969, Arthur received a very low Vietnam War draft lottery number (52) which meant he would be called up and drafted into the U.S. Army within weeks of his graduation. Arthur enrolled in the Army Reserves for a period of six years and served his active duty in Fort Polk, Louisiana at the same time as his sophomore roommate from Villanova, Bob Whitehead ’70.
 
After six months of active duty military service, Arthur landed a job in the corporate financial world and worked for several multinational corporations holding various management/executive positions. The highlight of his business career was traveling to Cuba on multiple visits, meeting Fidel Castro, and negotiating agreements with Castro’s inner circle. Arthur went on to be a Financial Advisor/Planner with his own consulting firm.