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Born on January 1, 1922 in Tallahassee, FL, Cora Lee Bentley Radcliffe had a profound impact on Connecticut ever since moving to Hartford to earn her master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Hartford.  

Cora Lee grew up in a large family of fifteen brothers and sisters.  She was a gifted singer and excelled in track and field in college at Florida A & M University.  Once she moved to Hartford, Connecticut. she used her athletic abilities, collaboration skills, and passion to start the first black female basketball and softball team; the Tigerettes! She led the team to a victory during the Eastern Regional Championships in their inaugural season in 1946 and inspired hundreds of girls and women, especially black girls and women, to realize their athletic potential during the 1940s and 1950s.   Not only did she teach women about sportsmanship, but she taught them the importance of community service and dealing with racism.

Cora Lee met her future husband Claude Vincent Radcliffe. They were married in 1948 and had two children.  Claudia and then Billy, who was born with special needs.   

 Alongside this, Cora Lee demonstrated her passion to help others in being a mentor to mentally challenged children in schools throughout Hartford for over 30 years. Although Cora Lee passed away on August 3, 2010, her mark on the involvement of black females in sports has been profound. Her legacy can also be seen through her children and grandchildren, like her granddaughter, Anika Noni Rose, famed actress and 2018 Inductee of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

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