Luther C. McClellan, the first African American graduate of the University of Memphis and a member of the historic Memphis State Eight, passed away on July 12 at the age of 83.
McClellan was instrumental in desegregating the university in 1959 alongside seven other Black students. He graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and went on to have a distinguished career as an Air Force officer and later as a program director at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
McClellan’s contributions and legacy were honored by the University of Memphis in 2021 when the alumni mall was named after him.
UofM President Bill Hardgrave expressed deep sadness over McClellan’s passing.
“As a member of the Memphis State Eight and the first African American graduate at our institution, Luther was a trailblazer for our university and a beloved member of the Tiger Family,” Hardgrave said. “His perseverance paved the way for many and allowed the UofM to become the institution it is today. He will be missed and forever remembered.”
During his time at Memphis State, McClellan and his peers faced significant challenges and restrictions, including being barred from the student union, cafeteria, and sports events, and having to leave campus by noon.
Despite these hardships, McClellan remained focused on his education and his determination paved the way for increased diversity and inclusion at the university
“It was my opportunity to get an education and I was not going to let that escape me,” McClellan recalled at the 60-year commemoration of the Memphis State Eight’s integration of the University in 2019.
“I just challenged myself to focus on doing my work. If another student wanted to speak to me, that was fine with me,” he continued. “That was my stance on it, and it worked for me. My classmates weren’t going to buck the system and become my friend, but I do think they knew that all people were created equal.”
