Born in 1928, Richard Lane, commonly known as Dick "Night Train" Lane, was a professional football player for 14 years in the NFL. Lane played for the Los Angeles Rams (1952–1953), Chicago Cardinals (1954–1959), and Detroit Lions (1960–1965). Prior to playing on the big stage, Lane was a standout football and basketball player at LC Anderson High School in Austin, TX. In 1947, the defensive back went on to play football collegiately at Scottsbluff Junior College (NE), now Western Nebraska Community College, where he was the only African American student-athlete on the team. 

As a Cougar, Lane helped the football team to a 5-2-1 record and earned NJCAA All-American and All-Nebraska honors. Lane left Scottsbluff after a year and joined the Army in 1948 where he served four years and earned second-team All-Army honors in 1949 and first-team honors in 1951 in the Army's football league. Following his Army discharge and while working at an aircraft plant in Los Angeles in 1952, Lane visited the Los Angeles Rams offices and asked for a tryout. Lane was signed as a free agent and recorded an illustrious career in the NFL. 

To this day, Lane is regarded as one of the hardest-hitting players of all time. In 1952, Lane set the single-season interception record by snagging 14 interceptions and finished his career with 68 interceptions, 1,207 return yards, 6 All-NFL Selections, and 7 pro bowls. In 1974, Lane's legendary career was enshrined by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Lane's three sons have accepted many awards on his behalf including Western Nebraska's Inaugural Hall of Fame Induction in 2018 and an award for being named to the NFL 100th All-Time Team.