Earnest Hart, Jr. attended Roosevelt High School for his Freshman through Junior years, from 1970 to 1973. He was on the wrestling team. He would have been in the Class of 1974 but withdrew from school after his Junior year and later obtained his GED. To explain: Mr. Hart’s life story is one of resilience and determination. Originally living in north St. Louis, his family moved to an apartment near 39^th St. and Chouteau. He had to hide in the bathtub to avoid the neighborhood’s frequent nighttime gunshots. Mr. Hart’s mother, a Jehovah Witness and disciplinarian, instilled a powerful sense of faith, hard work, and determination in him.

Mr. Hart was small and frequently bullied by gang members. As a 14-year-old freshman, tired of being bullied, by sheer chance he looked through the windows of a Karate school on Grand and Arsenal near his bus stop. The karate school’s owner/teacher, Rich Hootselle, saw the young man and invited him inside to look around. This invitation changed the course of Mr. Hart’s life. The youth began taking karate lessons there in exchange for sweeping the floor. He never looked back as his skills quickly developed leading to a professional career as a martial arts expert and four-time world champion kickboxer.

His karate skills developed quickly and were so good, Roosevelt let him form a Karate Club where he gave lessons to fellow students. His professional career focused on Kickboxing. He competed worldwide during the next 14 years in Kickboxing amassing a win-loss record of 59-6-1. He won the American Kickboxing Association’s World Championship in the Welterweight Division four times in 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1986. During these early years, Mr. Hart worked the night shift on the docks of a local trucking company to help pay bills.

Dick Vermeil, the Head Coach of the St. Louis Rams, hired Mr. Hart in 1999 to teach karate to his players to improve their strength and hand/eye coordination. He accompanied the team to Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta.

Mr. Hart has owned two martial arts studios. The first opened in the late 1970’s at Cherokee and Compton. He later opened Fitness Plus, in Creve Couer, which he recently sold. Mr. Hart has worked as a bodyguard and self-defense instructor. He holds black belts in fifteen distinct types of martial arts.

The film industry recognized Mr. Hart’s skills. He has appeared in fifteen movies, primarily as a stuntman or in fight scenes. These include Mortal Combat (1995) and Batman Returns (1992). He was “shot and killed” during a scene in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) and was a referee in a fight scene in Karate Kid III (1989).

In 1978, Mr. Hart demonstrated his skills at a royal command performance before Princess Grace and Prince Rainer of Monaco. Similarly, he performed in front of the Emperor of Japan in 1979.

Mr. Hart has lived in the St. Louis his entire life. He appears in local schools and businesses giving demonstrations and motivational talks. He gives credit to Dale Carnegie courses offered at Roosevelt for giving him lifelong lessons in public speaking and self-confidence. He enjoys speaking to students teaching respect, responsibility, confidence, and accountability. Before the pandemic, he regularly went to Olivette’s Logos School, Whitfield Academy in Creve Couer, along with Mann Elementary and Innovative Concept Academy in St. Louis.

He met with then Missouri Governor Eric Greitens in 2017 to discuss crime prevention measures in high crime areas. He has written two books, “How to Vacation and Travel Safely,” and “Lessons From Ali,” focusing on improving one’s life will be published soon.

Mr. Hart has been the topic of many articles in martial arts trade magazines, as well as local and national newspapers. KSDK Sports Director, Frank Cusumano, featured him in a segment on June 15, 2020.

In 2007, the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation honored Mr. Hart and twelve other notable African American St. Louisan’s by installing stars and plaques honoring them on its Walk of Fame, located on the sidewalk outside its then offices, at 2012 Martin Luther King Drive.

Mr. Hart and his wife, Marcy, have been married for 34 years. They have two adult children and one grandchild. Marcy is the great, great grandchild of Dred and Harriet Scott.

As can be seen by Mr. Hart’s many accomplishments, he embodies what a true Rough Rider represents and is a credit to the Roosevelt High School community. The Alumni Association is pleased to induct him into the Hall of Fame.