In 1965, Richard E. Holmes became the first African-American student at Mississippi State University. After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State, he graduated in 1977 from the medical school at Michigan State University. For 14 years Dr. Holmes practiced emergency medicine in 30 emergency rooms in four different states. Today, Dr. Holmes is back in his hometown of Starkville serving on the physician staff at the John C. Longest Student Health Center. Aside from his medical contributions to the university, the Black Alumni Society has established an endowed scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Holmes. In recognition of his service to furthering the advancement of Mississippi State University, the university established the Richard Holmes Cultural Diversity Center in 1991.
Courtesy of the Gamma Nu Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (a Humanities Honor Society)
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