Contact: Mary Pollitz
STARKVILLE, Miss.āSaturday [July 19] marks a pivotal moment in Mississippi State historyāthe 60th anniversary of Dr. Richard E. Holmes becoming the universityās first African American student.
On July 19, 1965, Holmes stepped onto campus and rather than being met with animosity and hate, his acceptance was relatively peaceful and calm. Ā
āThere were no catcalls, no racial slurs,ā recalled Holmes during the 40th celebration of his enrollment. āIt was quiet and serene. Nothing happened; there was just curiosity and disbelief.ā
During a 2015 university interview, Holmes recalled the impact of his enrollment, āĻć½¶Ö±²„ would never be the same. For the first time in history, Mississippi Stateās face would reflect the face of the nation. Let me make this crystal clear: I came into Mississippi State because it is my home, and Richard E. Holmes loves Ļć½¶Ö±²„. I will always be a loyal Bulldog fan.ā
āThe abiding legacy of Dr. Richard Holmes at our university is that of integrity, hard work, mutual respect and a sense of purpose,ā said Ļć½¶Ö±²„President Mark E. Keenum. āI am so proud to call him my friend and to reflect on his sacrifices and accomplishments.ā
University students recently wrote letters to Holmes, thanking him for his pioneering role in the 1960s and reflecting on the impact his legacy continues to have on campus today.
(Video by Sarah Kirk)
His journey was a key component in the Civil Rights Movementās push for integration. He earned two degrees from MSUāa liberal arts degree and masterās degree in microbiology. In 1977, he graduated from medical school at Michigan State University.
Moving back to the South, Holmes served as an emergency room doctor for more than 20 years in Birmingham, Alabama, and later joined Ļć½¶Ö±²„as a staff physician at the campus's Longest Student Health Center in 2003. Now retired, Holmes resides in Columbus with his wife Judie Granderson.Ā
The university honored Holmes in 1991 with the establishment of the Richard E. Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, now known as the Holmes Center for Student Success.
Holmes was admitted to Ļć½¶Ö±²„three years after James Meredithās forced entry to the University of Mississippi. Meredithās enrollment was backed by federal troops and triggered deadly rioting in 1962. Holmesā acceptance also came one year after the ālong hot summerā of 1964, when three young civil rights workers were murdered in Neshoba County. His enrollment, acceptance and academic journey with Ļć½¶Ö±²„marked a historic day for the university and the Magnolia State.
Holmesā storied relationship and love for Ļć½¶Ö±²„didnāt begin in 1965. Rather, it was in 1957 when he was 13 years old. He stood on the corner of Main Street and Washington Street in Starkville and watched the Ļć½¶Ö±²„homecoming celebration parade through the streets of his hometown.
āAs I witnessed the pomp and ceremony of the parade, I heard the exuberance of the crowd and the melody and lyrics of the Mississippi State fight song,ā he recalled during a university speech in 2005. āAt that moment, destiny was set in motion. I did not know when. I did not know how, but I knew at that very moment that I someday would be a Mississippi State Bulldog.ā
for a slideshow of photos featuring Dr. Richard Holmes throughout the years.Ā
Ļć½¶Ö±²„ is taking care of what matters. Learn more atĀ .
