MONTGOMERY, Ala. -a 1 from the very first black college students who enrolled with the University of Alabama a half century ago in defiance of racial segregation has died. James Hood of Gadsden was 70.
Officials at Adams-Buggs Funeral Residence in Gadsden mentioned they're managing arrangements for Hood, who died Thursday.
Then-Alabama Gov. George Wallace produced his infamous "stand during the schoolhouse door" in the failed hard work to avoid Hood and Vivian Malone from registering for courses in the university in 1963.
Hood and Malone have been accompanied by Deputy U.S. Lawyer Common Nicholas Katzenbach after they have been confronted by Wallace because they attempted to enter the university's Foster Auditorium to register for courses and pay out charges.
Wallace backed down later on that day and Hood and Malone registered for courses.
UA President Judy Bonner remembered Hood being a guy of "courage and conviction" for currently being 1 from the initially black college students to enroll in the university.
"His connection on the university continued decades later on when he returned to UA to earn his doctorate in 1997. He was a valued member on the University of Alabama local community, and he'll be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones all through this tricky time," Bonner mentioned.
Hood was the final survivor amid the main figures within the schoolhouse door incident. Wallace died in 1998, Vivian Malone Jones in 2005 and Katzenbach final yr.
Soon after enrolling, Hood remained at UA for any handful of months and moved to Michigan, in which he obtained a bachelor's degree from Wayne State University as well as a master's degree from Michigan State.
He later on moved to Wisconsin, the place he worked in the Madison Spot Technical University for 26 many years. He retired in 2002 as chairman of public security providers in charge of police and fire teaching.
He last but not least returned to UA later on in lifestyle to earn his doctorate.
Culpepper Clark, writer of "The Schoolhouse Door: Segregation's Final Stand with the University of Alabama," termed the schoolhouse door incident "an iconic moment" inside the Civil Rights Motion for the reason that it offered a confrontation involving Wallace plus the Kennedy administration. He explained the incident was "symbolically important" and assisted cause passage from the Voting Rights Act.
Clark described Hood as being a guy using a great deal of "intellectual energy" who understood the significance of what he did with the University of Alabama in 1963.
"He did not attempt for making it into a lot more than what it had been," Clark stated.
The Rev. Preston Nix grew up in Etowah County and stated he knew of Hood, who was many many years older than he.
Nix mentioned it took a great deal of courage for Hood to challenge the segregation on the University of Alabama in 1963.
Nix stated he felt Hood did what he did partly to "pave the way" for other folks to become in a position to strengthen themselves and obtain a increased training and partly since he wished to attend the University of Alabama.
Samory Pruitt, vice president for neighborhood affairs at UA, agreed with Nix.
"Because of what he did, individuals like me have been afforded the chance to visit the University of Alabama," mentioned Pruitt, who's black. "I believe it truly is about people today acquiring the chance to get the top they're able to be."
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