About
Quarter Phi Back Awards, aka “QΦB”
Founder/CEO: W. Earl Kitchings
Year Founded: 2022
The MENT.O.R.S. Foundation has established an organization and awards event to honor the legacies of past and future black quarterbacks who played at the interscholastic, collegiate, and professional levels. The organization will be designated with the name Quarter Phi Back, aka QPhiB, Awards. It will take on a presence like that of a fraternal organization.
This organization will be an extension of The MENT.O.R.S. Foundation, and the annual event will be one of the primary fund raisers for this organization in support of college scholarship to men of color who are affected by hardship circumstances.
Mission
The Quarter Phi Back Awards is directed by a mission of integrity, comprehensive vison, and values of sportsmanship.
Through its diverse award programs, the organization recognizes outstanding black athletes for their talents, achievements, and service on and off the playing field, while serving as a template for embracing distinction in athletic success, academic achievement, and community enrichment.
The QPhiB Awards was created in 2022, and under The MENT.O.R.S. Foundation, it began hosting annual fundraising efforts, honoring black quarterbacks at the interscholastic, collegiate, and professional levels.
The annual awards event and banquet event will be hosted in Orlando Florida. The ceremony will include the Distinction Honorees, Ring of Honor induction, and the “BIP” Memorial Trophy for the Most Outstanding quarterback from a HBCU and Awards for leadership and courage.
HISTORY of the AWARDS
The creation of the QΦB (Quarter Phi Back) Awards was inspired by the collaboration of ideas by W. Earl Kitchings and Dennis Crosby in December of 2021. This idea was a result of the publication “The Forgotten QB’s” by Kitchings. He and Crosby felt that having an annual event would be a significant way to recognize and honor the black players who played the position of quarterback in American football. Kitchings originated the name and draft of the awards and logo. The final logo was developed and designed by Cori Denson. The first event projected to be held in Orlando, Florida and honoring 15 Award Recipients.
The “BIP” Memorial Trophy
This annual award will be presented to one quarterback/individual who demonstrated courage and/or overcoming difficult circumstances in his career or in a season.
This trophy honors Oliver Joyce (#44), the fallen quarterback from Florida A&M University who was tragically injured in practice on Monday, October 19, 1959 from a broken neck, where he suffered instant paralysis. Joyce was preparing for the Bethune-Cookman College (University) game that was played in his hometown of Jacksonville on Saturday, October 24 th . An outstanding freshman on the Rattler football team with a promising career, he was listed as the third-string quarterback on the varsity, and started in two games that fall. Joyce was conscious throughout the week after the injury, however, he died on Sunday, October 25.
Legendary coach Jake Gaither described Joyce this way, “He was one of the best young football players we’ve ever had.” He went on to say, “Everytime I visited him [Joyce], he was in high spirits and kept telling me that he had let the team down by getting hurt.” Gaither said, “We dedicated our game to him Saturday, and all the rest of the games this season will be dedicated to his memory.” The FAMU coach noted that, “He spoke of returning to practice the following week…He was such a fine boy, in every way.”
In 1958, Joyce led his high school team (Matthew W. Gilbert High) to the first game for the state football championship that was played between black high schools under the old Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association (FIAA). His high school coach, Earl S. Kitchings (who was head coach from 1957-1964 at Gilbert) said that “Joyce was the “best” quarterback he had ever coached.”
The 1958 team was recognized and honored by the FHSAA (Florida High School Activities Association) as the “Team of the (1950’s) Decade” in 2010.
Employment: A Design Associate with Bell Laboratories in the Drafting Department from 1977-1981.
In 1982 he started Pearl Designs, a graphic design and imprinted sportswear company. Developed skills in sales, marketing, and advertising, with emphasis on souvenir products for athletic events until 1990.
From 1992-97, Earl was the Director of Sports Information at Bethune-Cookman University, earning distinctions in publications contests, and increasing the athletic program’s visibility regionally and nationally in athletics and academics. Served as District Coordinator for the GTE Academic All-America Committee 1994-97; the NCAA Regional Basketball Media Staff from 1994-97, and the NCAA Final Four Media Staff in 1999.
Was the first Coordinator of Marketing and Promotions at the University of North Florida from 1997-2000, and helped increase the athletic department’s visibility on campus and in the Jacksonville community.
He is the former Director of Athletic Marketing at Florida A&M University from August 2000 to August 2007, managed a quarter-million revenue budget. Instrumental in identifying and securing new sponsorships and revenue sources for the athletic program. Created and developed several promotional and marketing campaigns that highlighted FAMU student-athletes and its 18 sports.
Earl has been a Radio Broadcaster and Public Address Announcer at both the high school and college levels, since 1990.
Community Involvement: Scoutmaster with the Boy Scout of America with distinction in both Georgia and Florida for 12 years; former President Booster Club at Raines High School; Chairman of the Saint Clair Evans Academy School Advisory Council; member of the Magnet School Advisory Committee in the Duval School District. Served on two studies for the Jacksonville Community Council Inc. (JCCI), volunteered with the WJCT Radio Reading Service and the North Florida Council, BSA; Workshop Facilitator with the Women of Color Foundation, Mentor with the REAL MEN Wear Pink Program at Andrew Robinson Elementary School., former President of the Raines National Alumni Association.
