University of Evansville

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University of Evansville

• African-American Alumni
• A Celebration of Achievement

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Background

• Moores Hill College 1854-1919
• No known African-Americans admitted
• Evansville College 1919-1933
• No official charter to exclude black students
• southern policy informal rule
• No known African-American students admitted

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The First Females 1934-1940
Zerah Priestly B.S. Secondary Education 38
Vera Shane B.S. Social Science 39
Gertie Gracey B.S. Elementary Education 39

• The story has it that when Moores Hill moved to
  Evansville, a black business owner gave money to
  help relocate Moores Hill to Evansville. With the
  money was a promise that EC would pave the way
  for black students to attend. Also internal
  pressure from the Methodist church was being
  applied. President Harper apparently had no
  personal objection to black students attending.
• Zerah Priestly was admitted in 1934 to no
  apparent fanfare and public announcement. Young
  Womens Christina Association, World Fellowship
  Cabinet Member, student Welfare committee to
  assist students.
• Vera Shane B.S. Social Science 39, YWCA
  Gertie Gracey transfer from Western Kentucky B.S.
  Elementary Education 39 YWCA

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The First Females 1934-1940
Estelle Arnette Student,1938
Virginia Higgins B.S. Music 40
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The First Males 1935-1949
This photograph presents an unsolved mystery in
my research. His photograph is of a student
named Pat Alves. When I first saw the photograph,
it was my visual impression that Mr. Alves was a
black student. I contacted UE to see if school
records could confirm this. But there was no
record of him. I cannot say if he was a black
student, white student or a foreign student. y
this photograph he was a sophomore. So, he either
began school when Zerah Priestly did, or
transferred to EC. After 35-36 there was no
photographs of Mr. Alves in future Lincs. So I
cannot say for a fact who was the first black
male student at EC. - Arnell Hill '80, former
UEAAA Historian
Pat Alves 1935-36
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The First Males 1935-1949
William Bell B.A. Secondary Education 49
James Barbee B.A. Secondary Education 49
Fred Duncan B.A. Sociology 49

• William Bell, Fred Duncan, and James Barbee
  apparently were the first black males to graduate
  from EC.
• Mr. Bell joined the Marine Corps and served in
  World War II for 2 ½ years. He was the EC
  representative to Whos Who for 3 years, made the
  Deans list, was a noted musician, Glee Club
  member and was identified as a campus notable
• Fred Duncan was a member of the Pi Kappa
  fraternity, the Glee Club, and the Student
  Council. James Barbee served as the secretary for
  Pi Kappa.

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Student Life - Organizations

• Black students participated in over 142
  organizations at EC/UE
• From A Capella Choir to Zeta Tau Alpha

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Student Life - Organizations
Edmund Fly Crescent - 1951
Future Teachers of America - 1944

• Here you see a photo of an unnamed black female
  in the Teachers club.
• Mr. Edmund Fly 53, was a member of the student
  newspaper, the Crescent in 1951.

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Student Life - Organizations
Ann Arnett Presidents Round Table 1954
Pat English Nifty Nine 1970
Ellen Price Homecoming Queen 1968

• UE has had a black homecoming queen.
• The Nifty Nine was a social group of black
  female students.

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Student Life - Organizations

• UEs first black homecoming king was Mr.
  Eldridge Bolin.
• The first black yearbook editor was Kistin
  Miller, who is in the second row far right.

Eldridge Bolin Homecoming King 1989
Kristin Miller Linc Editor 2002
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Academics

• 2003Erica Corbin 03 B.S. Mass Communication
  Outstanding Senior Female Award
• 2006Jamila Brown Outstanding Senior Female
  Award
• 2007Brandon Patton Jackson Outstanding Senior
  Male Award

Erica Corbin
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Medal of Honor Recipients

• One of UEs highest honors is the Medal Of
  Honor.
• There have been 3 former black students who
  received this award.

• Ron Glass 68 received award in 1980
• Rose Mays 67 received award in 2004
• Vera Shane 39 received award in 2008

Ron Glass 68 B.A. Theatre
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Distinguished Alumnus Award

• Another notable award category has seen two
  black students.
• Mr. Ricketts was a noted scientist.

• Don Ricketts 55 received award in 2000
• Ron Glass 68 received award in 2008

Don Ricketts 55 B.S. Electronic Engineering
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Sports
Angelo Howard Track and Field 1948-49
Willie Saucer Football - Quarterback 1950-51
Imogene Merritt Womens Athletic
Association 1951-52
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Sports
William Brimm Football Co-captain 1960-61
Anthony Brooks Tennis 1964-65
Jim Smallins Basketball 1954-55
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Sports
Larry Humes Basketball 1965-66 Undefeated team
Cleo Walker Wrestling 1968-69
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Sports
1977-78 Basketball Team
Warren Alston Freshman
Mike Joyner Freshman
Barney Lewis Freshman
Aces basketball team moved from division 2 to
division one in 77-78. Team plane crashed on
December 13 killing the entire team, coaching
staff and others. Among those who died were
Freshman Mike Joyner from Terre Haute, Indiana,
Freshman Barney Lewis, and Freshman Warren Alston
from North Carolina
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Sports
1977-78 Basketball Team
John Ed Washington Senior
Tony Winburn Senior

• Senior John Ed Washington and Senior Tony
  Winburn.
• The year prior UE had played Indiana State with
  Larry Bird. Tony Winburn, who was about 5 feet 6
  or 7, got into a play with Bird that resulted in
  a jump ball. Tony out jumped 6 feet 9 Larry Bird
  for the ball.

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Student Government
Edmund Fly Student Government Vice
President 1952-1953
Samuel Brooks Student Council 1946-47

• Samuel Brooks 1946-47 Student Council
• Edmund Fly 1952-53 Student Government Vice
  President
• Jacquie King was Vice President of
  Activities/Union Board President in 1981-82
• Adrian Jones was Vice President of
  Activities/Union Board President in 1984-85
• Several black students served on the Student
  Congress from 1974 to present
• 2008 - Caresse Bucchan became the first black
  Student Government President

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Black Greeks
Alpha Kappa Alpha with singer Marian
Anderson 1952-53
Ivy Leaf Club 1950-51

• Ivy Leaf Club was formed in 1950-51 to become
  future chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
• Alpha Kappa Alpha photo from 52-53 Linc
  featuring singer Marian Anderson

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Black Greeks
Kappa Alpha Psi 1964-65
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Black Greeks
Delta Sigma Theta 1981-82
Alpha Angels 1981-82
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Black Greeks
Alpha Kappa Alpha 1989-1990
Men of Delta 1983-84
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Black Greeks
Phi Kappa Phi 1990-1991
4th Greek Jamboree 1992-1993
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Black Greeks
Delta Sigma Theta 1998-1999
Alpha Kappa Alpha 1998-1999
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Traditional Greeks
Pi Kappa 1946-1947

• In 1946 in what was a departure from separate
  but equal, Pi Kappa was formed on the EC campus.
  It featured both black and white male members.
• It was 23 years later before another traditional
  Greek fraternity admitted a black member Phi
  Kappa Tau in 1969

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Traditional Greeks

• 1969-70 Phi Kappa Tau Walt Purcell
• 1984-85 Alpha Omicron Pi Andrea Henderson
• 1984-85 Phi Mu Cindy Russ
• 1987-88 Tau Kappa Epsilon Vernon Currin
• 1990-91 Lambda Chi Alpha Chaka Chandler
• 1991-92 Zeta Tau Alpha

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Black Student Union
1974-75
1970-71
The story goes that in the fall of 1967 black
students on campus were not happy about the lack
of events at Homecoming that black students could
relate to. So, one rainy night, several students
walked over to President Graves house on campus,
to express their grievances. Their was new
carpet just installed in the Presidents home.
So, the students expressed their complaints, got
the carpet dirty and muddy and BSU was born!
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Black Student Union
1979-80
1982-83
1983-84
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Black Student Union
Minority Students Association 1989-90
Cultural Diversity Club 1994-95
In 1989-90, BSU disappeared and the Minority
Students Association was born. MSA lasted about
4 years and then the Cultural Diversity Club
replaced MSA.
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Black Student Union
2000-01
1997-98
In 97-98 BSU returned to reclaim its place in UE
history
2005-06
32
Neely Strayhorn

• This is my buddy, Mr. Neely Strayhorn. During my
  research, his was the first black face I
  encountered in the year books. There was no name
  under his photograph, but year after year I kept
  seeing his photograph.
• There was an article about him in the 1942
  Crescent that was not exactly flattering, and the
  Crescent did not show his photograph. There was
  only a black silhouette of a face.
• He became a campus legend to students. He worked
  as a janitor from 1926 to 1953. He was said to be
  able to tell if a new professor would survive at
  UE or not.
• Mr. Strayhorn was a silent witness to history at
  UE. He saw the first black students admitted. He
  saw Zerah Priestly, Vera Shane, William Bell,
  Fred Duncan.
• As I close, I want to thank all those who came
  before us. Thank you Zerah Priestly, Vera Shane,
  Fred Duncan, William Bell, Willie Saucer, Edmund
  Fly. You all paved the way for our success.
• - Arnell Hill '80, former UEAAA Historian