Wilbert Frazier Jordan Jr., a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, attorney who was the first African American to receive an athletic scholarship at the University of Southern Mississippi, died from natural causes at a hotel in Denham Springs, Louisiana. He was 62 years old.
Jordan enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1968 and earned a place on the school’s basketball team as a walk-on. He was awarded an athletic scholarship for his final three years at the university. Jordan earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from the University of Southern Mississippi and received his law degree from Louisiana State University.
Jordan specialized in environmental law. He served as assistant secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
RIP, Mr. Jordan. Thank you for the contributions that you made to the city of Baton Rouge, the State of Louisiana and the State of Mississippi.