Video: Dr. Holmes Comes Home To MSU

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MISSISSIPPI STATE,Miss. (WCBI) -As a part of the national observance of Black History Month, Doctor Richard E. Holmes of Columbus returns as a guest to his old alma marta at MSU.

During the turbulent segregated decade of the 60’s, Holmes became the first African American to be admitted to the land-grant institution. To a crowd of onlookers at Colvard Student Union’s Bill Foster Ballroom Tuesday night, it was for Holmes a time of reflection once again. Holmes applauded the recruiting efforts at MSU.

“I think we probably have sixteen to twenty percent of our student population being African American. Which is very very proud moment for me to see that,” said Dr. Holmes.

“He was respected as a student here and he was treated with dignity,” said Bianca Tatum, MSU Student.

In 1965 Holmes’ original intent was to just take two courses at MSU but ended up staying. The Holmes Cultural Diversity Center on campus in named in his honor.