Kentucky State University: A Legacy of Excellence and Notable Alumni

Kentucky State University (KSU), a historically black land-grant university in Frankfort, Kentucky, has a rich history of fostering leadership and achievement. From its humble beginnings as the State Normal School for Colored Persons in 1886, KSU has grown into a vibrant institution that has produced a diverse array of distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields.

A Historical Overview

Kentucky State University was established in May 1886 as the State Normal School for Colored Persons, the second state-supported college in Kentucky. The city of Frankfort contributed $1,500 to purchase land for the new school, which opened on October 11, 1887, with three teachers and 55 students. John H. Jackson served as the first president.

In 1890, KSU became a land-grant college following the passage of the Morrill Land-Grant Act. This designation led to the addition of new subjects, including home economics, agriculture, and mechanics, to the curriculum. The first five students graduated in the spring of 1890.

Over the years, the school's name evolved to reflect its growth and expanded offerings. In 1902, it became the Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute for Colored Persons. In 1929, President Rufus B. Atwood discontinued the high school program, as students were increasingly completing high school before attending college. In 1938, the institution was renamed Kentucky State College for Negroes. A civil engineering program was introduced in 1942. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech at the graduation ceremony in 1957. In 1960, the college welcomed its first white student. Kentucky State College officially achieved university status in 1972.

Academic Programs and Resources

Kentucky State University offers a wide range of academic programs for students. The Whitney Young School (WYS) of Honors and Liberal Studies provides five special degree programs. As of 2024, KSU had an undergraduate enrollment of 1,932 students.

Read also: Northern Kentucky Basketball

The Paul G. Blazer Library, constructed in 1960, houses over 700,000 items, including books, videos, and sound recordings, to support students' academic pursuits. The library is named in honor of Paul G. Blazer, a dedicated supporter of education.

KSU is also home to the world's largest pawpaw research planting. The pawpaw is the largest fruit native to the United States, and the research program, initiated in 1990, aims to develop it as a new tree-fruit crop for Kentucky. The university's orchards contain over 1,700 pawpaw trees. Researchers focus on improving propagation, understanding fruit ripening and storage, and developing orchard management practices. KSU has developed three new pawpaw cultivars: 'KSU-Atwood', 'KSU-Benson', and 'KSU-Chappell'.

Athletics and Extracurricular Activities

Kentucky State University's sports teams, known as the Thorobreds, compete in the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, and track and field. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, track and field, softball, and volleyball. The men's basketball team achieved national championships in 1970, 1971, and 1972.

The Exum Center, the university's athletic and recreational complex, is named after William Exum, the first African-American football player at the University of Wisconsin. Exum became the head of KSU's Physical Education department in 1949 and later led the Athletics department. He also managed the United States Track and Field teams at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics.

The Mighty Marching Thorobreds (MMT) is Kentucky State University's marching band. With over 200 members, the MMT is one of the largest student organizations on campus. The band has performed at prestigious events such as the Honda Battle of the Bands in Atlanta and the National Battle of the Bands in Houston.

Read also: Pope's NCAA Tournament Goals

Notable Alumni

Kentucky State University has a long list of notable alumni who have excelled in various fields. These individuals exemplify the university's commitment to fostering excellence and leadership.

Politics and Public Service

Yingluck Shinawatra: The 28th prime minister of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra, holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Kentucky State University. She was Thailand's first female prime minister and the youngest in over 60 years.
Whitney Young: A prominent civil rights leader, Whitney Young dedicated his career to ending employment discrimination and transforming the National Urban League into an organization that aggressively advocated for equitable access to socioeconomic opportunities.
Lho Shin-yong: A South Korean politician, diplomat, and intelligence chief, Lho Shin-yong served as the prime minister, Foreign Minister, and Director of the Agency of National Security Planning (ANSP) of South Korea.
Alice Allison Dunnigan: An American journalist, civil rights activist, and author, Alice Allison Dunnigan was the first African-American female correspondent to receive White House credentials and the first black female member of the Senate and House of Representatives press galleries.

Read also: Comprehensive Guide to the UK Bursar
Gerald Neal: An American politician and attorney, Gerald Anthony Neal has represented District 33 in the Kentucky Senate since January 1989.
Derrick Graham: An American politician and former Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, Derrick Wayne Graham represented the 57th district, which includes Frankfort. In 2023, Graham became the first African American to lead a legislative caucus in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Athletics

Jayjay Helterbrand: A Filipino-American basketball player, Anthony "Jayjay" Helterbrand last played for the Biñan Tatak Gel of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and Pilipinas Super League (PSL). He previously played with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Billy Ray Bates: A retired American professional basketball player, Billy Ray Bates played shooting guard at McAdams High in Mississippi and attended Kentucky State University.
Herb Trawick: A professional Canadian football player, Herb Trawick was the first African American to play professional Canadian football. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Montreal Alouettes.
Dale Polley: An American former Major League Baseball pitcher, Ezra Dale Polley played for the New York Yankees.

Arts and Literature

Effie Waller Smith: An African-American poet of the early twentieth century, Effie Waller Smith published three volumes of poetry: Songs of the Month (1904), Rhymes From the Cumberland (1904), and Rosemary and Pansies (1909).
Charles Dazey: An American writer and playwright.

Other Notable Alumni

Bob Atcher: An American country musician.
William Cotton Hobdy: An American physician and quarantine officer, William Cotton Hobdy served as the final physician of Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, from 1914 to 1917.

Kentucky Boys State Alumni

Kentucky Boys State, a leadership and citizenship training program for the youth of Kentucky, has also produced numerous distinguished alumni. Several notable figures credit Boys State with providing the inspiration to succeed in their respective fields:

Steve Doocy: Reporter for Fox and Friends.
Donald James: CEO of Vulcan Materials, Inc.
Nick Saban: Alabama Football Coach.
Bill Clinton: 42nd President of the United States.
Hines Ward: Former Wide Receiver.
Chris Christie: American Politician.
Michael Jordan: American Basketball Player.
Julian M. Carroll: Former Governor of Kentucky.
Jody Richards: Kentucky Speaker of the House.
Tim Moore: Kentucky House of Representatives.

tags: #kentucky #state #university #notable #alumni