Nebraska lost an academic and athletic pioneer with the passing of Don Benning.
Benning was the first full-time black faculty member at UNO, at the time called the Omaha University, and that wasn't the only time he'd have the designation as a"first" in something.
He would go on to be the first black athletic director of OPS, the first black person to receive a doctorate from the NU College of Education, and he was the first black person to be on the US Olympic Wrestling Committee.
His accomplishments weren't just tied to the color of his skin though. Benning was also the first person to receive the State Athletic Director of the Year Award.
Benning started his career at Omaha University when he was offered a graduate fellowship by University President Milo Bail in 1959. He went on to be the head coach of the wrestling team and assistant football coach to Al Caniglia, all while teaching classes.
A tweet from Benning's son Damon on Friday reads, "We lost the greatest man I've ever personally known at 11:58. Father, mentor, best friend."