As a part of the University of Missouri’s homecoming festivities, the university renamed two residence halls after African-Americans who had a significant impact on the university. The two residence halls were named the Lucile Bluford Residence Hall and the George C. Brooks Residence Hall.
Due to her race, Bluford was denied admission into the journalism graduate program 11 times. Despite this discrimination, she late became a distinguished journalist and civil rights activist. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Missouri in 1989.
Brooks was director of financial aid at the university for 17 years. He participated in efforts to desegregate local restaurants in the Columbia area. The university has a scholarship named in his honor.
In addition, the university named an atrium inside Bluford Hall after Gus. T. Ridgel. In 1950, Ridgel became the first African-American to receive a graduate degree from the university after he won an admissions lawsuit against the university. The university currently has a fellowship in his name.
