Alan Cedric Page is an American retired jurist, former professional football player, and philanthropist.
Born August 7, 1945 in Canton, Ohio, Page played college football at the University of Notre Dame; then became a first-round selection in the 1967 NFL/AFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, for whom he played for 11 seasons, through 1977. He is one of 11 Vikings to have played in all four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX, XI) and a member of the Vikings' "Purple People Eaters," a defensive line adept at sacking or hurrying the quarterback. Off the field, he was active as a National Football League Players Association player representative. In 1988 Page was further honored by his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
While still playing for the Vikings, Alan Page attended the University of Minnesota Law School. In 1992, Page was elected to an open seat as an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, becoming the first African American to serve on that court. He served for 23 years, retiring in 2015.
In 1988, Alan Page and his wife, Diane Sims Page, founded the Page Education Foundation. It provides financial and mentoring assistance to students of color in exchange for those students’ commitment to further volunteer service in the community.
August 7, 1992 - MPR’s Catherine Winter reports on court decision over judicial election process. The decision allows Alan Page, former Minnesota Viking and Minnesota Assistant Attorney General, to be on ballot for the Supreme Court seat that Justice Lawrence R. Yetka currently holds.
September 4, 1992 - MPR’s Catherine Winter reports on advertising of candidates for Supreme Court seat. Report includes clips of campaign ads and comments from candidates.
January 4, 1993 - MPR’s Bob Potter interviews newly elected Associate Supreme Court Justice Alan Page. They discuss the court, expectations, race, and Page’s career path.
January 4, 1993 - MPR’s Catherine Winter reports on swearing-in of Alan Page to the Minnesota Supreme Court, the only person of color in the State appellate court system.
March 4, 1993 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder interviews recently elected Supreme Court Justice Alan Page, who discusses the importance for role models and need for focus on developing children. The Page Education Foundation is also discussed.
June 11, 1993 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Racial Bias in the Judicial System report. Includes commentary from judges Michael Davis and Rosalie Wahl. Justice Alan Page will head an implementation committee to monitor progress.
March 18, 1994 - MPR’s John Rabe interviews Justice Alan Page and Judge Salvador Rosas discuss a Supreme Court task force proposal to Minnesota legislature on the need for qualified interpreters in the court system.
October 21, 1994 - MPR’s Marianne Combs interviews Alan Page, an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, on racial bias and diversity in courts. Page describes the steps being taken to foster change.
December 12, 1996 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on Minnesota Supreme Court decision that State can commit convicted sex offender Dennis Linehan to a state hospital. The Court had to decide whether the government can lock up a person based on what the person may commit in the future. The ruling upholds Minnesota's Sexually Dangerous Person's law, a law that incarcerates sexual predators who've served their prison terms but who the court considers too dangerous to set free.
October 8, 1998 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports on Minnesota high court holding session in Duluth.