Jack Roosevelt Robinson (1919-72) was the first African American to "officially" play in Major League Baseball. When he retired from the game, Jackie Robinson went on to champion the cause of civil rights from his position as a prominent executive of the Chock Full o’Nuts Corporation.
In this telegram to President Kennedy dated June 15, 1963, he laments the recent murder of Medgar Evars and implores the President to halt the escalating violence.