James Solomon, Jr., former vice president at Morris College and one of the first three Black students to attend the University of South Carolina, passed away on November 29. He was 94 years old.
At the age of 17, Solomon joined the United States Air Force and served for the duration of the Korean War while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He returned to the United States after the war and earned degrees from two historically Black institutions: a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina and a master’s degree in mathematics from what is now Clark Atlanta University in Georgia.
In 1960, Solomon was hired as an instructor of mathematics at his alma mater, Morris College. He quickly progressed through the academic ranks, ultimately becoming the college’s vice president of institutional planning and research. While teaching at Morris College, Solomon enrolled in the graduate program in mathematics at the University of South Carolina, making him one of the university’s first-ever Black students and the first African American to enroll in this program.
The University of South Carolina has previously recognized Solomon’s legacy on two separate occasions. A statue of Solomon – alongside statues of Robert Anderson and Henrie Monteith Treadwell, the university’s other two inaugural Black students – is located outside of McKissick Museum. Additionally, a plaque in his honor is located in LeConte College, which houses the department of mathematics.
After leaving Morris College in 1973, Solomon went on to serve in various state government positions, including state agency director, division director at the Commission on Higher Education, and commissioner of the Department of Social Services. He was elected to the school board of Sumter District 17, making him the first African American elected to public office in Sumter County since Reconstruction. For his lifelong service to the state of South Carolina, he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor of South Carolina.
Outside of his professional career, Solomon was a pioneer in his community. He was a member of several local boards and committees, including the Richland County One District, where he was the first African American to serve as chairman.
