Kentucky State University

Kentucky State University
State Normal School for Colored Persons
Latin: Statum Universitas Kentuckiensis
Former names
 State Normal School for Colored Persons
Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute for Colored Persons
Kentucky State Industrial College for Colored Persons
Kentucky State College for Negroes
Kentucky State College [1]
Motto "Inspiring Innovation. Growing Leaders. Advancing Kentucky."
Type Public, HBCU
Established 1886 [1]
President Raymond M. Burse
Provost Dr. Beverly L. Downing
Students 2,159
Undergraduates 2,025 [2]
Postgraduates 134 [2]
Location Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S.
Campus 915 acres
Colors Green and Gold
         
Athletics National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II
Nickname Thorobreds and Thorobrettes
Affiliations Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Website www.kysu.edu

Kentucky State University ( KSU ) is a public co-educational university in Frankfort, Kentucky. Founded in 1886 as the State Normal School for Colored Persons, KSU was the second state-supported institution of higher learning in Kentucky.[1] It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,025 and a total graduate enrollment of 134.[2]

History

Kentucky State Industrial College for Colored Persons campus in 1898

Kentucky State University was chartered in May 1886 as the State Normal School for Colored Persons, only the second state-supported institution of higher learning in Kentucky.[1] During the euphoria of Frankfort's 1886 centennial celebration, the city donated $1,500 towards the purchase of land for a new college on a bluff overlooking Frankfort.

The new school formally opened on October 11, 1887, with three teachers, 55 students, and John H. Jackson as president.[1] Recitation Hall (now Jackson Hall), the college's first permanent building, was erected in that year.

KSU became a land-grant college in 1890, and the departments of home economics, agriculture and mechanics were added to the school's curriculum.[1] The school produced its first graduating class of five students in the spring of that year. A high school was organized in 1893. This expansion continued into the 20th century in both name and program. In 1902, the name was changed to Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute for Colored Persons. The name was changed again in 1926 to Kentucky State Industrial College for Colored Persons.

In the early 1930s, the high school was discontinued, and in 1938 the school was named the Kentucky State College for Negroes.[1] The term "for Negroes" was dropped in 1952. Kentucky State College became a university in 1972, and in 1973 the first graduate students enrolled in its School of Public Affairs.

Academics

Demographics of student body - Spring 2014 [2]
Undergraduate Graduate
African American 49% 44%
Asian American .64% 0.74%
Non-Hispanic
White American		 33.66% 34%
Hispanic American 1.97% 2.23%
Other/Unknown 12.86% 3.73%
Population census
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006 2,500—    
2007 2,696+7.84%
2008 2,659−1.37%
2009 2,834+6.58%
2010 2,851+0.60%
2011 2,746−3.68%
2012 2,524−8.08%
2013 2,533+0.36%
2014 2,159−14.77%

Students are divided into four colleges, four associate degrees, 55 undergraduate degrees and six post-graduate programs.[3][4]

The following post-graduate programs are offered:

The university also offers five liberal study degrees through the Whitney Young School (WYS) of Honors and Liberal Studies, which consists of a Honors Program, an Integrative Studies Program and an International Studies Program.[5] The degrees include Africana Studies and Liberal Studies.[4]

Library

The Paul G. Blazer Library,[6] constructed in 1960,[7] houses a collection of more than 700,000 items includes extensive reference, periodical and circulating collections of materials such as books, videos, microforms, sound recordings and others, to aid students in their course work and research.[8] It is named after Paul G. Blazer, a strong supporter of education[9] who was the founder and CEO of Ashland Oil and Refining Company in Ashland, Kentucky.

Demographics

As of 2014, Kentucky State University was host to 2,025 undergraduate students and 134 graduate students. African Americans comprised 49% of the undergraduate and 45% of the graduate student body.[2]

Athletics

Kentucky State University teams participate as a member of the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The school's mascot are the Thorobreds. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, and indoor and outdoor track and field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, softball and volleyball.[10]

The Exum Center, the university's athletic and recreational complex, was named after William Exum, the first African-American varsity football player at the University of Wisconsin.[11] Exum was hired as head of KSU's Physical Education department in 1949, and later made head of the Athletics department. He then became manager of the United States Track and Field teams at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. Exum retired from KSU in 1980.

Notable alumni

Name Class year Notability Reference(s)
Ezzret Anderson One of the first African Americans from a predominantly African American school to play professional football when he joined the Los Angeles Dons of the old All-American Football Conference in 1947. He also played with the Los Angeles Mustangs. He played for the Hollywood Bears in the Pacific Coast League when they won the title.
Margaret Elizabeth Sallee Barnes 1900 Editor of the Girl's Guide and of the Queen's Gardens, official publication of the Ohio Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. The organization was developed in the early 1930s by Barnes, who also served as the president. A building on the campus of Wilberforce University was named in her honor. She was a leader among African American women in the Republican Party and was a delegate-at-large for the Republican State Convention in 1940.
Walter D. Bean 1935 Teacher, principal, and supervisor with the Indianapolis Public Schools, and the first African American administrator and recruiter for African American teachers. He helped integrate the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity at Butler University In 1956 when he became the first African American chartered member. He was also the second African American member of the USA American Association of School Personnel Administrators.
Ms Zee Edgell she is an author know widley of the Caribbean for her novels Beka Lamd and The festival of San Joaquin. Ms Zee Edgell is a Belizean.
Anthony Beatty Sr. In 2001, he became the first African American Chief of Police in Lexington, Kentucky. In 2007, he retired from the Lexington Police Department and became Assistant Vice President for Public Safety at the University of Kentucky.
James T. Beaumont Elected the first African American councilman in La Grange, Kentucky. in 1969.
Michael Bernard Basketball player; the first from KSU to be drafted by the NBA in 1970 (Cincinnati Royals)
Dr. Henry E. Cheaney 1936 Educator and nationally-recognized expert on the history of African Americans in Kentucky
Anna Mac Clarke 1941 Member of Women's Army Corps during WWII; 1st African American officer of an otherwise all-white company
Tom Colbert First African-American Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice
Travis "Machine" Grant College basketball star on Kentucky State University's 1970, 1971 and 1972 NAIA National Championship teams. Played for the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Diego Conquistadors of the American Basketball Association
Marsha Harpool First African-American Mayor of the city of Blountstown, Florida (2007).
Jayjay Helterbrand Filipino Player of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association, 2008-09 Philippine Basketball Association MVP
Rod Hill Former professional football player who played six seasons in the NFL (1982-1987) and later starred in the CFL
Cletidus Hunt former professional football player who played six seasons in the NFL (1999-2004)
Paul William Lawrence Jones 1898 Educator, historian and athlete; preserved much of what Kentucky State now has in the way of books and documents about the early years of Kentucky State; started some of the 1st football, baseball & track teams at KSU, known as the "Father of Athletics" at Kentucky State
Marion K. Kelly 1980 Appointed Undersecretary of the United States Department of Labor under President George H. W. Bush. Former Admissions Director at Indiana University Medical School and Admissions Director of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Joseph Kendall 1938 Former All-American Quarterback; dominated black college football in the 1930s while leading Kentucky State to a black college championship in 1934; the first person in KSU history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame; inducted into the Kentucky State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975. He has been a teacher, coach, and parks administrator in Owensboro, Kentucky [12]
James L. McCullin 1941 Tuskegee Airman officer whose plane was lost over Sicily during World War II.
John Merritt 1950 Former head football coach at Jackson State University and Tennessee State University. One of the winningest coaches in HBCU football. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Marcus Pittman Christian rapper known as "Navy Blu"
Ersa Hines Poston 1942 first African American to head the United States Civil Service Commission; appointed by Pres. Carter and confirmed by the United States Senate
Willie D. Rodgers Jr. 1971 A Pittsburgh Courier All American and a former professional football player who played 5 seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers (1972-1976)..
Council Rudolph Jr. 1972 A native of Anniston, AL graduated from Cobb Avenue High School in 1968. In his senior season, he helped the team go to a 9-0-1 championship season. He earned all-conference honors and a scholarship to Kentucky State. In his senior season, Kentucky State ended 8-3-0 and played in the Orange Blossom Classic Bowl game. He was a Pittsburgh Courier Honorable mention. He was inducted into both the Kentucky State Athletic Hall of Fame and Calhoun County (AL) Sports Hall of Fame. Drafted into the NFL in the seventh round, he helped the St. Louis Football Cardinals win two NFC East Championships (1974 & 1975). He retired after playing 6 seasons in the NFL with Houston, St. Louis and Tampa Bay.
H.C. Russell, Jr. Ensign in the United States Coast Guard during WWII and third African American commissioned officer in the Coast Guard; later became executive with Coca Cola
Patricia Russell-McCloud 1968 As a member of the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO), she studied at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. She earned her Juris Doctorate degree at Howard University, School of Law, Washington, DC. She has received many honors, including being presented more than 300 keys to American cities. She has served as the 11th National President of The Links, Inc., and the National Parliamentarian to the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has been named as one of the top five business motivators in the country by Black Enterprise Magazine; identified as one of the top 10 speakers in America.
Winnie A. Scott 1890 Educator and helped establish a hospital for African Americans in Frankfort; member of first graduating class at Kentucky State
Yingluck Shinawatra 1991 The 28th and first female Prime Minister of Thailand
Sam Sibert former college basketball standout; Drafted as the 19th player in the 1972 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals
Frank Simpson 1942 Educator; high school principal for 21 years and administrator in the Louisville schools system
Moneta Sleet Jr. 1947 Photographer for Ebony, won a Pulitzer Prize for his picture of Coretta Scott King at the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Effie Waller Smith ca. 1900 Educator & poet; poet James Still called her "Kentucky's Emily Dickinson"
Elmore Smith NBA and college basketball player, who is listed among the top rebounders in college basketball history, starred on KSU's 1970 and 1971 national championship teams. Holds the NAIA records for Rebounds in a Season (799 in 1971 also tops on the NCAA All-Divisions list, as well as being eighth with 682 in 1970) and Career Average (22.6, seventh on the NCAA All-Divisions list), while ranking eighth on the NCAA All-Divisions Career list with 1719 total despite being the only player in the top 10 to play only three seasons. Earned NCAA Division II First Team All-American honors in 1971. A seven-foot center, Smith played in the NBA for eight seasons (1971-1979) and was the third overall pick in the 1971 NBA Draft for the Buffalo Braves; listed amongst all-time greatest shot-blockers in NBA history even though that statistic was only recorded for six of his seasons. Held the NBA Single-Season Block Shots Record of 393 while with the LA Lakers 1973-4 (Broken in 1984-5, but still a Lakers Record). [13]
Herb Trawick 1942 First black man to play in the Canadian Football League; played for the Montreal Alouettes 1946-1957 and was a seven-time All-Star; played in 4 Grey Cup Championships, winning in 1949; was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1975.
Luska Twyman 1938 Former mayor of Glasgow, Kentucky; first Black mayor of a Kentucky city.
Davey 'Wiz' Whitney 1953 former head basketball coach at Texas Southern University and Alcorn State University. One of the winningest coaches in HBCU basketball. Inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
Randolph "Randy" Williams 1978 Two-time NCAA Division II 400 Meter Hurdle Champion and 10-time NCAA Divisions I and II Track and Field All-American. Also received a Track & Field News All-America. Inducted into the KSU Hall of Fame and inducted into the NCAA Division II Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Dr. Harrison B. Wilson 1950 became the second President of Norfolk State College in 1975
Whitney M. Young Jr. 1941 Former civil rights leader, educator and executive; former Executive Director who led the National Urban League through its most prosperous period;served many presidential commissions including as a Vietnam elections observer in 1967

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "History of Kentucky State University". Kentucky State University. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Enrollment Snapshot Spring 2014" (PDF). Kentucky State University. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  3. ↑ "Quick Facts 2013-2014" (PDF). Kentucky State University. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  4. 1 2 "KSU Academic Programs". Kentucky State University. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
  5. ↑ "Whitney Young School of Honors and Liberal Studies". Kentucky State University. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
  6. ↑ "Welcome to Paul G. Blazer Library".
  7. ↑ "Thorobred Yearbook 1960: Dedication and Opening of Paul Blazer Library (pages 100-102)".
  8. ↑ "Welcome to The University Library".
  9. ↑ John E. Kleber Editor-in Chief, The Kentucky Encyclopedia: Blazer, Paul Garrett (Lexington : University of Kentucky Press, 1992) Page 87.
  10. ↑ "KSU Thorobreds". Kentucky State University. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
  11. ↑ "Exum, William". University of Kentucky Libraries. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
  12. ↑ Information supplied by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame press release May 1, 2007
  13. ↑ NAIA Men's Basketball Division I and Division II Regular-Season Records :: Individual & Team Records

External links

Coordinates: 38°12′00″N 84°51′30″W / 38.20000°N 84.85833°W / 38.20000; -84.85833

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