WASHINGTON (November 19, 2020) – Michael Nixon, also known as 'DUHON' (from the saying, "Do unto others as you have others do unto you") was a member of the Howard University men's track and field team, holding the title of co-captain with Dennis Smellie for two years (1971 and 1972).
 
After turning down track scholarships from Manhattan College and Fordham University, Nixon decided to attend Howard after the takeover of the Administration building in 1968; however, he started a protest of his own when he got there.
 
Due to a misunderstanding with the coach, Nixon boycotted the team; but, after watching the cross country team for two months, he was ready to meet halfway.

Nixon returned to the team where he was able to have an illustrious track career, featuring appearances at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Championships, Penn Relays, Olympic Invitational, and several other major competitions. Perhaps, Nixon's most notable achievement was his unbeaten streak in the 880 Yard Run and the Mile Run at Howard home dual meets from 1969-1972.
 
After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting and Economics with a minor in Marketing, Nixon was hired by the District of Columbia as an accountant before being offered a position with the IRS. Instead of taking this position, DUHON was convinced to work for WHUR as the Director of Business and Fiscal Affairs, during which time the 'Quiet Storm' format was created by Melvin Lindsey. He later became an Account Executive while, simultaneously, earning a Master's in Communications Management from HU's School of Communications.
 
Nixon left WHUR and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his Dream to train for the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. He made it to the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon but failed to make the Team after coming in 7^th place in the 800 Meter Finals. He returned to Los Angeles and started working for KJLH, a radio station owned by Stevie Wonder, serving as the National Sales Account Executive.
 
After being recommended to the WEA (Warner, Elektra, and Atlantic Distribution) sales manager in San Francisco, he was selected as the First Black Music Marketing Coordinator in the record industry. From this position, DUHON was able to spearhead Prince's first in-store appearances in the Bay Area while creating marketing campaigns for artists, such as Rose Royce, Bootsy, Funkadelic, Ray Charles, The Temptations, Donna Summers and more.
 
Later, Nixon entered the sports realm where he created Street Awareness Campaigns for the Oakland Raiders and Oakland Athletics Marketing Departments before leaving California and moving back home to New York. In New York, he worked at WBLS/WLIB as an Account Executive before being hired as the Black Music Marketing Coordinator for RCA Records.
 
Nixon soon returned to California and began working as an Advertising Specialist with BRE (Black Radio Exclusive) Magazine, Impact Magazine and Urban Network Magazine.
 
Approached with the opportunity to start a rap chart in 1989, he became part of the team that created 'The Gavin Radio Rap Chart' and 'The Gavin Retail Rap Chart,' which the rap music industry used as the staple to break new artists, such as Cypress Hill, NWA, A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, X-Clan, Wu-Tang Clan and more. 
 
After helping to create 'RAP SHEET,' the world's first Hip-Hop Newspaper, he started an advertising representative agency called 'N5 STREETZINE,' representing 14 Hip-Hop Publications around the country.
 
In 1993, BILLBOARD Magazine recruited DUHON as the first Black Account Executive in the company's 100 year history.
 
Two years later, he started N5 MARKETING, a Lifestyle Marketing, Branding and Project Management Agency. In the company's 25 years, clients have included EA Sports, Nike, Coca-Cola, Reebok, UFC, Quincy Jones, Snoop Dogg, MTV, Live Nation, the NBA, FOX, DEF JAM, Macy's, Burger King, Ford, Warner Bros, New Line Cinema, MCA, Universal and LA Philharmonic.
 
Duhon was recently inducted into The Howard University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. He is inducted twice, once with the 1968-69 Track and Field Team and as an individual by receiving the Bison Heisman Award.
 
With the support of his family and friends, Nixon's next goal is to pursue a career in Voice Overs.
 
About Where Are They Now?
 
The new weekly series of "Where Are They Now?" appears each Thursday throughout the year.
 
The series will feature former student-athletes from all sports and eras, highlighting their careers as athletes at the University and what they are presently doing.
 
All interested former athletes and their coaches should submit a short bio, a recent head shot and contact information on how they can be reached via email to Lauren Stewart (lauren.stewart@bison.howard.edu) and Derek W. Bryant (derek.bryant@howard.edu).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.