Two of the most distinguished faculty members at Morehouse College in Atlanta, with combined service of nearly 100 years, are retiring.
Tobe Johnson is the longest-serving faculty member in Morehouse College history. He has taught at the historically Black college for 59 years. Dr. Johnson came to Morehouse as a student at the age of 16 and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1954. He joined the faculty at the college in 1958 and then earned a Ph.D. in government at Columbia University in New York City in 1963. Although retiring, he will continue to teach one class at Morehouse next year.
Marcellus Barksdale is a professor of African American studies and a professor of history. Professor Barksdale is a 1965 graduate of Morehouse College. He went on to earn a master’s degree from Atlanta University and a doctorate at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Professor Barksdale joined the faculty at Morehouse College in 1977. Professor Barksdale is completing work on a 700-page book entitled The Cross, the Candle and the Crown: A Narrative History of Morehouse College, 1867-2017.
Congratulations to both of these fine gentlemen. Although I never took a class from either I know them by their respective reputations. Morehouse is the fine institution it is because of their contributions. Thanks for your service to us alumni.
God bless them both. I took a history class with Dr. Barksdale in 78-79. There were many, many wonderful professors there at the time. He influenced me most.