Nathaniel “Traz” Powell was one of the outstanding African American sports pioneers in Miami’s history. Born and raised in Miami’s Overtown section, Powell was a standout athlete at Booker T. Washington High School in the early 1940s. He later attended Florida A&M University and was a two-time Black College All-American end and he also excelled in track & field. On December 6, 1947 Powell along with his Florida A&M teammates made history when they became the first black athletes to play in the Orange Bowl stadium as a part of the 1947 Orange Blossom Classic against Hampton Institute of Virginia.  Powell became the first African American to score at the Orange Bowl when he scored the game’s only touchdown.

Powell returned home to Miami in 1948 and became the head coach at George Washington Carver High School, which at the time was a K-12 segregated black-only school in Coconut Grove.  Powell led the Carver Hornets to five undefeated state championships from 1948-1965.   In 1966, George Washington Carver was downsized to a middle school during integration of the Miami-Dade County public school system. Powell moved to Mays High School in Goulds, Florida where he won another state title in 1966.  In 1968, he made history once again in the Orange Bowl when he led Mays High School to a 14-7 upset over traditional power Miami Senior High. It was the first time Miami Senior High played an all-black high school.

By 1969, Mays High School was also downsized into a middle school and Powell’s coaching career was over. Powell compiled a 167-37-3 record in his 21 years as a high school football coach and never had a losing season. He later went on to coach track at Miami-Dade Community College (North Campus) and taught physical education. Powell was inducted into Florida A&M University’s athletic Hall of Fame in 1977. The football stadium at Miami-Dade College's North Campus was renamed after him in 1988 and is the home field to several of Miami’s best high school football teams. Coach Nathaniel “Traz” Powell passed away in 1980, however he left a huge legacy and became one of the top high school coaches in the pre-integration, Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association.